It was tough but well-earned pickings for Royal College, who outclassed and outlasted a Sri Sumangala outfit that started out strong but rapidly ran out of gas in a taxing and physically tiring encounter at the field of mud that was Bogambara Stadium.
It was not going to be an easy day for either side, as thunderclouds had visited the ground well before the team buses had started on their way- the field was a swamp of mud by the time both sides came into the pitch.
Royal College, winners of their opening outing against Thurstan College, looked to extend their dominance against relatively easy opposition.
Sri Sumangala College on the other hand, who had got drubbed by Trinity College earlier last week, would have been lamenting their bad fortunes- they had put up a good fight, but a lack of resolve had cost them the game, and in the first ten minutes, that resolve was resurgent and on full display.
For ten minutes, the Royal Tuskers were unable to make so much as a dent in an impenetrable Sri Sumangala defense, but it was the prop forward Naqeeb Mohamed who got the first try for Royal, with Idris Farouk converting well to get them off the starting blocks. (7-0)
Yuwan Pathirana, who was all over the game today with his work rate and involvement, scored no. 2, with Farouk converting. (14-0)
Flyhalf Pasidu Samarakoon for Sumangala made a run picking a great gap in the defense, and for a brief second, it seemed as if Sumangala was to mount a comeback. However, a yellow card was given to the Sumangala winger Sanshuka for a late charge off Royal half-back Mohideen’s kick, and Royal College had a third try by grounding it, later confirmed by the ARs. (19-0)
Royal was from here on out, constantly putting Sumangala under the pump, and Mohideen kept on kicking behind his ruck to get purchase and yardage, allowing the forwards to rest a bit.
The forwards did not rest for long however, as Disas Pathirana, the number 8, dove over the whitewash. Farouk converted well. (26-0)
Royal fumbled a restart collection of a kick, give away a scrum, only to come back back into the Sri Sumangala 22. Ishen Hiran, the no. 13 scored for Royal (31-0)
The misery kept piling on for Sumangala, with their hooker being taken off for a yellow card, with Idris Farouk capitalizing with a brilliant penalty kick. (34-0)
It was Royal’s turn for egregious penalty infringements, and a needless move off of their own redline, led to Pasidu Samarakoon for Sumangala getting back, opening the account for his school. (34-3)
Yuwan Pathirana would have the final say of the first half, as he ran half the length and took three defenders to sidestep onto the whitewash, showcasing the increasingly perfect synergy between the Royal forwards and backs. (39-3)
HT – SSC 03 – RC 39
From the whistle, Royal put Sri Sumangala under the pump early, keeping onto possession, but Sumangala came back into their own with showings of what made them so formidable in those first ten minutes. A great royal scrum was forced to be played along the line laterally and was forced into touch by a good competent Sumangala defense- flashes of brilliance, but it was not to be.
Royal set up a brilliant set piece, working a decoy run along the line as Didula Jayasuriya came out of his shell for the first time to go 30 meters for five points, with a beautiful fine angled kick by Idris Farou.k (46-3)
Three minutes were left on the clock, and the field had now turned into a paddy field. Brilliant work was done by Royal skipper Amika Samarasinghe (11) who came in for a brilliant kick and chase. Soak with the boot, converted well, sealing the deal for Royal, who are now 2 for 2. (53-3)
FT – SSC 03 – RC 53
Swisstek Perfect Player of the Match.
Idris Farouk was the resounding man of the match, for his efforts with the boot.
Points Breakdown
Royal College – 8T, 5C, 1P
Sri Sumangala College – 1P
