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Royal face the threat of being relegated
Ananda add more to Royal woes
By Shamseer Jaleel
Ananda added further to the Royal rugby woes this season when they run past them to post a 12 points (1 goal, 1 try) to 10 points (2 tries) win at the Royal Sports Complex grounds. At the short breather Ananda led 7-0.
Ananda last won this tie way back in 1996.

Both teams dished out superb rugby in the initial half with the Royal lads having a slight edge over their opponents
It was superb teak tough midfield defence and attack flair. Royal dominated the scrums and the line outs and never allowed the Aananda three quarters to move freely. Even the forwards showed more power than their opponents.
Ananda opened the scoring in the 29th minute of the game when their three quarters sprung into action. Winger Harshana Perera intercepted a Royal three quarter move and dashed nearly 60 meters to score under the posts. Yohan Perera had an easy task to add the extra points.

Royal skipper Varun Wijewardena took the field and found good territorial advantage through some fine touch kicks. They showed their attacking mood early in the second half through some fine forwards play and kept on attacking in the Ananda half.

Royal scored in the 5th minute of the second half through a forwards rush when Chathuranga Hettiarachchi powered his way for a superb try. Royal scrum half Chaminda Sandaruwan failed to add the extra points. Ananda looked very dangerous whenever they use their three quarters splitting the Royal defence on a number of occasions but failed to capitalize on most of their opportunities until the 21st minute . Falnker Udara Suriyapperuma dashed his way through to score mid left. Yohan Perera failed to add the extra points (12-5).

It was fullback Naren Dasan gave Royal a glimmer of hope when he split the Ananda three quarters in the 27th minute of the game to run down the left corner flag to cut the deficit to two points (12-10 Ananda lead).
In the last minute though Royal showed some attacking play through their forwards but it was too late for them. At the end they looked a shattered side which needs an urgent revamp.

After this fourth defeat their chances of getting demoted to “B” division looks imminent.

Referee Chaminda Amadoru
In the Under 16 match Royal beat Ananda 20-0
Royal will clash against Isipathana next Saturday with the game played for Major Milroy Fernando Memorial Trophy. This is not a tournament game.

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