Royal Tuskers kick off their 2024 season with a comprehensive win

Royal College hosted Kingswood College on the 15th of June at Royal Complex in their Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024 opening match. The Tuskers were too good to handle for the boys from Randles Hills, as they emerged victorious by 60 – 05 points. 

The first 10 minutes of the game were so intense that a total of three tries were scored by both teams. Royal College opened the scorecard by scoring the first try of the game in less than one minute. A storming run from the big forward gained some space for the backline to execute the try perfectly. The conversion by Idris Farouk was not to the target this time. The try scorer was the speedster Didula Jayasuriya.
( RC 05 – 00 KCK ) 

Kingswood College was awarded a penalty and the fly half went for 3 points, but missed the correct angle. However, the boys from the hill country fortunately got into the dance as the Royalists’ miss helped collect the ball cleanly, and it was their first try in the match at the 7th minute. The missed penalty was successfully collected by Kingswood at the try line. The number 10 yet again failed to get points from his boot for the team.
(RC 05 – 05 KCK) 

In the 10th minute of the game, Royal was back into the try routine as Jayasuriya, the Winger, scored a stunner. An own try got a scrum for Royal, and there was ample of space on the right side of the ground after the big Number 08 gained some meters breaking off. This time Farouk found his angle correctly and got through with the conversion.
(RC 12 – 05 KCK) 

The powerhouse of Royal Forwards, Nazeer Mohommed, got into the action by scoring a third try for Royal at this game in the 19th minute from a massive rolling maul by the forwards. Cardinal mistakes of the Kingswoodians by kicking full out several times, gave away the try for Royal as they capitalized the mistakes brilliantly.
(RC 17 – 05 KCK) 

Just after 7 minutes from that try, another successful lineout drove Royal to the try line to score their 4th try of the game, and it was the back-to-back try for Mohommed. This try earned them the bonus point of this match – these forwards are really a set for the other teams to watch out for in upcoming matches. The follow-up conversion was not successful this time as well.
(RC 22 – 05 KCK) 

Senuja Ranasinghe, the open-side flanker, broke loose from a well-defended rolling maul eight minutes later, bringing Royal’s lead to 27-5 shortly before halftime. It was another unsuccessful conversion for the fly half as the Royalists went for after time, staying well above the winning margin. Even though Farouk’s off-the-tee kicks were not on target, his touch finders were golden as they were the reason for the forwards to score three tries in the first half.
(RC 27 – 05 KCK) 

Half-Time :- (RC 27 – 05 KCK) 

Kingswood’s troubles deepened in the 43rd minute as their lock received a yellow card for an infringement. Royal came out firing in the second half. Their fullback, Disas Pathirana, orchestrated a brilliant play that sent Winger Hiruka Jayadinu in for a try right under the posts. This converted try added another seven points to Royal’s lead.
(RC 34 – 05 KCK) 

Royal’s dominance continued unabated. Shiyam sliced through the Kingswood defense, where the offload came in handy for the substitute Faruk, who grounded the ball under the post. This try further widened the gap on the scoreboard.
(RC 41 – 05 KCK) 

In the dying minutes of the match, Royal’s backline continued their try-scoring spree. In the 63rd minute of the game, Disas Pathirana, the center, scored the try which came off from a brilliant run from the right side corner, yet again going right under the post.
(RC 48 – 05 KCK) 

Nabeel Yahiya, the substitute fly half, came into action in the 65th minute of the game by scoring a try for Royal because the space opened up from a loose ruck by Kingswood to extend the lead, and it was not converted by him successfully.
(RC 53 – 05 KCK) 

Nisalith Pathirana, the Royal fullback, added the finishing touches as he scored the 10th try for the Tuskers in the last play of the game right under the post.
(RC 60 – 05 KCK)  

With that try, the final whistle was blown by the referee Weranga, and it was the mark of a thumping win by Royal to kick start their season 2024. Second-row Yehan Weerasooriya was awarded the NDB Player Of The Match for his Impeccable Defense, and Leadership as the Vice captain of the team.  

Full Time : Royal College 60 (10T 5C) beat Kingswood College 05 (1T) 

• NDB Bank Player of the Match: Yehan Weerasooriya (Royal College) 

  Points Breakdown
  

• Royal – Nabeel Yahiya 11 points (1 Try, 3 Conversions), Didula Jayasuriya 10 points (2 Tries), Nazeer Mohamed 10 points (2 Tries), Senuja Ranasinghe 5 points (1 Try), Hiruka Jayadinu 5 points (1 Try), A Faruk 5 points (1 Try), Disas Pathirana 5 points (1 Try), Nisalith Pathirana 5 points (1 Try), Idris Farouk 4 points (2 conversions)
• Kingswood – Sadew Amarasooriya 5 points (1 Try)