Royal keeps unblemished record beating Petes

Ranjan ANANDAPPA

RUGBY: Royal maintained their unblemished record when they produced a dazzling display of open rugby in the second half to beat St. Peter’s by 30 points (1 goal, 4 tries, 1 penalty) to 10 (1 goal, 1 penalty) win in their school league rugger match played at Bambalapitiya yesterday.

Both teams did not play to their true potential and nothing spectacular was dished out to the spectators. The Peterites went on the offensive from the inception, but lack of cohesion deprived them from gathering points.

The Royal forwards spearheaded by number 8 Hamza Hassan, Ashan Dissanayake, Hasthika Bandaranyake and hooker Udara de Silva played tirelessly in the loose, while Peterite winger Lakith Perera looked dangerous when he was in possession of the ball.

Royal opened scoring midway in the first half through a 40m penalty put over by centre Mushin Faleel. Royal struck back in rapid succession when fly half and skipper Naren Dhason pierced the Peterite defence and covered good ground to touch down under the post. Faleel added the extra points.

The winners led 10-0 at the breather.

On resumption Dilshan Paul reduced the lead firing over a penalty for the Petes. Royal went on to extend their lead through their flanker Hasthika Bandaranyake who touched down for an unconverted try. Then number 8 Hamza Hassan put Royal’s position beyond doubt, while the Peterites showed clear signs of wilting under pressure and made enough mistakes. While the Royalist made inroads in the Petes territory scoring two more unconverted tries through their winger Nabil Faizer, St. Peter’s centre Danushka Ranjan produced a breathtaking run to cover over 60 meters to give some consolation to the Bambalapitiya school by scoring a try which Paul added the extra points.

The Royalists would have had a better shoreline if not for Mushin Faleel’s inaccurate kicking.

Irshard Cader refereed.