Royal College battled through a scrappy and error-filled contest to edge out Kingswood College 13-06 in their Week 04 clash of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2026 played at Pallekele.
The visitors drew first blood in the contest after earning an early penalty for a tackle in the air near the 40-metre mark. Opting for the corner, Royal College immediately turned to their forward strength, setting up a powerful rolling maul from the opening set piece. With the maul gaining momentum and driving over the line, skipper Disas Pathirana grounded the ball at the back of the drive to score the game’s opening try. (KCK 00-05 RC)
Despite the strong start, Royal struggled to capitalize on several promising attacking opportunities thereafter. Kingswood College, meanwhile, also created a handful of scoring chances but failed to convert due to poor execution under pressure.
The hosts eventually got themselves on the scoreboard when Royal were penalized for offside, allowing Shamith Shafraz to slot over a penalty and reduce the deficit. (KCK 03-05 RC)
An error-strewn first half continued to frustrate both sides as discipline and handling mistakes disrupted momentum. Royal were once again penalized, this time for holding on just outside their own 22, and Shafraz made no mistake from the tee to hand Kingswood the lead for the first time in the match. (KCK 06-05 RC)
Royal had the perfect opportunity to respond before halftime, but playmaker Mohomed Simak missed a relatively straightforward penalty attempt, summing up a disappointing opening half for the visitors. The Colombo outfit also squandered another promising try-scoring chance moments before the break, leaving Kingswood narrowly ahead at halftime.
Half Time: Kingswood College 06 (2P) – Royal College 05 (1T)
Kingswood College dominated territory and possession throughout much of the second half but were repeatedly denied by their own inability to convert pressure into points.
That failure to capitalize allowed Royal College to remain firmly in the contest. After a sustained forward assault was held up over the line, Royal were awarded an offside penalty, and this time playmaker Mohomed Simak made no mistake from the tee, bisecting the uprights to hand the visitors a slender two-point lead heading into the final ten minutes. (KCK 06-08 RC)
Kingswood continued to let crucial opportunities slip away at key moments. One such chance came when they opted to take a quick tap penalty instead of attempting a potentially match-winning kick at goal through Shamith Shafraz. The gamble failed to pay off, as the hosts eventually lost possession after multiple attacking phases close to the line.
Royal capitalized ruthlessly in the dying moments. Regathering a loose ball with the Kingswood defence momentarily disorganized, Senuja Ranasinghe produced a powerful carry to gain valuable metres. The forwards then maintained quick continuity before Simak fired a long pass wide to winger Dinuka Perera, who cut back inside brilliantly to find the whitewash and seal a hard-fought, if scrappy, victory for the Reid Avenue outfit.
Full Time: Kingswood College 06 (5T) – Royal College 13 (3T,3C)
- Swisstek Player of the Match: Dinuka Perera (Royal College)
Points Breakdown
Kingswood College 06
Shamith Shafraz 2P
Royal College 13
Disas Pathirana 1T, Dinuka Perera 1T, Mohamed Simak 1P
