Royal warm up in style, beat Rajans 48-5

by S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy sports Corr.

Royal College warmed up for their next weeks 'Bradby Shield encounter with a pleasing 48 points (4 goals, 4 tries) to 5 (1 try) win over Dharmaraja College in their schools under 20 Division One Rugby Tournament match played at the Bogambara Stadium, Kandy yesterday. At the breather the Royalists were in control of the game leading 24-5.

The match was marred by some unwarranted play which saw four players being sent on 'sin bin' during various stages of the game. At one stage the Rajans had only 13 players on the field with two of them being 'sin binned'.

It was the Rajans who set the score board moving through a try of full back Kevinde Hettiarachchi in the 7th minute of play. Thereafter all scoring was done by the Royalists.

It was in the 15th minute that the winners opened their account through fly half Harshard Jamaldeen to equalise.

Royal took over the lead in the 25th minute through Irasha de Alwis who powered his way to score mid left and fly half Jamaldeen added the extra points.

But 10 minutes from the short blast, the Royalists stormed the Rajans territory and scored two tries through skipper and Shehan Pathirana and Tharuka Wijesuriya with Arshard Jamaldeen goalling one of these tries to take up a lead of 24-5 by the breather.

Royal dominance continued in the second-half and in the 5th minute Damien Ratwatte made a piercing run to score far left. This was followed by a try by Adil Jabber who sneaked over mid left and Jamaldeen added the extra points. Royal 36-5.

In the 22nd minute Irosha de Alwis powered his way to score off a forward rush.

Royals final try came in the 29th minute through Lahiru Pathirana which was goalled by Jamaldeen.

Aruna Rankothge refereed.