Isipatana win Lanka Lions Sevens title in UAE for first time ..

sipathana bagged the Roger Rodrigo Challenge Cup for the first time when they emerged champions at the 11th Lanka Lions Inter-School Tag Rugby Sevens tournament at the Sharjah Wanderers Club ground on Friday.

They beat four-time winners Trinity College, Kandy 14-7 in a thrilling Cup final to end their decade-long wait for a trophy named after one of the finest rugby products of Isipathana Roger Rodrigo.

One of the most looked forward to sporting events by Lankan expatriates in UAE, this annual rugby tournament attracted a record number of 21 schools and 24 teams.

It was a dream come true for the ‘green shirts’ after success in this tournament eluded them despite being runners-up in the inaugural event in 2005.

Defending champions Trinity were favourites going into the final having topped Group A by edging out Isipathana 7-0.

The Kandy side drew first blood in the title clash with a sweeping move resulting in former CH and FC centre Azarath Deen and Lanka Lions veteran cantering across in the right corner after receiving a long pass.

Patana hit back when skipper Dulanka Gunasekera sent Chinthaka Pothupitiya through a yawning gap to score the equaliser.

CR and FC scrum half Kavindu Anjana Costa scored what turned out to be the matchwinning try shortly before the break with a spectacular dash from midfield to give Isipathana a 14-7 lead.

That scoreline remained unchanged with both sides defending grimly in a tightly contested match refereed by D Nimal.

Former Police and Sri Lanka scrum half Rodrigo was overjoyed after Isipathana won the plum.

“My trophy is coming back to the school,” said Rodrigo who has been running rugby at Lanka Lions for over two decades.

Costa, a double champion (league and knockout) with Isipathana in 2012, treasures this triumph equally highly.

“We practiced for a short time but played well as a team. It is a big achievement,” said Costa who flew in from Colombo as a last-minute replacement for his injured brother Ashan Costa.

“We trained for three weeks. I’m very happy because players worked very hard. Old boys (in UAE) got together and gave their support. The boys were really motivated and were determined to win this time,” said Isipathana coach Milinda Seneviratne.

Former Isipathana cricketer KG Priyantha was elated like many old boys of the school who were present in large numbers to cheer their side.

“I’m very happy because in Sri Lanka we win all the cups. It’s a motivation for us to help cricket and rugby teams and we are hoping to find Isipathana talent in UAE to continue this momentum,” he said.

It was also a result of taking the event seriously and eagerness to prove they are still the kings of rugby.

“We were really expecting to come to final. We put our everything this time. That’s why we played one team. Back home we are kings but unfortunately, none of them took it seriously until now. With Costa’s experience, the young guns did it, ofcourse with Roger’s help,” said Shyam Anver, a member of the newly formed Isipathana OBA in UAE.

Isipathana swept through the pool stages with wins over Carey 15-7, Wesley 21-7, St Anthony’s 40-7 and Zahira 21-0 apart from their blemish against Trinity.

Trinity buoyed by the presence of UAE star Imad Reyal rolled past all opposition until the final.

They trounced former champions Zahira 31-0, Carey 66-0, Wesley A 49-7 and St Anthony’s 56-0 before winning the Cup quarter-final 14-12 with a controversial late try against Wesley ‘Blues’.

Wesley were leading 12-7 until the final minute through tries by skipper Zalique Jayah and Lahiru Prasad.

However, Trinity’s Hilmy Mohammed, also known as ‘Bebo’, conjured a try in the dying seconds of the game to dash Wesley’s hope of an upset.

“We really played our hearts out. An injury to a key player made a huge difference. Also, ref (GaminiIndrasena) said it was last move. Unfortunately, he led the opposition play on which is not right. But we can’t just blame the ref. End of day we lost the match,” said Jayah, a former CH and FC three quarter.

Isipathana beat traditional rivals Thurstan 14-0 to coast into the semifinals where a solo effort from Pothupitiya saw them edge out Lumbini 7-0.

Reyal gave a sizzling display in the semifinals scoring a try and sent Saliya Kumara through with a sweet pass to help Trinity beat Mahanama 14-5 in the other semifinal.

However,Reyal could not replicate his magic in the finals as Isipathana shut him out and Trinity to bask in glory.

Former champions St Peter’s won a thrilling Plate final which went into extra time clawing back after Mahdi Samat scored twice to put Wesley ahead.

Havelocks and Police scrum half Rizwan Meedin kept the Peterites in the hunt with a spectacular try.

Skipper Madisha Silva got the equaliser with a last-gasp effortandscored the winner with a brilliant dash.

Royal won their battle against traditional rivals S. Thomas’ 28-14 but lost in the Cup quarter-final to Lumbini 14-0.

Lumbini produced the Player of the Tournament Thusitha Dushan, a Havelocks stalwart, who scored 11 tries in the pool stages.

Zahira won the Bowl and Dharmaraja the Spoon.