Royal in 30-3 win over Rajans

S. M. JIFFREY ABDEEN, Kandy Sports Correspondent

Royal College were given a big scare before they posted a 30 points (one goal, four tries, one penalty) to 3 (one penalty) win over Dharmaraja College in their schools under 20 division one rugby tournament match played at the Bogambara Stadium in Kandy yesterday. At half time Royal led 5-3.

Royal College who made their third trip to the hill capital looking for a morale-boosting win before next week's second leg of the all important Bradby Shield against Trinity College in Colombo were given a rude shock when Rajans took an early lead through a 35 metre penalty fired by stand off Indrajith Wickremanayake.

Royal strived hard to get into lead but hard tackling and good cover defence by the Rajans in this half did not offer many opportunities to them. They were behind the Rajans till the 36th minute of play when they succeeded in making their first scoring effort.

A three quarter move by the Royalists saw play being taken deep inside Rajan territory and skipper and stand off Naren Dhason receiving a pass from Chamara Dabare went over near the right corner flag. Shailendra Chandrasekera failed to add the extra points. With the score at 5-3 in favour of Royal the teams went for the short break.

But in the second half the Rajans could not maintain the same pace with which they played in the first. They wasted possession by resorting to kick ahead tactics. Their defence too showed signs of cracking up and Royal made full use of these opportunities to get their acts together.

In the 10th minute of the second half a desperate kick ahead by a Rajan defender was collected by winger Chamara Dabare but a Rajan forward who was also there did not go for the ball but looked on like a spectator.

All what Chamara Dabare had to do was sprint nearly 40 metres unchallenged to score mid left. Chandrasekera failed to add the extra points. Royal 10-3.

Five minutes later a fine three quarter movement by the Royalists ended with winger Chamara Dabare scoring his second try mid left. Chandrasekera failed to add the extra points. Royal 15-3.

Mushin Faleel who replaced Chandrasekera as full back put Royal further ahead through a 30 metre penalty. Royal 18-3.

Royal College with their confidence regained, mounted pressure on the Rajans defence and a forwards charge saw lock forward Ranga Perera going over mid right.

Mushin Faleel failed to add the extra points. Royal 23-3.

During injury time Royalists despite the heavy shower which fell kept attacking relentlessly and No. 8 Hamza Hassan powered his way to touch down near the posts. Mushin Faleel added the extra points to make it 30-3 at the final whistle. A. C. Tennakoon refereed.