Royal in smashing 31-12 win over Wesley

By Sajeewa Jayakody

Royal College Colombo recorded a smashing 31 points (four goals, one penalty) to 12 (one goal, one try) win over Wesley College in their Singer League Under-20 rugby encounter played at CR and FC grounds at Longden Place yesterday after trailing 7-12 at the breather.

It was the Wesleyites, who opened scoring through a second phase move from the corner flag by winger Sajith Ariyawansa in the fourth minute which was unconverted. Five minutes later, the Royalists snatched the lead when winger Udesh Ranaweera scored mid-right. Skipper Rimzi Jamaldeen converted and Royal led 7-5.

The Reid Avenue school missed a golden opportunity of increasing their lead when one of the three-quarters knocked on before scoring the try which was disallowed by the referee.

On the stroke of half time, the Wesleylites grabbed the lead when S R Jayampathy put the finishing touches to a move begun in mid-field by scoring by the posts. Skipper Rahul de Silva made no mistake with the conversion and Wesley led 12-7 at the breather.

The second half belonged to Royal who dominated play through their hard working forwards with Shuaib Jabbar, Pasindu Perera, Keshan Peiris, Yasun Weerasuriya, Chameera Gamage and vice captain Shuayb Muthaliph giving a terrific display to completely outplay their counterparts in the loose. However the Reid Avenue school conceded a major share of the line outs due to some poor jumping by lock forwards - Yasun Weerasuriya and Dineth Karunaratne. In the fifth minute after resumption, Royal skipper Rimzi Jamaldeen fired across a 25-metre penalty to reduce the deficit. Wesley 12-10.

Skipper Rimzi Jamaldeen, who had a grand game, made a superb interception off a Wesley three-quarter move and dashed through 25 metres to touch down under the posts and added the extra points himself. Royal 17-12.

The lads from Reid Avenue put the issue beyond doubt in the 25th minute of the second half when winger Udesh Ranaweera crossed Wesley's goal line off a three-quarter move and ran round to score under the posts. Rimzi Jamaldeen made no mistake with the conversion and Royal led 24-12.

Five minutes later, Royal skipper Rimzi Jamaldeen missed a 50-metre penalty which saw a Wesley defender knock-on. Off the ensuing scrum Royal full back Nimshan Jayawardena crashed through for a try with Rimzi Jamaldeen converting with ease to give the Reid Avenue school a resounding 31-12 win and inflict the first defeat on Wesley this season.

The match was a personal triumph for Royal skipper Rimzi Jamaldeen who contributed 16 points by scoring a try, putting over a penalty and converting four tries.

Referee Dilroy Fernando.