Royal in hard-fought 14-11 win over Joes

Royal College Colombo withstood a fierce challenge from St Joseph's College Colombo to score a hard-fought 14 points (one try, three penalties) to 11 (one try, two penalties) in their Singer League Under-20 Schools rugby match played at Longden Place yesterday after leading 11-5 at the breather.

It was the Josephians, who opened scoring when full back Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya fielded a kick ahead by Royal's fly half Arun Wijayakumar and ran 60-metres along the left flank to fall over for an unconverted try to make it 5-0 in favour of Joes.

The Reid Avenue School equalized 15 minutes later when off a 10-metre line-out hooker Supun Warnakulasuriya scored by the left corner flag.

Nimshan Jayawardene missed the conversion but he made amends a few minutes later when he fired across a 35-metre penalty to make it 8-5 in favour of Royal.

On the stroke of half time, Royal skipper Nimshan Jayawardene made no mistake with a 25-metre penalty to make it 11-5 in favour of Royal at half time.

Early in the second half, the Josephians reduced the deficit when Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya put over a 40-metre penalty. Royal 11-8.

Ten before the final whistle, the Josephians equalized when Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya put over 30-metre penalty to make 11-all.

In the 35th minute, Royal skipper Nimshan Jayawardene made no mistake with a 20-metre penalty to make it 14-11 in favour of Royal.

The Reid Avenue school kept on attacking but could not penetrate the Josephian defence in the dying stages of the game and the score read 14-11 in favour of Royal at the final whistle.

Referee: AC Tennekoon.