Royal College Colombo continued their unbeaten run this season as they get over the line in fine style against St Peter’s College, 36 points to 25.
Week seven of the Singer school’s rugby season kicked off on Saturday the 6th, with six teams going head to head to rise up in the points table or to retain their top positions. St Peters College hosted Royal college for the 72nd B C Anghei Memorial trophy. Both teams having won their previous matches convincingly were pumped to add points to their tally. From the outset Royal looked favorites but the Peterites looked to improve after their first blemish against their arch rivals.
Sandesh Jayawickrama kicked off proceedings in what seemed to be thrilling contest. The Peterites looked very organized and determined on the field first up, kept the ball in Royal’s half for the first few mintues and finally Nishon Perera found his way through the defenders for the first try. Royalists looked to take it easy first up and the Petes capitalized. ( SPC 05 – RC 00 )
Both teams conceded a lot of penalties especially in the first half. Sandesh got a fairly easy penalty which he failed to convert into points. Royal slowly started to hit their stride as the forwards kept probing at the Peterites. Credit should be given to the home side for putting up a great defense against the strong forwards of Royal College. Royal did not give up until they got the points on the board and it was Chandula Jayasundara who managed to go over the line for the visitors. ( SPC 05 – RC 05 )
Sandesh got another chance to add points but failed to do so, but shortly afterwards the home side managed to lead yet again when Avishka Ranasinghe pierced his way through the middle; the Peters line worked the ball to left winger Kamesh Fernando who went over to score their second try of the match ( SPC 10 – RC 05 )
Kevin ‘Kutty’ Dixon came onto the field just before the half time as the home side kept pushing at the visitors. Royal were patchy but when they have possession they looked lethal. After poor clearance by the Peterites, giving away a line out close to the 22′ Royal college managed to shove their way to their second try, it was the highest try scorer this season Supun Warnakulasuriya who manged to get over the line for Royal College just before the half time whistle. It was a very competitive passage of rugby by both teams. All set up for thrilling finish to this massive game.
Half Time : SPC 10 – RC 10
Ovin Askey kicked off proceedings in the second half. Royal got back to their usual fast rugby from the start. This approach by the visitors took the home side by surprise. Mahima Gamage was the first to get over the line for Royal College. The ball was turned over by Royal College and Chandula Jayasinghe nicely chipped it over the defence line right into Mahima’s hands. Conversion was succefull by Ovin Askey. ( SPC 10 – RC 17 )
Royal kept on troubling the scorecard as W Ashok took a quick tap from their own half and made good ground and passed the ball to his captain Bhanuka Gamage who flew over the try line under the post. It was an easy conversion to Ovin Askey. ( SPC 10 – RC 24 )
Peterites held their heads high as they kept on pushing hard at their opponents. Nishon Perera went over the try line for the second time today as the ball was taken from a 50m scrum by Kevin Kutty Dixon at first receiver who smartly off loaded the ball to Nishon. Home side was back in the hunt for another comeback. ( SPC 15 – RC 24)
Just when the Peterites looked like they were going to turn things around Royal took the game away from them. Kevin Kutty’s knock on inside their own 22m lead Royal to extend their lead yet again and it was Shawket Lahir who went over the try line. Ovin Askey extended his points tally as his conversion was yet again successful. ( SPC 15 – RC 31 )
The Bambalapitiya boys pursued with determination. Most of the other teams would put their head down when their facing this strong Royal side. A penalty was awarded to the Peterites inside Royals’ 22m, their line worked it through and it was Rahal Delpachithra who went over the try line to close in the deficit to 11 points. ( SPC 20 – RC 31 )
As the game was approaching the end, Royal was playing smart rugby by keeping possession and running down the clock. Their forwards were shoving hard on the defense right through out the second half. In the last ten minutes of the game Royal College scored their 6th try of the match as the ball was chipped deep into Pete’s territory which nicely bumped into the hands of Keshan Pieris who went on to score an easy try. ( SPC 20 – RC 36 )
Even though the game was out of their reach, Peterites didnt give up. At the very end of the match Diyath Fernando scored a well deserved try. It was consolation for St Peters as the match was out of their reach. St Peters had their chances and they surely tested this strong Royal side but at the end Royal prevailed holding on to their unbeaten streak this season.
Final Scores : SPC 25 – RC 36
SPC : 25 ( 5T )
Nishon Perera 2T
Kamesh Fernando 1T
Rahal Delpachithra 1T
Diyath Fernando 1T
RC : 36 ( 6T, 3C )
Ovin Askey 3C
Chandula Jayasundara 1T
Supun Warnakulasuriya 1T
Mahima Gamage 1T
Bhanuka Gamage 1T
Shawket Lahir 1T
Keshan Pieris 1T
