Royal in smashing 38-7 win over Antonians

by Ranjan ANANDAPPA

Royal College maintained their unbeaten record with a comfortable 38 points (4 goals, 2 tries) to 7 points (1 goal) win over St. Anthony's College, Katugastota in their Singer Under-19 School Rugby match played at the Royal College Sports Complex grounds yesterday.

The winners opened scoring in the 15th minute of the match when winger Ijaz Bohoran crashed through the Antonian's defence to touch down and Rimzy Jamaldeen gave the extra points with a fine conversion. Royal were without their skipper and place kicker Arshard Jamaldeen and Damien Ratwatte and scored again in the 25th minute when winger Wasim Bawa touched down under the post and Ramzi Jamaladeen (no relative to the skipper Arshard) put over the conversion.

Royal dominated a good share of the first half through their robust forwards play, but the Antonians came back to the game just before the breather through a try scored by winger Jagoda with fly half Fazlur Rahman adding the extra points. Royal led 14-7 at the half way mark.

On resumption Royal got their act together in no uncertain terms and kept on attacking in the Antonian territory.

The Antonians had little or no chance as the Reid Acenue School went ahead further through a try by flanker Andrew Siriwardena converted by Rimzi Jamaldeen to make it 21-7. Winger Nimshan Jayawardena put the finishing touches to a three quarter move dashing forty metres to touch down. Jayawardena pierced the Antonian defence once again to stretch Royal's lead. Both tries went unconverted as Rimzi Jamaldeen who was on the spot with his boot failed to add the extra points.

With the Royal scoreline reaching unassailable proportions they took the opportunity to test some of their bench players. Royal made their final tally 38-7 through a Wasim Bava try with Ramzil Jamaldeen making no mistake with the kick this time.

The only scoring opportunity the Antonians had during the dying stages of the game, a penalty was missed by fly half Fazleer Rahman.

Referee: Dinka Peiris.