Royal retain Gunaratne Trophy for third successive year

Beat Thomians 22-5:

By Ranjan Anandappa

RUGBY: Royal completed a hat trick of wins while retaining the Michael Gunaratne Trophy when they defeated their traditional rivals S. Thomas’ by 22 points (2 goals, 1 try and a penalty) to 5 (1 try) in their schools rugger encounter played at the Royal College Sports Complex at Stanley Wijesundera Mawatha yesterday after leading 10-5 at the breather.

They increased their tally of wins in the series to 24 to the Thomians 17.

It was the Royal’s buoyant set of forwards Nikira Senanayake, Udara Silva, Shamir Fajudeen, Hasthika Bandanayake and Bilal Hassen that made the major difference. The match was confined to the forwards of either side, but Royal’s ‘eight’ swept aside their opposite numbers and dominated play from the inception.

Regular No. 8 Bilal Hassen played as the hooker, while Shailendra Chandrasekeran after missing the games against St.Peter’s and Trinity made a welcome return and made a significant contribution to the side. His safe pair of hands and judicious kicks to touch gave his side a big advantage.

Royal drew first blood in the seventh minute when fly half Naren Dhason drew the defence and passed the ball to centre Duminda Attygalle to touch down and Shailendra Chandrasekeran added the extra points.

The Thomians sprang back in the 21st minute through their winger Sumith Kalupathirana who touched down for an unconverted try.

10 minutes before the breather Royal increased their lead when full-back Shailendra Chandrasekeran fired across a 20-metre penalty to make it 10-5 at lemons.

On resumption the forwards of both sides played tirelessly, but the three quarters of both sides at times squandered valuable possession for which the forwards worked so hard due to soggy ground conditions.

The ball was dropped at vital moments by both sides. Royal forwards kept on attacking forcing a series of deep scrums, and the Thomians back division was only able to defend.

Royal put the issue beyond doubt with two rapid tries, Bilal Hassen fell over off a typical forwards play try which Shailendra Chandrasekeran failed to add the extra points and burly number 8 Hasthika Bandaranayake scored the final try with Chandrasekeran putting over the conversion.

Referee. Dilroy Fernando.

Royal won the M.P. Thambapillai Trophy 13-7.