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Script: Brian Thomas
Edited by Christopher Jordashe
It is unfair to state it was a one-sided game. Still, it is fair to state that Trinity was far superior in all facets of the game — and Isipathana will surely endorse our views because they knew from the get-go that the Lions are a hard nut to crack in their own den, this time around with fortunes turning.
What was Isipathana’s downfall? They love playing in Pallekele and have maintained an excellent record, but defending against a classy side like Trinity with 14 men on the park, losing territorial advantage, vital possession, and making unforced errors — mainly due to over-intent — cost them a bonus point as well.
Trinity were clinical, purposeful, played with intensity and aggression, and it was fascinating to see their forwards and three-quarters combine well with a good skill level. The Lions displayed continuity in phases and ball retention, which saw the Green Machine flat-footed in defence at regular intervals.
Trinity 7 Isipathana 00
In the 4th minute of the game, Isipathana let Trinity into their territory with Shan Altaf putting his forwards onside with a high ball kick, which Isipathana fumbled. This allowed Lions skipper Usman Shafraz to get his hooker to score under the post with a cut-out pass after he found the Isipathana line defence yawning. Shan Altaf converted the try.
Trinity 10 Isipathana 00
Trinity kept hitting the fringes and were excellent in rucks and mauls. Isipathana, defending from their 22-meter line, were penalised for not rolling away after a tackle. The Trinity skipper had one mindset: get the points once inside Green Machine territory.
Altaf needed no second invitation for a penalty kick from a straight angle. He thumped it through the large chopsticks and Trinity went ahead by 10 points to nil in the 13th minute.
Trinity 17 Isipathana 00
Isipathana at this stage could have been somewhat confused as they tried to run the ball from their own red zone, which resulted in an intercepted pass. Trinity forward Arkash Fernando intercepted it, carried the ball forward, and gave it to scrum-half Wijekoon, who kicked a grubber into open field.
Shan Altaf followed the kick, used his football prowess to control the loose ball on the ground, touched down mid-left, and converted his own effort. Trinity were ahead by 17 points to nil.
Half-time: Trinity 17 Isipathana 05
With 2 minutes on the clock for half-time, Trinity’s backline took a snooze while Yatgalge tried to run from his own backyard. An infringement for not releasing the ball from a tackle saw Isipathana take a quick tap. Wing three-quarter Nimantha Sandeepa touched down by the corner flag untouched. Isipathana cut the deficit by 5 points, going into lemons at 17 to 5 as the conversion went astray.
Trinity 17 Isipathana 10
With the kick-off after lemons, Isipathana looked to change the momentum. Trinity were guilty of an infringement and their backline was again out of sight, unable to defend as Isipathana wing three-quarter Nimantha Sandeepa went over the whitewash again by the right corner flag for another unconverted try.
Trinity 20 Isipathana 10
Now came the turning point in the 47th minute. Zahid Zumri — what got into his head? He was red-carded for an unwarranted dangerous tackle, and Altaf thumped his second penalty kick, taking Trinity to a 20–10 lead.
Just imagine the disappointment in the Patana camp as their key impact player Zumri was sent off. How would Isipathana defend their whitewash or even enter Trinity territory with 14 men? Appalling mistake in this critical period — Patana could have reduced the deficit.
Trinity 25 Isipathana 10
Trinity took advantage of the 14 men on the park and used fresh legs from their strong bench. They camped all over the Isipathana red zone and went about their tactical, classy rugby. Shan Altaf, yet again with his brilliance, made a cross-kick that sent Yathalige to the corner flag for an unconverted try.
Trinity 32 Isipathana 10
It was a change to see Isipathana in the Trinity camp for a bit. They made an unforced error and gave Trinity a loose head. It was speculated that since Trinity had the game in their pocket, they might run the ball from their own backyard to get the bonus point.
They proved all of us wrong. Altaf cleared the ball and executed a fantastic territorial gain, forcing a 22-meter line-out in Isipathana territory. With a 14-man defence, Isipathana lost a vital line-out. Trinity decided to use their strong and skilful forwards in a pick-and-drive and Dilshan Thomas touched down under the post. Altaf converted and Trinity won 32 points to 10.
Final Score
Trinity: 4 tries, 3 conversions, 2 penalties
Isipathana: 2 tries
Trinity, in the Cup segment, leads the points table with 18 points. Isipathana drops to slot 5 with 5 points.
Trinity coach Fazil Marjah applauded his boys for a clinical brand of rugby. He paid tribute to Isipathana for their impeccable display of a good game but added that defending against his boys with 14 men is a herculean task.
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