07/06/2026
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞! 𝐈𝐬𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐫𝐨𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝟑𝟏-𝟏𝟐 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥
The Isipathana College Rugby Team, proudly known as the Green Machine, produced a spirited performance to defeat Royal College Colombo 31-12 in their opening Super Round fixture of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2026 on 6 June 2026 at Havelock Grounds.
The victory carried added significance as the encounter also determined the winner of the prestigious Major Milroy Fernando Memorial Trophy. Having lost possession of the trophy last year, Isipathana successfully reclaimed the silverware with an impressive second-half display in the 35th Trophy encounter played since its inauguration in 1986.
Isipathana accumulated their 31 points through five tries and three conversions, while Royal College responded with two tries and one conversion.
Royal opened the scoring through Dinuka Perera, with Mawsoof adding the conversion to give Royal an early 7-0 lead. Isipathana responded through Newith Mewnaka, whose try was converted by Nimantha Sandeepa to level the scores at 7-all.
Royal regained the advantage when Methika Yatawara crossed the line from a rolling maul, although the conversion was unsuccessful. Isipathana hit back through winger Dilum Senadirage, and despite the missed conversion, the teams went into halftime deadlocked at 12-12.
The Green Machine took control after the break. Nimantha Sandeepa scored under the posts and converted his own try to put Isipathana ahead 19-12. Captain Shakib Zumri then added two second-half tries, while Sandeepa successfully converted the final effort, sealing a convincing 31-12 victory.
Although the first half was evenly contested, Isipathana dominated proceedings after halftime, preventing Royal from adding to their score while extending their own lead to reclaim the Major Milroy Fernando Memorial Trophy.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐫𝐨𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲
The Major Milroy Fernando Memorial Trophy was donated in 𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟔 by 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐃𝐮𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨 in memory of his son, 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐫𝐨𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨, an old boy of both Isipathana College and Royal College.
Major Fernando made the supreme sacrifice while serving in the Sri Lanka Army at Omanthai, Vavuniya, on 𝟔 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟔 during the conflict against the LTTE. In the same year, Colonel Fernando donated the trophy to commemorate his son's memory and to strengthen the longstanding rugby rivalry between Isipathana College and Royal College.
Isipathana had the distinction of winning the inaugural encounter in 1986 under the captaincy of the dynamic Selvin Sallay, recording an 11-9 victory. The Green Machine retained the trophy in 1987 under the leadership of the late Nilantha Lakshmiwewa following a hard-fought 13-13 draw. Royal College secured their first triumph in 1988 under captain Lasitha Gunaratne.
With this year's victory, Isipathana has now won the Major Milroy Fernando Memorial Trophy for the 17th time, while Royal College has claimed the trophy on 13 occasions. Four encounters have ended in draws. The 1993 fixture was subsequently declared null and void, while the match was not played in 1991, 1994, 1995, 2007, 2020 and 2021, with the latter two cancellations resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬
𝐈𝐬𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 (𝟏𝟕 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬)
1986 (11-9), 1990 (10-3), 1992 (14-3), 1996 (16-10), 1997 (30-6), 1999 (10-5), 2005 (12-10), 2006 (22-7), 2008 (17-12), 2010 (27-5), 2012 (34-22), 2014 (15-14), 2016 (28-14), 2017 (22-17), 2022 (21-15), 2024 (19-18), 2026 (31-12)
𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 (𝟏𝟑 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬)
1988 (24-9), 1989 (9-6), 1998 (14-10), 2000 (18-14), 2003 (19-8), 2004 (7-5), 2009 (22-3), 2011 (11-10), 2015 (21-8), 2018 (41-7), 2019 (19-6), 2023 (22-17), 2025 (34-31)
𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬
1987 (13-13), 2001 (0-0), 2002 (5-5), 2013 (20-20)
𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝
1991, 1994, 1995, 2007, 2020, 2021
Null and Void 1993
The 2026 victory marks another proud milestone for the Green Machine, who once again brought the Major Milroy Fernando Memorial Trophy back to Isipathana and added a new chapter to the rich history of this annual contest.
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𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦
https://dailynews.lk/2023/08/09/sports/66670/a-look-back-at-royal-isipathana-under-19-rugby-series/
https://archives1.dailynews.lk/2022/08/10/sports/284690/epic-tale-royal-isipathana-under-20-rugby-series