Unbeaten Royal edge out Joes 25-22

By Indika Welagedara

Royal College, Colombo kept their unbeaten record intact when they beat St.Joseph College Colombo by 25 points (2 Goals, 1 Try, 2 Penalties) To 22 points ( 2 Goals, 1 Try, 1 Penalty) in their Singer Schools Under 20 rugby match played at Royal Complex in Reid Avenue yesterday. At half time Royal College were leading 18 points to 17.

Royal’s scum half Ashok Wijekumar about to sling out a pass at Royal Complex yesterday. Pic Susantha Wijegunasekera

The match got off to a fantastic start with both forwards engaged in a hectic battle for position. Eventhough Royal forwards were bigger in size, the Josephian pack played a faster game in the set pieces. The surprising factor was the entire Josephian three quarter line were very much faster than the Royal three quarters, due to Royal playing with out their original

centre, Akash Iddawela till the second half and their pencil size, speedy winger, Shabith Feroz did not play the full game due to fever.

Royal opened scoring in the 3rd minute of play, when Josephian forward was penalized for a infringement by referee and Royal fullback, Ovin Askey put over a 35 metre penalty to read the score Royal 3 to St.Joseph Nil.

In the 6th minute of play, St. Joseph equaled the score when their fullback, Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya put over a 30 metre penalty. Score read Royal 3 to St.Joseph’s 3.

Within the space of two minutes Royal fullback, Ovin Askey’s kick was smothered by Josephian flanker, Shehan Bopearachchi and the loose ball was picked up by their scrum half ,Vimukthi Rahula who side stepped the entire Royal three quarters to score a fabulous try under the post covering, nearly 25 metres. Fullback, Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya made the conversion to read the score 10 points to 3 in favour of Joes.

Off a three quarter move, in the 13th minute of play St.Joseph’s centre, Rumesh Priyankara went through the entire Royal defence to score a try near the right corner flag with sheer burst of speed covering more than 30 metres. Fullback, Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya made the touch line conversion beautifully for the score to read St.Joseph’s 17 to Royal’s 3.

In the 29th minute of play, off a rolling maul Royal’s unsung hero and number eight, Supun Warnakulasuriya scored a fantastic try which ultimately was his 14th try for the season. Fullback, Ovin Askey missed the difficult conversion to close the gap - St.Joseph 17 to Royal 8.

Within the space of five minutes, off a ruck Royal worked their three quarterline where the ball changed several hands onto their speedy winger, Mahima Gamage who went through for a corner flag try, passing several Josephian defenders. This time Royal fullback, Ovin Askey made a brilliant corner flag conversion to take the score to 17-15, in favour of St.Joseph’s College.

Royal received a penalty in the 39th minute of play, when a Josephian player was spotted off side by the referee and their reliable fullback, Ovin Askey made no mistake by putting it over 30 metres out to make Royal overtake the Josephian’s for the first time by 18 points to 17.

At half time the score read Royal College 18 to St.Joseph’s College 17.

After the resumption in the 60th minute of play, off a five metre scrum, Royal scrumhalf Ashok Vijeykumar collected the ball and went through the St. Joseph’s defence to score a try under the post which their fullback, Ovin Askey converted it easily and the score read 25-17 in favour of Royal College.

In the 68th minute of play, off a scrum St.Joseph’s scrumhalf, Vimukthi Rahula set his three quarters in motion, where their speedy winger, Vinul Fernando went through for a corner flag try covering nearly 40 metres. To the utter dismay of the Josephian fans, ever reliable fullback Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya, missed the difficult conversion.

The score read: Royal

College 25 points to St.Joseph’s College 22. This score remained till the final whistle of the referee.

Referee Priyantha Gunarathna had an excellent game with the whistle.