Royal - unbeaten league champions

Schools Rugby Review

Chris Dhambarage

Royal College have emerged unbeaten champions in the Singer inter-school under 20 division one league rugby tournament for 2011.

Last week they cleared their final hurdle with a hard fought 18-15 triumph over Science College, Mount Lavinia in the deciding match played on their home grounds at Reid Avenue.

Royal who had a shaky start to the game having snatched a close 8-7 lead at half time recovered magnificently like a true champion outfit to add the finishing touches in style.

They underlined their class and superiority while collecting their points from one goal, one try and two penalties with their reliable place kicker Arshad Jamaldeen making a huge impact once again.

The dynamic fly half rose to the big occasion and made the difference between the two teams while kicking two vital penalties and also converting one try. Jamaldeen also brought his overall tally to a record 148 points this season.

Even then Royal were under tremendous pressure at the beginning of the game after having conceded an early try to their opponents. Science College certainly lived upto expectations as the giant killers of the tournament with a splendid performance.

But Royal as they have always done in the earlier matches this season got their act together well rather late in the game and managed to turn the contest in their favour through a sheer brilliant display.

St. Joseph's v S. Thomas'

St. Joseph's College concluded their league campaign with a resounding 24-18 victory over arch rivals S. Thomas' College in their annual inter school under 20 division one league rugby tournament match worked off at Mount Lavinia.

St. Joseph's College also had the satisfaction of regaining the Lady Jayatilleke Shield after a lapse of two years as they went on to collect their points from two goals and two tries.

Their success had a great amount of significance as they finished among the top seven in the league which would ensure them a place in the Milo Schools President's Trophy knock out tourney.

Kingswood v St. Peter's

Kingswood College delivered a tremendous blow as they brought down the defending champions St. Peter's College 17-13 in an exciting Singer inter school under 20 division one league tournament match played at the Bogambara Stadium in Kandy.

After their close game against Isipatana College last week at the same venue the former champions hit back with a vengeance to create a major upset while scoring two goals and one penalty. This was certainly a fantastic way to complete the league tournament as the Kingswoodians managed to finish among the top five teams while recording their sixth victory from the eleven outings.

In contrast this was a huge blow for the Peterites who had already surrendered the league title mid way in the season. They were of course expected to put up an improved performance in an attempt to boost their morale ahead of the knock out tournament.

But their hopes were completely shattered and managed to score only a solitary try as they crashed to their fourth defeat in the tournament.

Isipatana v Thurstan

Isipatana College put up a tremendous performance to beat their traditional rivals Thurstan College by a huge margin of 70 points to 6 points in their annual inter school rugby encounter worked off at Longden Place.

Isipatana College also went on to retain the Abdul Jabbar Shield for another year but more importantly they had the satisfaction of emerging runners up in the Singer division one league tournament.

Isipatana certainly took the opportunity to give all their reserve players a chance to prove ahead of the knock out competition as they went on the rampage scoring as many as 12 tries while converting five of them.

St. Anthony's v Wesley

St. Anthony's College rounded up a successful league tournament when they trounced Wesley College by 25 points to 10 points in their final encounter played at the Nittawela Stadium in Kandy.

The Antonians inspired by their success over St. Joseph's College last week continued with the same momentum as they turned the game in their favour while scoring four superb tries.

They will be quite satisfied that they were able to conclude the league stage on a high note which will also signal as a clear warning to the rest of the opponents during the President's Trophy knock out tournament.