Royalists prove prowesses against Vidyartha

S M Jiffrey Abdeen, - Kandy Sports Correspondent

Royal College warded off a fierce late challenge by Vidyartha College before posting a 38 points (4 goals, 2 tries) to 29 (4 tries, 2 penalties, 1 drop goal) victory in their schools under 19 A Division rugby tournament match played at Nittawela yesterday. At lemons Royal College led 24-8.

It was a game of missed opportunities for Vidyartha College who spilled passes and lacked the services of a place kicker. In fact they could have gone for better options.

Royal College got off to a fine start with the game being three minutes old they drew first blood when centre Damian Ratwatte sliced through to score mid-left. Skipper Arshard Jamaldeen's kick at goal struck the uprights.

Three minutes later it was centre Damien Ratwatte who gave the finishing touches to a three quarter move to score under the posts giving Jamaldeen an easy kick at goal. Royal led 12-0.

Vidyartha College woke up from these two jolts when winger Shanaka Bandara went over mid-left and this went unconverted. Vidyartha 5-12. Shortly afterwards Vidyartha's scrum half Chamath Fernando put over a 35-metre penalty to further narrow the gap to 8-12.

For nearly 15 minutes there was no scoring and there was evidence that Vidyartha were not prepared to take things lying down. In the 31st minute, Royal's three quarters moved the ball and full back Rimzi Jamaldeen formed the overlap to score far left. Arshard Jamaldeen's kick once struck the posts. Royal led 17-8.

In the 36th minute, Royal's skipper Arshard Jamaldeen sent a short pass to scrum half Ranishan Dassanayake who sprinted nearly 40 metres to touch down under the post. Jamaldeen added the extra points for Royal to lead 24-8 by the short break.

In the fifth minute after the turn around Royal's No 8 Madhusha Kularatne powered his way to score under the post. Jamaldeen obliged with the try conversion for Royal to lead 31-8.

It was after this that Vidyartha put up a brave fight and with a little more effort could have turned the tables on their opponents. In the 10th minute skipper and No 8 Jason Dissanayake made a brilliant run and ended up scoring far right which was an unconverted try. Vidyartha 13-31.

In 20th minute, a kick awarded to Vidyartha ended up with Jason Dissanayake touching down near the post. This went unconverted. Vidyartha 18-31.

A few minutes later, a penalty awarded saw scrum half Chamath Fernando putting over to reduce the lead to 21-31.

The very next minute Vidyartha's flanker A G R Amarasinghe was sent on ‘Sin Bin’ for a dangerous tackle but A Jamaldeen fluffed an easy penalty.

In the 28th minute, Vidyartha's scrum half Chamath Fernando executed a drop goal to reduce the gap to 24-31.

In the 31st minute, Royal College were gifted a try when a clearance by a Vidyartha defender a couple of metres from the goal line was smothered by winger Nimshan Jayawardena, who fell on the ball.

Jamaldeen added the extra points. Royal 38-24.

In the final minute of play Vidyartha's scrum half Chamath Fernando joined the line to score by the left post, but he fluffed the kick at goal.

Gamini Indrasena refereed.