Five-star Fajudeen takes Royal to 29-22 win over Science

Sajeewa Jayakody

Azmir Fajudeen scored five tries as Royal College Colombo recorded a 29 points (two goals, three tries) to 22 (one goal, three tries) win over

Science College Mount Lavinia in their SINGER ‘A’ Division league rugby tournament match played at Havelock Park yesterday.

At half time Royal led 17-10.

Fajudeen, the burly Royal hooker, was spot on with all five tries helping the defending champions finish third in the league table. Fajudeen started his try scoring spree in the second minute of the game, when he touched down after a rolling maul near the right corner flag. Ovin

Askey was unable to convert it. Fifteen minutes later, Science College number eight MJY Fernando scored a push over try off a line out to draw equal at 5-all. Place kicker B H Madumadawa missed the easy conversion. In the 20th minute, Fajudeen scored near mid-right after a strong rolling maul. Askey missed the conversion again and Royal led 10-5. Science drew level when centre AT Maduranga, ran round the posts, to score a lovely try after a three-quarter break. The conversion was missed and the two schools were level at 10-all.

It was visibly clear that the poor place kicking of Science during both halves contributed towards their defeat. However the Mount Lavinia school’s forwards and three-quarters were better than Royal’s throughout the match. Royal scored a goal with the help of Fajudeen off another rolling maul try. It was converted by Askey and the Reid Avenue school went to ‘lemons’ with a 17-10 lead. Two minutes after the resumption, Science place kicker missed a 35-metre penalty but made amends four minutes later when they came back with a push over try. Place kicker B H Madumadawa put over a difficult conversion this times to equal the scores 17-all.

Royal scored an unconverted try through Fajudeen off another rolling maul in the left corner flag in the 15th minute to surge ahead once again 22-17.

Ten minutes later, Fajudeen power prevailed as he touched down near the right corner flag and Askey made no mistake with the conversion and Royal led 29-17. In the dying stages of the game, Science centre A T Maduranga touched down off a three-quarter move.

Referee: Rohan Fernando