Thurstan College hosted Royal College in a final week game of round 1 in the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024 at the Sugathadasa Stadium. After a confidence derailing loss last weekend against the defending champions, Royal College came out all guns blazing against the struggling Thurstan College boys as they posted a mammoth scoreline of 97-16.
The underdogs Thurstan College drew first blood when Chanithu Perera intercepted a pass of Royal College and went almost coast to coast. Nethupul Lasanda converted the try to add the extra points (TC 07 – 00 IC)
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The lead didn’t last long for Thurstan College as Amika Samarasinghe found the whitewash from the left corner of the field and Nabeel Yahiya converted it to even things up. Samarasinghe went over once again just few minutes later and Yahiya converted the second try as well to increase their lead (TC 07 – 14 RC)
Royal Tuskers scored their third try of the game off Didula Jayasuriya who found the try line from the right corner of the field breaking away from the last defender easily. He went on to score three back to back tries with this and Yahiya converted the first one with Idris Farouk converting the next and the last one going astray (TC 07 – 33 RC)
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After Jayasuriya, Samarasinghe also completed his hat trick of tries inside the first half as Farouk increased the lead further with an accurate conversion (TC 07 – 40 RC)
Half-Time : Thurstan College 07 – 40 Royal College
Royal College quickly scored a try in the second half when Samarasinghe went over for a fourth time with Farouk converting it once again (TC 07 – 47 RC)
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The hosts finally received a scoring opportunity when the visitors conceded a penalty from kickable distance and Lasanda kicked it through to add 3 points (TC 10 – 47 RC)
Skipper Thivain Perera joined the party next for Royal College while Jayasuriya also scored another try to go over for a fourth time. Both these tries were unconverted (TC 10 – 57 RC)
Both Samarasruiya and Jayasuriya found the whitewash for a fifth time to continue Tuskers try fest as Farouk and Yahiya converted them respectively (TC 10 – 71 RC)
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Hiruka Jayadinu joined the try scorers list next for the visitors with Simak Shafeek converting it before Lasanda kicked through another 3 pointer for Thurstan College. Royal College skipper Perera also managed to score a 2nd try in the game which was once again converted by Shafeek (TC 13 – 83 RC)
Jayasuriya scored a record breaking sixth try of the game when the Tuskers worked the ball from right to left after a good scrum from the 22m line.To cap things off for Royal, Yehan Bandara found the whitewash with Farouk converting it. Lasanda added 3 consolation points for Thurstan right at the end as the referee signalled for the full time whistle ending this nightmare of a game for the hosts (TC 16 – 97 RC)
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This was a much needed confidence booster for the Royal Tuskers after suffering a disappointing loss against St. Peter’s last week. Going into the second round they will be hoping to win both the fixtures and expect a little favour from one of the two sides in the other group. For Thurstan this was always on the cards and they have to make sure all the experience they gained playing against the top sides this year will be used properly going into the promotion/relegation playoffs.
Didula Jayasuriya was a true menace on the field as touched down 6 times in the game which is also the most in a game this season. For this extraordinary record breaking performance he was adjudged NDB Bank Player of the Match.
Full Time : Royal College 97 (15T 11C) beat Thurstan College 16 (1T 1C 3P)
- NDB Bank Player of the Match : Didula Jayasuriya (RC)
Royal College : Didula Jayasuriya – 6 Tries (30 Points), Amika Samarasinghe – 5 Tries (25 Points), Nabeel Yahiya – 4 Conversations (8 Points), Idris Farouk – 5 Conversations (10 Points), Simak Shafeek – 2 Conversions (6 Points), Thivain Lakdiv – 2 Tries (10 points), Yehan Bandara – 1 Try (5 Points), Hiruka Jayadinu – 1 Try (5 points)
Thurstan College : Chanithu Perera – 1 Try (5 Points), Nethupul Lasanda – 3 Penalties 1 Conversion (11 Points)
