Last minute try gives Royal 37–34 win over Joes

Thushan JAYASURIYA

A splendid last minute try by Royal's prop forward and acting skipper Eroshan De Alwis helped Royal College to beat St.Joseph's College by 37 points ( two goals, four tries and a penalty) to 34 points (two goals, four tries) in their Singer Segment one ‘A’ division League rugby match played at Longden place yesterday. after the scores read 22 all at half time.

Royal opened scoring in the third minute of the game when skipper Arshad Jamaldeen put over a 25 metre penalty. Five minutes later the Josephians snatched the lead when burly Josephian skipper Yohan Keyser crashed through for an unconverted try by the corner flag.

The Royalists took the lead once again a few minutes later when prop forward Eroshan De Alwis scored by the corner flag Arshad Jamaldeen made a superb conversion . Midway in the first half, Arshad Jamaldeen had to leave the field with an injury which was a big blow for Royal. Josephian Yohan Keyser powered his way to score his team's second try. Rehan Thiyagarajah missed the conversion( 10 all).

Royal went into the lead once again when acting skipper Eroshan De Alwis scored mid left.Rimzi Jamaldeen missed the conversion. Josephian hooker Goshen Jackson fell over for an unconverted try ( 15 all). Then the Joes snatched the lead once again when winger Dinesh De Silva scored mid left.

Rehan Thiyagarajah added the extra points (22 – 15 ). Just before the breather, Royal's full back Rimzi Jamaldeen joined the line to form the overlap and scored under the post. Damian Ratwatte made the conversion with a drop kick and the scores read 22 all at lemons.

Soon after resumption, The Joes went ahead when the massive prop forward and skipper Yohan Keyser scored his third try of the match when he crashed through for an unconverted try ( Joes 27 – 22 ).Royal equalized when their centre Damian Ratwatte sliced through the Josephian defence to score near the post. But to the dismay of his team mates Rimzi Jamaldeen missed an easy conversion.( 27 all) .Royal went ahead once again when hooker Lahiru Pavithra powered his way to score mid left. But Rimzi Jamaldeen missed the conversion ( Royal 32 – 27 ) .

With five minutes to go for the final whistle, the Josephians snatched the lead when fly half Rehan Thiyagarajah sneaked through to score by the corner flag and made a splendid conversion.

Then in the final minute of play, Royal came back storming into Josephian territory and in a do or die effort prop forward and acting skipper Eroshan De Alwis powered his way to score the match-winning try to the joy of his team mates. Rimzi Jamaldeen, who seemed to have left his kicking boots at home missed the conversion once again as Royal ran out winners by 37 points to 34. Charith Kodagoda refereed.