Sports

Royal playing in the “B” Division this season got into their own after a pathetic first half in their traditional fixture against St. Peter’s to win by 13 points – a goal, a drop goal and a penalty – to six (2 penalties), at the Royal Sports Complex last evening.

At the turn around Peter’s were leading 6-0.

Opening the season St. Peter’s who are playing in the “A” Division, had the Reid Avenue team in all kinds of tangles. The Petes had the pace and power with the entire back division constantly probing the Royal defence. All this domination resulted in St. Peter’s going ahead in the initial half with the aid of two penalties fired across by playmaker fly half Irfan Meedin.

In the second half Royal got their act-together with stand in skipper Gayashan Wijesinghe leading the side in the absence of Chamika Gamage leading the pack from the front. Umesh Koralagama. No. 8 Diran Warnakulasooriya “lock” Dimitri Siriwardena matched their hardy opponents in the loose. Royal came up with their answer to the Pete domination with a beautiful drop-goal kicked over by Omar Hassan which was followed by a penalty by the same player to make it 6-all in the 18th minute of the second half.

A little later Royal went ahead when centre Dilshan Senanayake receiving the ball from Hassan off a scrum in the St. Peter’s territory cut through the opposing defence to dart over the line. Hassan who had field day with his boots added the extra points.

The Petes undaunted kept working hard in Royal ‘25’ but the Royal defence held till the long whistle.