Royal warm up in style, beat Antonians 40-13

by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Correspondent

Royal College warmed up in style for their next Bradby Shield encounter when they registered a comfortable 40 points (5 goals, 1 try) to 13 (1 goal, 2 penalties) win over St. Anthony's College in their schools under 20 Division One Rugby Tournament Match played at Nittawela yesterday. At half Royal College led 28-3.

This was Royal's 8th successive win in as many matches. The highlight of the match was the place kicking of their fly half Arshard Jamaldeen who goalled the tries from varying angles and most of them from very difficult angles.

The Antonians could have scored twice in the first five minutes of play but their moves lacked the finishing touches. Royal set the score board moving when their No. 8 and skipper Shehan Pathirana scored by the right corner flag in the 8th minute of play. Jamaldeen added the extra points.

Eight minutes later Royals winger Anjana Kudahetty went over by the right corner flag and fly half Arshard Jamaldeen made a fine conversion.

In the 17th minute the Antonians reduced the lead through a 40 metre penalty converted by fly half Dhanushka Dayan 3-14.

In the 26th minute of play a desperate clearance by an Antonian defender was smothered by Royal's centre Damien Ratwatte who collected the ball and sprinted about 40 metres to score under the post and Jamaldeen obliged with the kick.

Royal further increasing their tally in the 35th minute when flanker Wasim Bawa scored by the left corner flag following a maul Arshard Jmaldeen added the extra points.

The second half saw the Royalists filing up the points through tries by wingers Ijaz Bohran and Anjana Kudahetty and Arshard Jamaldeen goalled one of these tries for Royal to put themselves in the box seat leading 40-3.

But the Antonian fought back in the last 20 minutes by not only stopping the Royalists from scoring but also added 10 more points to their tally through a fine try scored by flanker Sajid Lahir which was goalled by fly half Dhanushka Dayan who also converted a 30 metre penalty.

D. Peiris refereed.