Rajans remain unbeaten with resounding 48-26 win

Schools Rugby Review:

Thushan Jayasuriya

Dharmaraja College Kandy turned in a dazzling display of open rugby to score a runaway 48 points to 26 win over St.Anthony’s College Kandy which helped them to not only keep their unbeaten record intact but also propelled them to the top of the Singer under 20 ‘A’ division segment one points table.

The Rajans went on the offensive early in the game scoring three superb tries through flanker Amila Weerasekara, Centre Buwaneka Udangamuwa and skipper and fly half Rochana Hettiarachchi with Thilina Wijesinghe adding the extra points to all three tries which gave them a 21 - 0 lead.

In the 30th minute the Antonians began their fightback with a try by fullback Sujith Hemantha who converted it himself. Eight minutes later, the experienced Antonian Number eight Pandula Angammana scored near the post which was converted by Hemantha and the scores read 14 - 21 at half time.

Six minutes after resumption, Antonians reduced the deficit further when Winger Thilina Jagoda scored an unconverted try.But Rajans increased the lead once again when Thilina Wijesinghe put over a penalty and the score read 24 - 19 .

The lads from Lake View went ahead further when flanker Amila Weerasekara scored under the post.Thilina Wijesinghe converted to make it 31 - 19.But the Antonians fought back through a try by centre Charles Praveen which was converted by Hemantha to make it 26 - 31. From there onwards, the Rajans took control of the game through two superb tries from flanker Lochana Fernando and lock forward Wijekoon with Thilina Wijesinghe converting both tries having earlier put over a penalty to give the Rajans a grand win (48 - 26).

Joes stun Trinity

St.Joseph’s College Colombo came up with a stupendous performance to create the biggest upset of the season with a stunning 18 - 17 win over Trinity College Kandy. The Joes forwards came up with a terrific display to outplay their opponents with skipper Jason Melder , prop Stefan Gregory , flanker Thariq Salih, hooker Sheran Johnson and Janith Fernando gave a sterling display after Trinity opened scoring through a try by prop Basu Karunatilleke converted by Tharinda Ratwwatte. The Joes hit back through a try by prop Stefan Gregory with the conversion missed by Dulith Fernando.But he put over a 25 metre penalty to make it 10 - 8 with Tharinda Ratwatte having earlier put over a 30 metre penalty for Trinity. Then came a typical Stefan Gregory try who powered his way brushing aside several defenders to score near the post with Dulith Fernando once again missing an easy conversion and the Joes led 13 - 10 at halftime.

The Joes took control of proceeding early in the second half. But once again fly half Dulith Fernando missed an easy penalty.But the Joes were not to be denied points with full back Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya scoring a brilliant try off a three quarter move with once again Dulith Fernando missing the conversion and the score read 18 - 10 with the Josephian reduced to 14 players due to a red card to flanker Thariq Salih, came the typical Trinity fightback.

Eight minutes before the final whistle, the lads from Kandy scored a try through scrum half Naresh Perera with Ratwatte adding the extra points to make it 17 -18. Although the Trinitians tried hard, the last few minutes they could not pierce the rock-hard Josephian defence. The lads from Darley Road could have won the game by a bigger margin if not for the poor place-kicking of fly half Dulith Fernando who missed all three conversions and an easy penalty.

Royal - Isipathana game - an abrupt end

The eagerly awaited confrontation between Royal and Isipathana came to an abrupt end in the 20th minute of the second half when Royal’s Coach Bilal Yusuf took his players off the field soon after Isipathana’s Hirantha Perera dropped a goal to make it 20 all when an Isipathana player allegedly punched a Royal player.

With the Royal players refusing to take the field, Referee Pradeep Fernando awarded the penalty to Isipathana with Hirantha Perera taking the kick from mid-field and Centre Pabasara Madhawa collecting it and scoring under the post with Hirantha Perera converting it to make it 27 - 20. After some time, Royal’s Principal Upali Gunasekara announced that Royal had decided not to resume play for the safety of their players and awarded the trophy to Isipathana. Royal’s coach Bilal Yusuf said that he had no option, but to take his players off the field and alleged that several players were injured due to punches thrown by Isipathana players with the referee and touch judge hardly taking any action.Three of the Royal players flanker Keshan Peiris, prop Kaveen Perera and flanker Manusha Abeykoon were rushed to the Accident Service of the National Hospital and were discharged after receiving treatment for their injuries.

It was Isipathana who opened scoring early in the game when hooker Omalka Gunaratne scampered through to score off a five metre line out.Fly Half Hirantha Perera made a splendid conversion.Five minutes later, skipper and Winger Uditha Prematilleke kicked the grubber off a three quarter move followed it and fell on the loose ball in the in goal area.Hirantha Perara made another fine conversion to make it 14 - 0.In the 20th minute, Royal came back stroming to score a push over try through hooker Shuaib Jabbar with Rimzi Jamaldeen making a superb conversion.

Few Minutes later, Isipathana went ahead once again when Hirantha Perera put over an easy 20 metre penalty.But Royal hit back through a 25 metre penalty put over by Jamaldeen to make it 17 - 10 at halftime.

In the 10th minute after the resumption.Royal’s Rimzi Jamaldeen, made no mistake with a 25 metre penalty to make it 13 - 17.The Royalists kept on attacking and succeeded in scoring once again when hooker Shuaib Jabbar powered his way over the goal line and Rimzi Jamaldeen, who had a fine game added the extra points to give Royal a 20 - 17 lead.

Within minutes Isipathana came into Royal territory and off a scrum fly half Hirantha Perera dropped a peach of a goal to make it 20 all.Then came the unfortunate incident which brought about an abrupt end to the match.