Shailendra guides Royal

Come next week this time the fate of the Bradby will be known. Royal made sure that they are intent on winning it back when they turned in a reasonably adequate performance to down S. Thomas’ 22-18 to win the Michael Guneratne Trophy at Longden Place yesterday.

Hawk-eyed Royal full back Shailendra Chandrasekera was ultimately the match winner for the Reid Avenue School by putting over two vital penalties. He was rewarded with a special award at the end of the game as well.

The game exchanged leads on no less than three occasions. The Royalists fought against tremendous odds and then in the end had to be satisfied with this great win, which is sure to put them in the box seat when they cross -swords with Trinity in the second leg of the Bradby to be played at the Royal Complex on June 23. Royal are holding a comfortable lead in the two match series having won the first leg at 20 - 12 in Bogambara last week.

The Thomians were a vastly improved lot and it took more than guts to topple them yesterday. Royal drew first blood when Ayesh Rajapakse barged over for a try far right in the sixth minute. S.Thomas’ replied almost in staccato through a Thammangama penalty (5-3).

Royal struck again this time through an unconverted try by Bilal Hassan.

S. Thomas’ made it tit-for-tat when flanker Rohitha Rajapakse scored (Royal 10, STC 8).

Just to show that this try was not a flash in the pan a few minutes later Thomian prop Hasindu Perera bulldozed his way to score

Royal banked on their reliable place kicker Shailendra Chandrasekera for a neat conversion next but S. Thomas struck back with vengeance through Rohitha Rajapaksa once again and the scores were tied 13 all at the breather.

Royal sailed into a 16-13 lead after lemons through another Shailendra Chandrasekera penalty. Minutes later Shailendra was to target another penalty and Royal were firmly ahead at 19-13. Minutes later another Shailendra penalty put Royal ahead at 22-13.

Just when the nail seemed firmly embedded in the Thomian coffin, Thomian center Sanka de Livera unleashed a blazing, side-stepping run which caught the Royalists on the back foot. This move ended with Rohitha Rajapaksa crashing over for a try far left to reduce the score line to 22-18 in favour of Royal when the long whistle was blown by referee D. Nimal.

There were instances of rough and unwarranted play and Hasitha Bandaranayake (Royal) and Asith Kalupathirana (STC) were sin-binned.

Royal won the Under 12 A match against STC at 14-7 and the Under 12 B match at 28-5. Royal were also triumphant in the Under 14 A game winning 21-7 and S. Thomas’ turned the tide by winning the Under 16 game at 15-0. Royal also won the Mr. Thambapillai Trophy defeating STC 15-7 in the Under 18 game.

Yellow Card
Asith Kalupathirana (STC)
Hasitha Bandaranayake (Royal)