Isipathana – St. Peter’s Cup final after 15 years-by Chris Dhambarage

Action from the league tournament match between Isipathana and St. Peter’s. (Pic courtesy ThePapre.com)

Isipathana College and St. Peter’s College will revive their rivalry once again as the two top teams this season are set for an epic clash in the Inter-Schools Under-19 President’s Trophy Knock-Out Rugby Tournament final on Sunday at the Royal Sports Complex in Colombo.

This match will have a great amount of significance for both teams as they will be meeting in the President’s Trophy Knock-Out Tournament final after a lapse of 15 years.

In fact, it was way back in 2008 that Isipathana and St. Peter’s last met in the knock-out final where the lads from Bambalapitiya emerged victorious 16-11 after a thrilling contest at the Royal Sports Complex. It was a jubilant Captain Poornaka Delpachithra who received the Milo Presidents Trophy from the Chief Guest and former Trinity College Lion Haris Omar as the Peterites retained the title for the third successive year.

Delpachithra himself played a major role in their success as the dynamic third row forward scored two back-to-back tries inside three minutes to put St. Peter’s on the victory path after Isipathana had drawn first blood with a pushover try in the ninth minute.

Isipathana, of course, started their campaign well as their speedy back division studded with players of the calibre of Vishwamithra Jayasinghe, Damith Udayanga, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Ashan Gallage and Skipper Dinusha Chathuranga were able to produce some dazzling rugby early in the game.

In contrast, St. Peter’s had a severe blow shortly after the kick-off as their crack number eight Ishan Noor was forced to leave the field due to an injury. Despite the setback, the Peterites counterattacked their opponents whenever they won possession with a star-studded ‘pack’ that included Steven Nelson, Lahiru Udayanga, Roshan Fonseka, Shenal Dias and Suhiru Anthony.

The St. Peter’s backline was equally brilliant as Keith Gurusinghe, Dilshan Paul, Lakith Perera and Gerald Canute all contributed well to their success.

However, the match was a nightmare for the respective place-kickers as Sooriyabandara managed only two penalties from his four attempts while the Peterite fly half Harsha Weerakkody also had an off day while missing both conversions and a couple of crucial penalties.

After building up a close 13-8 lead at half time, St. Peter’s managed to increase their lead to 16-8 midway in the second half through a penalty from Amila Fernando.

Isipathana hit back almost immediately with an easy penalty from Sooriyabandara to make it 11-16 but St. Peter’s held on determinedly for the rest of the game until the final whistle from Priyantha Gunaratne.

Overall, this will be the sixth occasion that Isipathana and St. Peter’s are meeting in the final of the President’s Trophy Knock-Out Tournament since the event started in 1985.

It was in 1995 that the two teams met for the first time in the final with the Peterites running out victorious, but Isipathana were able to avenge that defeat in the very next year.

The two teams once again met in the 2001 President’s Trophy final where Isipathana emerged victorious but St. Peter’s under Ranuka Jayasinghe came back to clinch the 2007 encounter.