* TMO Dinka’s decision was ‘spot on”
In a dramatic turn of events, Isipathana College secured a thrilling 19-18 victory over Royal College in a super round game, thanks to a controversial penalty awarded in the dying seconds of their league match. With the game seemingly in Royal College’s grasp, a crucial error by Royal’s number 20 handed Isipathana a chance to win the traditional Major Milroy Fernando trophy and also keep their championship hopes alive.
As the clock ticked down to just 30 seconds remaining, and with Isipathana’s line having knocked the ball forward, the referee awarded a scrum to Royal College. Leading 18-16 at that point, Royal College was on the verge of securing the win by simply winning the scrum and kicking the ball out of play.
However, in a crucial lapse of judgment, Royal College’s number 20 pushed an Isipathana player after the knock-on was called. The Isipathana player fell to the ground, and while some considered his fall to be somewhat theatrical, it led the referee to consult the Television Match Official (TMO) as he was unable to see the incident clearly.
TMO Dinka Peiris, after reviewing the footage, advised the referee to issue a warning to the Royal College player and award a penalty to Isipathana College.
This decision was met with jubilation from the Isipathana team, who seized the opportunity to slot the ball between the uprights and secure an unexpected 19/18 win, when the game was virtually dead and buried after they had just knocked on.
The decision by TMO Peiris sparked considerable debate across social media platforms, with many questioning the call.
However, the review of video footage from various angles and adherence to the World Rugby rulebook confirmed that the TMO’s advice was accurate and justified.
In another significant match played at Bambalapitiya, St. Peter’s College emerged victorious over Trinity College Kandy with a score of 38-29. The game was fiercely contested, but St. Peter’s managed to take and hold the lead in the latter stages of the match.
Looking ahead, the upcoming clash between St. Peter’s College (48 points) and Isipathana College (44 points) is anticipated to be a highly competitive contest, as both teams remain unbeaten. This game will be pivotal in deciding the league champion.
Interestingly, St. Peter’s College still has a theoretical chance of winning the championship, even if they lose the final game, due to various potential mathematical scenarios that could come into effect based on the final outcome of the game.
