Royal College, despite losing their opening game, came back strongly with a resounding victory over Science College 45 points to 10 in their Dialog Schools Rugby League 2023 encounter, worked off at Science College Grounds.
Royal College forwards were expected to dominate the early exchanges, but the stubborn defensive effort by the home team kept them quiet until Philio Calyaneratne charged through a gap in the Science defence to touch down the first try, with Simak Shafeek adding the extras. (SC 00 – 07 RC)
Royal scored again when fly-half Thivain Perera saw space on the right side of the field and made a long cut-out pass to Charuka Senevirathne, who sprinted into the right corner to score the second try. Shafeek managed to convert this try from the corner flag to increase the lead for the visiting team. (SC 00 – 14 RC)
Photos – Science College vs Royal College | Dialog Schools Rugby League 2023
At the brink of half time, Science College lost their scrum half Anuradha Lakshan as he was sent to the bin for a shoulder charge. Royal pounced on to the numerical advantage and scored through a rolling maul, as Thineth Gamage found the whitewash from the back of the maul.
Half Time: Science College 00 – Royal College 19 (3T, 2C)
The first ten minutes of the second half was a stop-start affair as more handling errors popped up from both teams. The game was spiced up a bit when the Royal prop forward Kavinash Ponnuthurei was yellow carded for dangerous play, as Science College opted to kick for points for this penalty, with Oshada Perera bisecting the uprights with ease to open the account for his team. (SC 03 – 19 RC)
A few phases later, the Royal forwards piled on a series of pick-and-goes against a struggling Science defence as Afeef Akram powered himself over to score the bonus point try, while Shafeek managed to add the extra two points. (SC 03 – 26 RC)
Science made a lightning counter-attack from their own half when Oshada Perera destroyed the Royal defence with his dazzling run and managed to send his mate Isuru Pasindu over the line to bring some hope for the home side, but Duljaya Gamanayaka returned favour through a counter-attack from his own half as he went past three Science defenders to score under the post. (SC 10 – 33 RC)
Royal went into overdrive as Disas Pathirana ended a flowing team move by dancing past the final man to touch down for Royal, as the tries kept on coming for the boys from Reid Avenue. Thivain Perera sold a dummy and went over to score the last try of the game to finish out a comprehensive win for the visiting team.
Full Time: Science College 10 (1T,1C,1P) – Royal College 45 (7T,5C)
NDB Player of the Match: Philio Calyaneratne (Royal College)
Points Breakdown
Science College: 10
Try: Isuru Pasindu; Conversions: Oshada Perera; Pens: Oshada Perera
Royal College: 45
Tries: Philio Calyaneratne, Charuka Senevirathne, Thineth Gamage, Afeef Akram, Duljaya Gamanayaka, Disas Pathirana, Thivain Perera; Conversions: Simak Shafeek (4), Nabil Yahiya
