Royal College got over the line against St. Joseph’s College 28-22 despite a defiant performance by the visitors in their schools rugby season opener.
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Chathura Seneviratna got the game underway in overcast conditions at Royal Complex. The game was a closer affair than it read on the scoreboard as Joes went down fighting 28-22.
The first 15 minutes of the game was a side to side affair as both teams were finding their footing and looking to settle down to new combinations.
Even though it was an intense match up, the first points took 16 minutes to come. It was the visiting winger Shaan Akila who found the white wash first. He dotted down in the near corner and he was assisted by captain Vinul Fernando following some eye catching build up play. Seneviratna failed to add the extras. (RC 00-05 SJC)
Both teams looked equally matched in the first exchanges and was equally ill disciplined conceding penalties.
The next points followed for the hosts as Mohammed Shaqir slotted over a penalty as the Josephians were caught entering incorrectly to a ruck. (RC 03-05 SJC)
A try soon followed for the hosts as Hamza Reeza dived over from the tail of a trade mark Royal College rolling Maul. (RC 08-05 SJC)
Half time: Royal College 08 (1T 1C) lead St. Joseph’s 05 (1T)
Both teams entered the fray following pep talks by both coaches and looked to kill the game off.
Seneviratna’s decision making skills was tested early on in the second half and his decision to run the ball from his own half early in the second half was costly as his wayward pass was pounced on by winger Shenuka Perera to score an opportunistic try. Mohammed Shaqir added the extras from under the sticks to stretch the lead to ten points. (RC 15-05 SJC)
Gemunu Chethiya saw yellow for a high tackle as Royal seemed to get a hang of things early in the second half.
The hosts half back duo of Mohammed Shaqir and captain Ovin Askey knocked over a penalty and drop goal respectively to extend the hosts lead further. (RC 21-05 SJC)
Samadhi Induwara was shown yellow as he was the man at hand to be punished for continuous infringements by the hosts.
Sabith Feroze capped off a profitable first quarter in the second half as he scored a run away try, scamming from inside their own 22 to score under the post after sloppy hands let down the Josephians. Shaqir added the extras with 20 minutes left on the clock. (RC 28-05 SJC)
Referee Rohan Fernando continued to dish out yellow cards as Josephians prop Tehan Seneviratna and Royal reserve flanker Gimantha Jayawardana both were sin binned within minutes of each other for stamping and a cynical hands in the ruck respectively.
A final flourish saw a mini revival by the visitors as they scored three tries in quick succession but it was too little too late as hosts had secured their first win.
Gihan Perera, replacement scrum half Channa Ashoka and captain Vinul Fernando all scored tries but the result of the game was all but settled. Seneviratna managed just a single conversion from four this evening. (RC 28-22 SJC)
Thulaib Hassen of Royal was the final victim to see yellow on the stroke of full time.
Full time: Royal College 28 (3T 2C 2P 1DG) beat St. Joseph’s 22 (4T, 1C)
Thepapare.com player of the match: Hamza Reeza
Ovin Askey expressed his elation following the win: “After an intensely close first half Martis Sir said to stick to our game plan and do the basics right at the half time. Our next game is against Peters and we will look into our mistakes and correct them as we look to beat the Peterites”
Points Breakdown
Royal: Hamza Reeza, Shenuka Perera, Sabith Feroze, Ovin Askey 1DG, Mohammed Shaqir 2C, 2P
Joes: Shaan Akila, Gihan Perera, Channa Ashoka, Vinul Fernando, Chathura Seneviratna 1C
