The Milo schools knockout encounter between Royal College and St. Josephs College took place on the 2nd of July at the Royal College Sports Complex. The Royalists who defeated the Jospehians in their league encounter were able to repeat the feat through a second half rally that knocked the Josephians off their feet resulting in a 32-19 score line in favour of the boys in blue and gold.
The start of the first half witnessed St Joseph’s College applying hordes of pressure on the Royalists. They had numerous opportunities to score but were let down by handling errors in the third quarter of the field. They had a golden opportunity to score when they were awarded a penalty on the 30 meter mark but it was the post that thwarted them as Dulith Fernandos’ kick almost made it through the uprights.
The first break through of the game came for the boys in blue and gold as they scored a wonderful try through their signature rolling maul. The Royalists after safely securing a line out from the 5 meter mark set up the move through their try machine Supun Warnakulasuriya who crashed over to score. Nimshan added the extras with a straight forward conversion. The Josephians suffered a double blow as a result of the try scored through the maul as Stephan Gregory was shown a yellow card for entering the maul illegally for the second time.
The Josephians did well to survive the extra man situation the Royalists were presented with and immediately put the pressure back on the Reid avenue lads through some wonderful play orchestred by their half back. The Josephians stretched the Royalists to the left and almost scored before the winger Daniel Gulasekharam saved a definite try by throwing his opposite number to touch. Despite the valiant defense put up the by the Royalists the Josephians got their breakthrough as a result of the defensive line out that followed when Supun dropped the ball at the back of the maul enabling the Josephian Viraj Perera to pounce on the loose ball and score. Fernandos conversion was successful.
Half time score– RC 07(1T 1C) SJC 07(1T 1C)
Royal started the second half on a high as they applied immediate pressure on the Joes defense resulting in them winning an attacking line out on the 5 meter mark. The predictable yet effective rolling maul did the trick for the Royalists once again as Supun Warnakulasuriya crashed over the paint to score his second try of the game. Nimashans conversion sailed away to the right. (RC 12 SJC 07)
The Royalists started playing with a purpose as they played aggressive rugby that witnessed the Josephians being driven back with force and ferocity. Yet another break through came the way of the Royalists through a wonderful team try that witnessed almost all 15 players handling the ball in a particular phase. The move commenced when Nimshan latched on to a loose ball on the 50 meter mark. He side stepped his way through the defence and placed a delicate punt to Daniel who collected the ball and ran a few meters before being brought to ground. The ball was recycled quickly and worked away to the left flank before being taken back to the center again. Nimshan collected a wonderful pass and stepped past a player to fall just short of the try line but the play was completed by Nikhila Gunadheera who barged over the try line to score what was undoubtedly the try of the game. Nimshan’s conversion was successful.(RC 19 SJC 07)
It is always said that a team is at its weakest immediately after scoring and this proved to be the case as Royal knocked on at the restart. The Josephians capitalized on the resulting scrum as they worked the ball out to Suchintha Udumalagama who sliced through the royal defense like a knife through butter to score on the left flank. The conversion that followed was missed. (RC 19 SJC 12)
The Josephians had a perfect opportunity to strike again as their center Minura Randula slipped past Bhanuka Gamage who was guilty of missing a tackle. The Josephians came inches close to the try line but the Royal defense held its nerve as they turned the ball over and cleared their line.
In what followed the Royalists went on the attack once again as they won a line out on the 5 meter mark. They looked in a fine position to score when the referee awarded a penalty against the Josephians for collapsing the maul but the decision was overturned by a side line flag up for Royal’s Thiwanka Perera’s alleged stamping. But this didn’t deter the Royalists as they once again won another line out in an attacking position, this time on the opposite end of the field. If you have been following Royals matches its not worthy mentioning what happened next but for the sake of those new to the blue and gold style of play it was time for the maul and once again Supun Warnakulasuriya did the honors for his side as he powered his way over the line to score his third try. The conversion was unsuccessful.(RC 24 SJC 12)
The Josephians hit back with a try towards the latter stages of the game through a mid field penalty they won as a result of the Royal scrum binding too early. The penalty was taken quickly and Stephan Gregory was put into space. The big lad got his legs pumping and was unstoppable as he powered his way through the heart of the Royal defense to score under the post. The conversion was successful (RC 24 SJC 19)
Any hope the Josephians had of staging a miraculous come back was taken away by the Royalists as they finished the game on a high note through a penalty that was slotted through the uprights by Nimshan and a try that was scored by the winger Sajad Irshad. The young lad was set up beautifully by Keshan Peiris who successfully used a well timed draw pass that put Sajad into space just meters away from the try. The junior went onto finish the play and score what will be a try that he will never forget. Nimshans conversion once again proved to be unsuccessful.
Full time score- RC 32 (5T 2C 1P) SJC 19 (3T 2C)
As the referee’s final whistle blew it spelled the end of the road for the Josephians as their season came to a close. However for the Royalists what the win resulted in was a match up against their arch rivals Trinity College from whom they will be looking to seek some sweet revenge or with defending champions Wesley who are to play today (3rd July).
