Defending champions Royal College started off 2016 season with a convincing 36-10 victory over DS at Royal Complex this evening.
The first week of the schools rugby season kicked today with three matches happening in Colombo and Kandy. Royal College took on minnows DS Senanayake College while 7’s Champions S Thomas’ took on St Joseph’s at CR&FC and in Kandy it was Trinity against Wesley College.
DS kicked off proceedings. It didn’t take much time for Royal to stamp authority on the game. Mahima Gamage was first up with the honours in the 4th minute when he powered his way over the line to put his team ahead. Ovin Askey missed out on a fairly easy conversion to add the extras. (RC 5 – DSS 00 )
DS pulled back the deficit few minutes later through a well taken penalty from their playmaker Ashraf Muzmi. Royal lacked discipline in the first half which gave DS a sniff of creating an upset. (RC 5 – DSS 3 )
Royal struck for the second time through a converted try by Mahima, his second try for the match. DSS missed few tackles in the 22 and that’s all Mahima needed to punish his opponents. Ovin Askey corrected himself on this occasion and bisected the uprights with ease. ( RC 12 – DSS 3 )
Hamza Reeza put Royal way ahead in the game with an unconverted try in the 25th minute. Royal got over the line twice before but they were held up by DSS. Hamza carried the ball from the scrum and pushed his way over the line. ( RC 17 – DSS 3 )
Five minutes before the half time, Ruchira Weerakoon of DSS made a 60 meter run to score under the post. Royal knocking on the ball inside DSS 40m which was gathered by Ashraf and passed to Ruchira who shoved away two defenders and ran all the way. Conversion was an easy one for the likes of Ashraf Muzmi ( RC 17 – DSS 10 )
Half time ended with a send-off to A Ratnayake of DSS.
HT: Royal College 17 – DS Senanayke College 10
Royal College was edgy throughout the match but they were lucky enough not to be punished by DSS for the indiscipline they showed in the field. Ten minutes into the second half Nikhila Gunadeera of Royal scored their fourth try of the match. Scrum inside the 22m, cleanly taken by Royal and Nikhila shoved few defenders and went over the line. Ovin added the extras. ( RC 24 – DSS 10 )
Photo Album – D.S.Senanayake College v Royal College (Schools Rugby 2016)
DSS looked good in patches but they could not make any difference to their score in the second half. Nikhil George scored the 5th try of the match for the home side and sealed the victory in the 67th minute. Royal kept the basics right and just working the ball creating gaps to go through and score. Ovin added two points with his 4th successful kick for the day. ( RC 31 – DSS 10 )
Yohan Kanishka put the icing on the cake with a try in the 70th minute. A quick tap taken inside the 5m and Yohan easily pushed his way over the line. It was a sloppy game by this Royal outfit they will have to step up their game in the coming matches. DSS should take heart from the fact they put up in the match. But it’s pretty obvious that DSS is not a team which should be taken for granted.
FT: Royal College 36 – DS Senanayke College 10
Royal College : Mahima Gamage 2T, Hamza Reeza 1T, Nikhila Gunadeera 1T, Nikhil George 1T, Yohan Kanishka 1T, Ovin Askey 3C
DS Senanayke College : Ashraf Muzmi 1P 1C, Ruchira Weerakoon 1T
ThePapare.com Man of the Match: Mahima Gamage ( RC )
Referee: Priya Suranga
Coach of Royal College Sanath Martis speaking to ThePapare.com:
” It was pretty sloppy play from the team. I expected much better than this. Nothing much to say just that I’m really disappointed. “
