Antonians edge out Royal - 24/22

by S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Cor.

St. Anthony's College, Kandy, withstood a late and fierce challenge by Royal College before posting a hard fought 24 points (3 goals, 1 penalty) to 22 (2 goals, 1 try, 1 penalty) in their schools under-19 Division one segment 'A' rugby tournament match played at the Bogambara Stadium, Kandy, yesterday. At the breather the Antonians led 21-8.

Royal's fight back came in the last 20 minutes and they scored twice during that period but from the amount of possession they enjoyed deep inside the Antonian territory, they could have scored more than this and wrapped up the match in their favour.

After a blank 20 minutes the Antonians opened scoring when scrum half Dulay Madhusanka Jayatissa spotting an opening crept through to score near the posts and full back Sajith Hemantha added the extra points. St. Anthony's 7-0. In the 25th the Antonians went ahead further when their forwards took play inside Royal's 22 and their fly half Fazlur Rahiman ran a short distance and later when challenge kicked the ball and fell over under the posts giving Sajith Hemantha an easy kick at goal. St. Anthony's College led 14-0.

Royal College fought back briefly through their forwards and their hooker Sheik Jabbar scored off a maul mid right. Fly half Rimzi Jamaldeen failed to add the extra points. Royal 5-14. With two minutes to go for the short break the Antonians moved the ball and their full back Sajith Hemantha joined the three quarters to score close to the post and added the extra points himself for the Antonians to increase their lead to 21-5.

Just before the short blast Royals fly half Rimzi Jamaldeen converted a 35 metre penalty to reduce the lead to 8-21.

Soon after resumption the Antonians increased their tally to 24-8 through a penalty fired by Sajith Hemantha.

From here onward it was Royal's game through a few times the Antonians were seen in Royal territory but they were not successful in scoring.

In the 20th minute after several good moves Royals were 8 Pasindu Perera powered his way to score mid left and Rimzi Jamaldeen added the extra points. Royal 15-24.

Royal College kept the pressure and the Antonians held on But it was only a matter of time before they gave in.

In the 35th minute a Royal's three quarters made inroads into the Antonian territory and their hard running centre Azman Khan scored mid left and Rimzi Jamaldeen added the extra points to make it 24-22.

Charith Kodagoda refereed.