Royal register their fifth win for the season

Schools Rugby Review:

Chris Dhambarage

Royal College produced their best performance for the current season to snatch a remarkable 38-37 victory over their traditional rivals Trinity College Kandy in the 66th annual Bradby Shield first leg rugby encounter worked off at the Royal Sports Complex in Reid Avenue last week.

Royal’s success had a great amount of significance as they also brought an end to a series of defeats while recording their fifth win in the Singer inter school Under 20 division one league tournament.

This was altogether a complete surprise package from the Royal outfit which seems to have preserved their best for the latter stages of the tournament.

They were virtually down and out after having suffered three defeats in a row that certainly put them under tremendous pressure.

However Royal once again proved their potential and also the ability to rise to the big occasion which they have performed successfully many times in the recent past both at home and away.

This was another classic example of their true colours as they completely stunned the Trinity team with a different game plan which has put them on track towards retaining the Bradby Shield for the second successive year.

Royal collected their points from three goals, one try, three penalties and a drop goal with fly half Arshad Jamaldeen playing the match of his life through some fantastic place kicking and conversions.

Trinity of course had the satisfaction of scoring an extra try than their opponents with the conversions making the difference at the end. Nevertheless they would not mind conceding a one point lead to Royal which has kept their hopes alive of regaining the Shield when the two teams clash in the second leg on June 26 in Kandy.

Kingswood vs Thomas’

Kingswood College Kandy delivered a stunning blow as they brought down the high riding S. Thomas’ College outfit 22-17 in a key Singer inter school Under 20 division one league tournament match worked off at Mount Lavinia last week.

This win also helped the Kingswoodians to snatch the second place in the points table and look set to consolidate their position when they take on Wesley College in their last match of the tournament this week in Kandy.

Kingswood College dominated the initial stages and did all the scoring in the first half where they scored two goals, one try and a drop goal while conceding only a solitary try to their opponents.

However S. Thomas’ College like they have done in the past came back strongly in the second half to reduce the margin to just five points at the end following a tremendous performance.

The Thomians are known to play their best rugby in the second half this season and this was another classic example of their true potential which nearly earned them a stunning victory at the end.

St Peter’s v Wesley

St. Peter’s College have emerged as the Singer inter school Under 20 division one league champions for 2010 following their convincing 50-13 triumph over Wesley College on their home grounds at Bambalapitiya last week.

The Peterites have built up an eight point lead over their nearest rivals in the latest points table and they would remain on top even if they lose their last match of the tournament against St. Anthony’s College this week in Nittawela. St Peter’s College after another shaky start came into their own in the second half and went on to pull off the game in style while collecting their points from five goals and three tries. The Peteries were trailing 0-8 during the initial stages of the game but it was just a matter of time that they settled and got their act together well before recording their seventh win for the season.

St Anthony’s vs Dharmaraja

St Anthony’s College produced a superb second half rally to beat their home town rivals Dharmaraja College 39-13 in another Singer inter school Under 20 division one league tournament match played at the Nittawela Stadium last week.

The Antonians had conceded a surprise 12-13 lead to their opponents but came back magnificently and added a further 27 points to their final tally without conceding a single point.

This was a tremendous effort from the Antonians who proved their supremacy while running down as many as seven tries and converting two of them that enabled them to register their third victory of the tournament.

This success also put an end to any doubts of the team being demoted to the division two as they have now built up a good lead over the last three teams of the points table with the final week of matches coming up.

Isipatana vs POW

Isipatana College powered their way to a resounding 88-6 victory over the newcomers Prince of Wales College Moratuwa in their Singer inter school Under 20 division one league tournament match worked off at Havelock Park last week.

Isipatana could now look forward towards consolidating their position in the points table as they will be up against another weak opposition Dharmaraja College in their last match of the tournament this week in Kandy.

The Isipatana power was too much for the Cambrians as the lads from Havelock Park went on a scoring spree while running down as many as 14 tries and converting nine of them.