Royal hold their nerve to pull it off
View(s):By Naushad Amit
A gallant comeback in the last quarter helped Royal College snatch an improbable 48-35 victory which was on the palms of St. Anthony’s College as they sealed their final first round game of the Singer Schools Under-20 League Rugby Championship played at the Royal Sports Complex yesterday.
The Antonians took major honours until the midway of the second half of the game but Royal were clinical in their approach during the final quarter as they held on to a 19-14 lead at halftime. Royal completed their mission to end up second in the points table of Segment ‘A’ with a tally of seven tries, five conversions and a penalty. Despite playing a much controlled game and scoring five converted tries, the Antonians had to experience their fourth loss of the first round in six games.
Antonian playmaker Jehan Seelaratne is brought down by the Royal defence - Pic by M.D. Nissanaka
If the Antonians are credited for their outstanding skills panache in handling the game during the entire first half and even the first quarter of the second half, the Royalists should be given all the respect for their temperament and teamwork in the latter part of the game, which turned out to be the most vital component of their victory.
Royalists, however, were better tacklers than the Antonians, who had better sprinters and a deadly three-quarter line with the combination of centres Jehan Seelagama and skipper Dinuk Amarasinghe. To keep the game alive for Royal, winger Sabith Feroze, skipper and centre Ovin Askey and lanky fullback Mohamed Shaqir played outstandingly. Askey and Shaqir created inroads with their effective kicks which eventually transformed a few of them into worthy tries. Despite complaining to referee Rohan Fernando of a minor vertigo after a collision at the beginning of the second half Shaqir was responsible in winning ground as well as making five conversions and a penalty kick. Hooker Hamza Reeza was the ball career of the two successive rolling mauls which helped Royal open scoring in the 29th minute and seal the game in the 73rd minute. Winger Feroze made two solid runs, to brace two spectacular tries in the 33rd and 67th minutes while Janindu Dilshan, prop Risith Fernando and skipper Askey scored in between. The Antonians had game changers in skipper Amarasinghe, Seelagama, No.8 Mohamed Shabeer and winger Janindu Himsara.
The Antonians made their intentions clear when they invaded the Royal territory from the first whistle as they kept the hosts at bay all the time before hooker Pulasthi Dasanayake completed a fine forward march under the post. With the successful conversion by fullback Chamod Wanasinghe they took an early 7-0 lead. The visitors continued their assault and spoilt all attempts Royal made to structure their trademark rolling maul before failing for the first time in the 29th minute as Royal scored off hooker Reeza. Saqir made the conversion to level the scores 7-7, however the Antonians continued with their onslaught by invading the Royal territory. But in the 33rd minute winger Feroze made a breakthrough run from the halfway line towards the left flank and overcame a few opponents to score a try under-the-post. Shaqir’s conversion gave Royal the lead 14-7 but it was short-lived for just three minutes. Still invading the Royal 22, Seelagama ran past the opposition line to brace a try under the post as Mohamed Makrim converted to level the scores 14-all. Royal were brought down to 14 players five minutes before halftime and despite that winger Janindu Dilshan overcame the Antonian defence to score from far right with an unconverted try and give them a 19-14 lead.
The resumption perhaps gave the Antonians the much needed energy as they scored twice within two minutes soon after it began. Making perfect use of the one-man advantage they made the initial breakthrough when skipper Dinuk Amarasinghe made a solo run from midway to score under-the-post in the 42nd minute. Makrim’s conversion gave them the edge with a 21-19 lead and their intentions were made beyond perfect when winger Himsara intercepted a Royal line work to score in the very next minute as he made the conversion successfully to put St. Anthony’s in the lead 28-19. But Royal never were ready to give up and they grouped to make their trademark maul to score through prop forward Ashen Fernando in the 46th minute. Shaqir’s conversion put them in sight of a possible win 28-26. But three minutes later the Antonians retaliated with a try from lock Savesh Weerakoon which was converted by Himsara to extend the lead 35-26. For ten minutes Royal challenged gallantly as the Antonians’ performance became awry as they lost the services of two important players due to injuries briefly. Then it was Royal all the way.
Skipper Askey made a perfect run from the midway to bring the scores close with a spectacular try in the 58th minute and they took the lead in the 65th minute the moment Shaqir put through a penalty after his successful conversion earlier and helped Royal take the lead 36-35. By then both teams had a player each in the sin bin for foul play. Cementing a perfect end it was Feroze who ran all the way past the Antonian defence from the midway to score under-the-post before Reeza’s second try finished off matters in favour of Royal.