Rajans in smashing 35-8 win over Isipathana

S M Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Corr

Dharmaraja College, Kandy knocked the daylights out of Isipathana College with a stunning 35 points (two goals, three tries, two drop goals) to 8 (one try, one penalty) win in their schools under 20 division one rugby tournament match played at the Bogambara Stadium, Kandy yesterday. At half time the Rajans led 27-3.

The Pre match prediction were that it will be a closely contested battle but the power play displayed by the Rajans especially in the first half completely rattled the Pathans who had no answer and simply wilted under pressure.

With the game barely five minutes old the Rajans kept applying the pressure and fly half and skipper Rochana Hettiarachchi sent a short pass to full back Tilina Wijesinghe who scored mid left and added the extra points.

In the 11th minute the Rajans extended their lead to 10-0 when full back Tilina Wijesinghe executed a 40 metre drop goal. More shocks was to follow when the Rajans continued to mount pressure on the opponents defence which appeared to crack under pressure.

Rajans three quarters moved the ball and it was back again with fly half Rochana Hettiarachchi who covered some distance before switching a pass to full back Tilina Wijesinghe who sprinted away to score by the left corner flag but missed the conversion. Rajans 15-0 and all the points were scored by Tilina Wijesinghe.

In the 25th minute a three quarter move saw winger Viraj Weerasekera giving the finishing touches by the right corner flag. Tilina Wijesinghe failed to add the extra points. Rajans 20-0.

In the 32nd minute a desperate clearance by Tilina Wijesinghe saw a Isipathana player misjudge the ball and Tilina Wijesinghe was there in a flash and booted the ball 40 metres to score mid right and added the extra points himself Rajans 27-0.

Just before the short blast Isipathana reduced the lead through a penalty converted by full back Isuru Kongalawatte.

After the turn around a relaxed Rajans outfit took the field and the unassailable lead they had built up certainly insulated them from defeat.

Rajans scored early in the second half through centre Ishanka Weerasekera which went unconverted.

In the 15th minute of the second half Isipathana’s scrum half S P Suriyarachchi squeezed through to score far left which went unconverted.

With darkness setting in Rajans put the icing on their cake of victory when their skipper and fly half Rochana Hettiarachchi did the impossible by executing a drop goal from 52 metres mid field which was a beauty.

Dinka Peiris refereed.