Antonians down Isipathana 32-22

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Correspondent

Reduced to 14 players in the field in the first half itself following a red card offence St. Anthony's College, Kandy played with power and determination to score a good 32 points (2 goals, 3 tries, 1 penalty) to 22 (2 goals, 1 try, 1 penalty) win over Isipathana College, Colombo in their schools under 19 'A' Division rugby tournament match played at the Bogambara Stadium, Kandy yesterday.

At half Isipathana led 17-15.

This was Antonian first win for the season and Isipathana third loss and their second in Kandy.

It was Isipathana College who opened scoring first through No. 8 B.G.H. Ushan Premaratne and full back Haritha Perera added the extra points.

Antonian reduced this lead to 3-7 through a penalty converted by full back Sajith Hemantha.

In the 12th minute Isipathana scored through their skipper and flanker Uditha Saranath and Hirantha Perera added the extra points for the Pathanians to take a what looked like a 14-3 comfortable lead in the early stages of the game.

Antonian fought back through their back division and fly half Fazlur Rahman joined the three quarters to score far right which went unconverted. St. Anthony's 8-14.

St. Anthony's College continued to exert pressure and the Pathanian defence halted before hooker and skipper Yakoob Ali scored mid left and full back Sajith Hemantha added the extra points for the Antonians to close the gap to 14-15 by lemons.

In the 38th minutes Antonian winger C.B. Ranaraja was issued a red card for what looked ostensibly a lifting tackle.

After the turn around the Antonian played much more intelligently and this resulted in them scoring offers.

In the 5th minute a scrum inside Pathanians' '22' resulted in Antonian fly half Fazlur Rahman scoring for left and this was goaled by full back Sajith Hemantha. Antonians led for the first time 22-17.

In the 10th minute Antonian winger Nimesha Gunasinghe collecting a pass from Fazlur Rahman sprinted across to score. This went unconverted Antonian 27/17.

Another try in the 25th minute by No. 8 Pandula Angammana saw the Antonians extend their lead to 32-17.

In the dying stage of the game Isipathana winger R. Tharuka scored an unconverted try for Isipathana. D. Nimal refereed.