Royal nip Joes coup in the nick of time
Sabith Feroze romped 75 yards to score Royal's last try - Pic by Amila Gamage
Royal 28 - St. Joseph’s 22
Spectators were kept on the edge of their seats during the last quarter of the game between the hosts Royal and the much-talked about Josephian team.
It was 28/5 to Royal when the visitors bestirred themselves into playing some dazzling rugby to which everybody seemed to be contributing.
At this point, Royal was not meeting the challenge with any great enthusiasm. In fact, on a couple of occasions, the defence was haphazard, even lethargic. May be, Royal thought they had done enough to walk away proud winners.
Number eight Gihan Perera sparked the revival, after a series of attacks on the Royal line had yielded no result. The conversion by Chatura Seneviratne hit the upright and bounced away. It was 28-10 at this point.
But in a matter of minutes Channa Asoka found the ball at his feet, picked up and went over. Seneviratne was successful with this attempt (28-17). With the game almost running into extra time, skipper Vinul Fernando showed that he had one last shot left in his locker by going over off a desperate rush by the Joes. This too wasn’t converted, and with it went Referee Roshan Fernando’s long whistle, which a battered and bruised Royal team would have been grateful for.
The Joes dominated the early exchanges. They were fiery in their play and didn’t allow Royal to settle. They probably wanted to get in the first blow, and they did just that. They won a line out on the extreme right. A long pass followed and the centre ran across and passed to winger Shaan Akila who cut in and scored.
Play was getting a bit heated as Royal came back into the game. A late tackle or two didn’t help the Joes who conceded a penalty (5-3). A happy feature of Royal’s play was that they were not entirely dependent on the rolling maul. They used it judiciously. Off one such maul, number eight Hamza Reza was able to scramble over the line. Migara Mihisanka wasn’t able to convert.
In the last ten minutes of the opening half, Royal played some stirring rugby and the Joes seemed rather inept at this stage. Half time was taken with the hosts in the lead (8-5).
A bad mistake enabled Royal to score their second try. The Joes attempted to run the ball from their goal line and the ball rolled loose. Winger Deshan Perera picked up and went over untroubled. Mihisanka converted for Royal to stretch their lead further (15-5).
Royal were attacking the Josephian goal line when skipper Askey found himself with the ball in his hands, in front of the posts and twenty two yards away. A dropped goal was the inevitable result. Royal had converted a penalty minutes before that (21-5).
The Joe’s passing was not spot on, and on one occasion, a pass was intercepted inside the Royal 22 by winger Sabith Feroze who scorched through a good 75 yards for an under the posts try which was put over.
There were plenty of yellow cards given out as the match became fast and furious. Two Royalists were stretchered off.
Royal’s 28 points were made up of two goals, a try, two penalties and a drop goal. The Josephians replied with a goal and three tries.