Article by Sathira Marahela (Web Content Team)
Trinity College roared to another commanding victory in the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025, defeating the formidable Isipathana 1st XV Rugby Team 32–10 on the 27th of July at the iconic Pallekele Stadium. With just two weeks remaining in the league, this result strengthens Trinity’s unbeaten record and reaffirms their title ambitions in this year’s fiercely competitive season. Widely known as the “Green Machine”, Isipathana brought their signature pace and intensity, but the Lions proved too strong on the day.
The grandstands at Pallekele were buzzing with passionate supporters of both schools. From the opening whistle, Trinity showcased the discipline, flair, and competence that has defined their 2025 campaign.
From the first whistle, Trinity came out with clear intent. Their passes were fast and accurate, and their teamwork was sharp. It was Trinity’s captain, Usman Safraz, who made a clever pass to Hamza Abdeen, who sprinted through a gap to score the first try of the match. Shan Althaf successfully kicked the conversion, giving Trinity a 7–0 lead.
Shortly after, Trinity were awarded a penalty due to an error from the Isipathana defence. Althaf took the kick and added three more points to the scoreboard, making it 10–0.
Trinity kept pushing. Their next breakthrough came when Udan Wijekoon kicked the ball behind Isipathana’s line, allowing Althaf to chase it down, collect it cleanly, and score his own try — stretching the lead to 17–0.
Just before half-time, Isipathana too managed to score a handful of tries, making the new score 17–5, with the Trinity Lions still holding a commanding lead.
First Half Score: 17 – 00 (Trinity)
The Green Machine started off with a few tries of their own after the break, narrowing the score to 17–10.
The match then took a dramatic turn. Isipathana’s No. 8, Shaakib Zumri, was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle on Trinity’s captain. Further shifting the tides in Trinity’s favour, Safraz soon forced a penalty, and Althaf calmly slotted in another three points, tilting the scales further and making the score 20–10.
Next came one of Trinity’s most eye-catching plays. Althaf delivered a perfect cross-field kick that landed right in the hands of Minula Yaddehige, who scored with ease — his 11th try of the league season. Though the kick missed, Trinity now had a comfortable lead of 25–10.
Hungry for a bonus-point win, Trinity kept pressing. In the final moments, Dhishal Thomas pushed his way over the line after a short drive close to the posts. Althaf, seeing the opportunity, brought the final score to 32–10 — filling the Pallekele grounds with the roars of Lions as Trinity College Kandy emerged victorious once more.
Second Half Score: 32 – 10 (Trinity Won)
A special note of appreciation must be directed towards the entire Trinity College 1st XV squad and the coaching staff, MICs, and the Principal, whose hard work and strategic vision continue to guide the team to new heights. The commitment to skill development, tactical understanding, and mental discipline has restored Trinity Rugby to its legendary status.
Match day Scores Across Age Groups
Earlier in the day, several other Trinity vs Isipathana age-group teams were also in action, producing strong performances across the board:
- Under 12 (A): Trinity 35 – 05 Isipathana
- Under 12 (B): Trinity 63 – 00 Isipathana
- Under 14: Trinity 07 – 12 Isipathana
- Under 16: Trinity 12 – 07 Isipathana
