Royal maul Vidyartha to secure second bonus point
In week three of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2023, Royal College kept title hopes alive by collecting their second bonus point win in the game against the visiting Vidyartha College, which ended in favour of the home team 47-3 at the Royal Sports Complex yesterday.
The lads from Reid Avenue came out with all guns blazing from opening whistle to beat a hapless Vidyartha, who were completely outplayed by the Royal forwards, who gave plenty of ball to the backs to practice their running game.
On the 10th minute, the Vidyartha line made a daring run from a cutout pass from the fly-half to the centre Sarath Kumara, who almost made to the Royal line. However a valiant cover defense by the Royal line prevented Vidyartha from scoring.
Three minutes later Royal outside half, Simak Shafeek was penalised with the yellow card for an infraction, which Vidyartha could not convert into points despite playing a good running game by their nippy line.
Royal drew first blood in the 17th minute off a pick and drive by tight-head prop Thineth Gamage on the right side of the post, which was easily converted by fly half Thivian Perera. On the short kick the Royal forwards were penalised for driving over, however Vidyartha full back missed a 35-metre penalty.
Royal got their second try in the 26th minute, under the post off a five-yard tap and drive by loosehead prop Kavinash Ponnuthurei to lead 14-0.
It was business as usual for the Royal forwards as the opponents couldn’t cope with the onslaught by the home side. They scored their third converted try with prop forward Ponnuthurei scoring again off their signature rolling maul to extend the lead to 21-0.
Vidyartha, on the receiving end of a very physical game, saw their second player being carried off the field which was very unfortunate. Just before the short whistle the Royal No.8 Narendra Jayasekera touched down off a seven-metre rolling maul to secure the all-important bonus point for his team to keep hopes alive to secure the league title. At half time Royal led 26-0.
As the teams switched sides, the Vidyartha line, in a blistering move, sliced through their counterparts, however lacked the finishing touches to score. Royal, changing their technique, combined their forwards well with the line scored a superb try off winger Seneviratne which was converted by Shafeek to push their scoreline to 33-0.
Royal’s Thanveer Hassan was sinbinned in the 54th minute for jumping over the tackler. Royal scored their sixth try when centre D. Pathirana scored under the post off a 35-metre run, evading nearly the entire Vidyartha line. Yehiya made no mistake to take the score 40-0 for his team.
With fresh legs from the bench Royal, off a turnover ball from skipper Randula Bandara made a 10-phase move, which was converted to a try by replacement player Ajmal Marikkar. An easy conversion from Yehiya took Royal’s lead to 47-0.
With the time running out, on the last minute of play Vidyartha scored from a drop goal off replacement player Udeesha Ratnayake as the game finished at 47-3 in favour for the lads from Reid Avenue.