Royal scraped through Isipathana by 11 points to 10 in an exciting under-20 schools league rugby encounter to regain the Milroy Fernando Trophy at the Royal College Sports Complex yesterday.
Isipathana playing an unleashing and attacking game-plan from the first whistle took control of the encounter as they led by a slender 5 points to 3 at half time. A try and two penalties was all it needed for Royal against Isipathana’s two tries which came in the two halves.
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| Royal contained Isipathana in the second half to grab a close win- Pic by Ranjith Perera |
However, as much as the trophy rivals of 25-years battled with great confidence, both teams played scrappy rugby as the game progressed towards a thrilling end. Though Isipathana dominated with their backs on the possession they lost the ball more often than the Royalists.
Isipathana who exploded to a fine start had Royal on the defense from the first whistle as they took the option of converting a penalty from a reasonable distance from the posts. Skipper Prasad Devinda failed to convert. Isipathana went on the attack with their tidy three-quarters but failed to cross over at the first attempt. However winger Mekalanka Promoda found a perfect way to open scoring for his team.
Isipathana intercepted to win the ball from Royal within their 22-yard and Promoda received ball after a perfect work-out to score a spectacular try from the right flank in the 28th minute. With a 5-nil lead Isipathana went on to dominate the proceedings with their trademark fashion of running but could not finish off perfectly. Royalists took the avenging Isipathanians with confidence and gradually managed to move the ball towards the scoring line.
In the 18th minute Royal’s place kicker Arshad Jamaldeen failed to put over an easy penalty that came their way. Later Jamaldeen experienced a hamstring while trying for a punt which was well defended by the Isipathanians who conceded a penalty in the 37th minute. With the injury Jamaldeen emerged triumphant to give Royal the points as they trailed by 5-3. Just before the half-time Jamaldeen took a rare penalty kick, few yards backwards from the 50-yard line but failed to reach the posts.
Royal came back strongly after the resumption and applied pressure. In the 43rd minute Jamaldeen comfortably kicked a penalty to give Royal the lead by a thin 6-5 for the first time in the game. Six minutes later Royal three-quarters managed to intercept their counterparts in their own 22 and Jamaldeen made a blindside punt to clear the Isipathana defense. Royal skipper and No.8 Shehan Pathirana successfully grabbed the opportunity to land a try on the left flank which went unconverted as his team lead by 11-5.
Isipathana who played ineffectively in contrast to their first half attack came across with a couple of opportunities to score but Royal though at times playing scrappy held their ground. In the 60th minute Isipathana experienced success when Royal three-quarters mishandled the ball and lost its possession. Mekalanka Promoda who had a fine game covered a good length to score Isipathana’s second try but trailed by a slim 11-10 as they failed in the conversion.
The game went in both ways for the remaining duration but Isipathana having the upper hand looked for a scoring opportunity. Their skipper Devinda was sin-binned in the 72nd minute for arguing with the officials and soon after the game came to a short standstill when a section of the crowd threw objects to the field. Isipathana had their final opportunity of overtaking Royal through a penalty but failed.
Pradeep Fernando refereed.
Royal won the Under
18 match 13-nil.
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