Royal College ran riot in their season opener against neighboring rivals Thurstan College to the tune of a dramatic 74-10 scoreline in front of a jubilant home crowd at the Royal College Sports Complex.
It was Royal College’s fullback Didula Jayasuriya wearing the number 14 jumper that drew first blood in the first minute. (5-0)
Jayasuriya came back for seconds within the next minute for his brace. (10-0)
At that point Thurstan College looked like they might come back into the game, and started playing a solid defense, getting Royal College to play laterally, but Royal did not stay quiet for long before Dinuka Perera (22) broke through the center for a strong five points. Idrak Farouk, the vice-captain for the Royal Tuskers, converted successfully. (17-0)
After a good tussle between the two sides where Thurstan routinely kept asking dangerous questions in Royal College’s 22, it was Vinuka Karananayake (02) that did it for Thurstan College, opening the account with a successful conversion as well. (17-7)
Royal’s halfback showed his chops with a well-placed kick that got the ball over an impenetrable Thurstan defense, and it was none other than Jayasuriya who chased it down for his third try of the match, making an early mark in the season. (22-7)
It would not be long before more Royalists got in on the action, with JMY Sithumina scoring five points, alongside a successful conversion from Farouk. (29-7)
Royal College would go into lemons with yet another dominant try from Jayasuriya who intercepted a poor pass from Thurstan to score his fourth for his college, with Farouk converting successfully as the whistle came down. (36–7)
HALF TIME – (36–7)
Royal College – 6T | 3C | 0P v Thurstan College 1T | 1C | 0P
A poor restart from Thurstan College’s boot was intercepted by Royal, who immediately pressed their physicality advantage- Number 8 Disas Pathirana scored Royal College’s seventh try. (43-7)
The home side had begun to get a little complacent however, and a penalty infringement in their own 22 led to three points being scored off the boot of Akeesha Pushpakumara. It was the beginning of yet another well-contested phase of the game. (43-10)
The momentum did not last long for Thurstan however, as the entire backline for Royal College synchronized perfectly, with Jayasuriya extending his bounty of tries off a selfless offload from kicker Farouk. (48-10)
Already five tries in, it was at this point that Jayasuriya kicked it up a gear and started shepherding the backs to put up a solid defense against Thurstan College, and then combined with Mohideen, the half-back for Royal College, whose distribution had been excellent all game, for yet another five points. Farouk converted successfully. (55-10)
Perera, who had scored earlier in the game, came into fore once more with another run down the wing, highlighting a renewed approach to Royal’s backs and how they took center stage in the game, scoring five more points with a successful conversion. (62-10)
Samith Nimanka too, got his name into the scorer’s sheet with another late try, successfully converted by Farouk. (69-10)
It was Perera, who scored his hattrick, as well as the final try for Royal College, who wrapped things up for his team, with Jayasuriya taking on several defenders once more to offload it to the winger who showcased his skill down the sidelines. (74-10)
Sithija Nimhara got Thurstan College the final word on the matter though, as he fought hard to score five consolation points for Thurstan College as the sun set on the Summa Navaratnam Stands at the Complex. (74-15)
Points Breakdown
Royal College
Didula Jayasuriya 6T, Dinuka Perera 3T, JMY Sithumina 1T, Disas Pathirana 1T, Idris Farouk 8C & 1P
Thurstan College
Vinuka Karananayake 1T, Sithija Nimhara 1T, Akeesha Pushpakumara 1C & 1P
- ThePapare.com Player of The Match – Didula Jayasuriya (N.14, Royal College)
