Royal power dismantles Eagles
Royal flyhalf Maleesha Perera crosses the line to score the final try for his team - Pic by Sameera Weerasekara
Royal opened their campaign in the new Dialog Schools Rugby League Championship with a clinical 41-14 win over St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota scoring seven tries to two in a game littered by handling errors at Royal Sports Complex yesterday. At half time the winners enjoyed a 17-7 lead.
Enjoying abundant possession, Royal kept the game tight dominating with their powerful pack using rolling mauls and rucks to phase out attacks using their sleek back division. Skipper Lehan Gunaratne and fly half Maleesha Perera were outstanding in their line kicking to give them territorial advantage, though Perera was off target in his goal kicking.
The Antonian three quarters also showed some enterprise by attempting to run angles more often and launch counter attacks but handling errors when they got past the gain line cost them scoring opportunities.
Royal drew first blood with the game just five minutes old when right winger Chamitha Gunawardena sliced inside while hooker Rajindu Jayasuriya dived over from a rolling maul ten minutes for Royal to lead 10-0 with both tries being unconverted.
The Antonians hit back in the 20th minute when left winger Ushan Jayasuriya cantered across after they won a turn over with H. Shiwak adding the extra points to close the gap 7-10.
Royal surged ahead with flanker Kevin Samarasekera who had a terrific game in both attack and defence initiated a move which ended with centre Lehan Gunaratne scoring under the posts. Maleesha Perera converted to give the hosts 17-7 cushion at the interval.
St. Anthony’s gave Royal a taste of their own medicine soon after the turn around when they grinded the opposition with a rolling maul before centre Shiwak dived over the line and converted it himself for the visitors to close the gap 14-17.
Hooker Rajindu Jayasuriya got his second after Achitha Radeeshan activated the rolling maul by winning good ball from a line-out while Janendra Nanayakkara came from the bench to barge across for Royal’s fifth try after Samarasekera stunned the Antonians with a huge tackle.
Winger Gunawardena virtually sealed victory for Royal by intercepting a pass from the halfway and galloping across for their sixth try. Maleesha Perera was successful with his third conversion to give Royal an unassailable 36-14 lead.
With ten minutes remaining Royal lost when Samarasekera and Avishka Gunawardena were sent to the sin bin for dangerous tackles in quick succession. But Royal underlined their supremacy when fly half Maleesha Perera darted through to score their seventh try even after they were down to 13 players.
Referee: Praneeth Weranga