Sunday, July 11, 2010

PATHANA OUTCLASS THORA 33-17

Isipathana college came up with a stupendous performance to bring down last years champions St.Thomas,college in their Milo all island schools knock-out quarter final played at Reid avenue. It was also sweet revenge for pathana as they avenged the defeat which they suffered against the thomians in last years final.

In a game played at a frantic pace it was the thomians who got the first chance of moving the score board when they were awarded a penalty but fly half Devin Jayasinghe kick was off target.From there onwards pathana made heavy inroads into the thomian 22 and accumulated their first points courtesy of a Malik Jumad drop goal. the greens scored again after 11 minutes when Prasad Devinda made a neat cross kick which saw winger Uresh Fonseka touching down mid left and full back Jumad converted for his side to lead 10 nil.They increased their lead to 13 points when Jumad fired across another penalty. the thominas hit back through a Jayasingha penalty but that was short lived when the pathanians scored through flanker Saajid Shuaib.it was fly half  Devinda,s brilliant cross kick that did the trick yet again as winger Shanaka Poornage tapped it right to the hands of his team mate who just fell over to do the honors. Malik was on target yet again to give the pathanians a 20-03 advantage. but just before the break the lads from mt.lavinia decreased the lead when center Anurudhdha Willwara  scored a brilliant try which was converted by Jayasinghe and the score read 20-13 in favor of the greens.

the second half got off to rather slow start with the pathanians enjoying more possession and virtually parking themselves in their opponents 22 but they gave back the advantage to their doughty opponents.but they got the first points on the board when  fly half Prasad Devinda was on target with well a excuted drop goal.they then delivered a stunning blow when Saajid Shuaib scored his second try of the match to make it 28-13.the thomians  had some hope left when anurudhdha willwara scored under the posts  which was also converted to make it 28-17.but Isipathana  then delivered the killer blow when Saajid Shuaib completed his hatrick which was virtually a carbon copy of the first try he scored.thus giving his side a well deserved 33-17 victory.

for the thomians the loss was not just a poor performance but also a double blow as this was the second loss they suffered against the same opposition.They would certainly have to go back to the drawing board and review what went wrong for them this season where as so much was expected of them this season.On the other hand pathana will be brimming with confidence.for pathana the halves combination of M.Rizwan and Prasad Devinda worked off smoothly while their forwards Nipuna Devinda,Tharindu Siriwardane,Muqsith Jaleel,Kumendra Dharmadasa and of course the hero for the day Saajid Shuaib were outstanding.the only setback for the day for the winners would be the injury which their diminutive flanker Deshan Subashana suffered in the first half.they will now have to regroup and prepare themselves for the big semi final against the league champs St.Peters college which will be played on the 14th (Wednesday) at CR FC .