Royal forwards spearhead victory

Beat Peterite’s 36-25:

Indika Welagedara

Royal retained the B.C.Anghie Trophy for another year by beating St. Peters by36 points ( 3 Goals, 3 tries ) to 25 points (5 Tries) in their inter school rugby league match played at Bambalapitiya yesterday.. At half time the scores were deadlocked at10 all.

Both teams got into the field and displayed a superb brand of rugby where Royal forwards completely dominating over the Peterite forwards and they were faster than the Preterite’s. Surprisingly, the .Peterite three quarters were really outclassed by the Royalists where they ran in circles.

In the 10th minute of play St. Peters centre cum vice captain, Nishon Perera collected a loose ball and sprinted over 50 meters to score a fantastic try. Fly half Sandesh Jayawickrema missed the conversion.St. Peters 5 Royal Nil.

Royal 2nd row forward ChandulaJayasundera immediately equaled when he scored a try off a beautiful rolling maul in the 21st minute of play. Royal full backOving Askey missed the conversion. Score stood at 5 All.

St. Peters forged ahead in the 29th minute of play off a scrum, Peterite scrum half Avishka Heenpalla set his three quarters in motion where his speedy winger, Kamesh Fernando went over for a superb try. Fly half, Sandesh Jayawickrema missed the conversion again. St. Peters took the lead back by 10 points to Royal 5.

In the closing stage of the first half, Royal scored to equalise, when in the 37th minute of the first half, try machine of Royal, Supun Warnakulasuriya - the fantastic number eight planted a try off a fabulous rolling maul. Ovin Askey missed the conversion again. Now, Royal 5 Peters 5 At half time the score remained 5 all.

Soon after the break, Royal received a scrum and their scrum half, Ashok Vijeykumar quickly worked his three quarters where the speedster, Mahima Gamage scored a try after covering nearly 25 meters. Ovin Askey made a brilliant conversion from the touch line for Royal, to take the lead by 17 points to 10.

In the 14th minute of the second half, Royal worked their three quarters again where their skipper and centre Bhanuka Gamage, scored under the post for fullback Ovin Askey to make a simple conversion. Royal 24 - Peters 10.

For a knocked on by a Royal player, Peters received a scrum in the 19th minute of the second half, where their nippy scrum half, Avishka Heenpalla sent a long cutout pass to Centre Nishon Perera who ran around the entire Royal line to score a brilliant try after covering nearly 60 meters. To the utter dismay of the Peterite spectators, fly half Sandesh Jayawickre mamissed the conversion.Score Royal 24 to Peters 15.

In the 24th minute of the second half off a Peterite scrum, scrumhalf Heenpalla made a clear pass to Captain Kevin Dixon, where he knocked the ball forward. And in the ensuing scrum, scrumhalf Wijeykumar worked his line for his hardworking flanker, Shawqat Lahir to score a superb try after he created an overlapp by joining his three quarter line. Full back Askey made a good conversion to make the score, 31 points to 15 in favour of Royal.

Within four minutes, Peters were given a penalty for an infringement by a Royal player where they took a quick tap worked their three quarter line and in the ensuing maul their ‘workhorse’, 2nd row Rahal Delpachithra went over for a fantastic try. This time skipper, Kevin Dixon missed the conversion.Score stood at royal 31 Peters 20.

In the 32nd minute of play, Royal scrumhalf, Ashok Vijeykumar made a kick deep into the Peters territory where their tireless flanker cum vice captain, Keshan Peiris collected the loose ball and dived over for a fantastic coner flag try. Ovin Askey made a beautiful touchline conversion to increased the lead to Royal 36 to St. Peters 20.

In the dying stages of the game, the Preterite’s were awarded a scrum, where their scrumhalf, Avishka Heenpalla worked his three quarter line for their speedy winger, Diyath Fernando to score a consolation try.

Referee Dinka Peiris controlled the oyal game