Bamba Brigade edge towards title with smashing victory
In arguably the title decider and the most looked forward game of the ongoing Dialog Schools Rugby League season, favourites St. Peter’s College beat hosts Royal College 31-24 to edge closer to their second back-to-back league title at the Royal Complex yesterday.
In the blockbuster clash, apart from the game on the ground fought by the young lads from the respective schools, it was a battle of minds between the two coaches, the experienced old fox Sanath Martis and his former understudy at Reid Avenue, Dushanth Lewke. The old master who tactfully used his fast back to full extent, ran around the Royal backs to plant the ball no less than four times in the first half thanks to speedy winger Vishenka Silva.
Peterites were clinical in their approach against Royal at Reid Avenue - Pic by Eshan Fernando
It has to be noted that St. Peter’s forwards also played a brilliant game by competing and disrupting their counterparts at rucks thwarting the Royal eight from getting into the momentum they needed to put points on the scoreboard.
In the first 30 seconds of the game, St. Peter’s forwards, who were late on the ball, gave an easy penalty to Nabil Yahiya, who made no mistake converting it to points to take his team to 3-0 early lead. Just another 30 seconds later, Peterite winger Vishenka Silva was sent to the naughty chair for a dangerous tackle, which was safely put to touch by Dulaj Navodya.
In the 15th minute, Peterite lock Rowan Silva took his team to the lead with a brilliant quick tap and scored a try which unfortunately for his team, the conversion was missed by Rahul Peter. St. Peter’s edged Royal 5-3.
In the second part of the first half Peterites gradually took control from the base as Royal forwards were caught napping at the break. However, a tumble by the Peterite forward saved the hosts from an almost certain try.
However, fullback Pasindu Bandara, who made a brilliant run to the line off a Yumith Ishara offload, planted the ball to extend the lead for his team. Peter missed the conversion as the Bamba Brigades led 10-3.
Just a few minutes later, Pasindu Bandara who caught the ball off a bad kick by a Royalist, ran almost 70 metres to plant a try. Peter made no mistake with the conversion to extend a 17-3 lead in favour of the Bambalapitiya side.
The Peterites who were running for glory, got their fourth try and the bonus point via a superb run by Vishanka Silva, which was easily converted by Peter to push the score 24-3 at halftime.
In the 50th minute, St. Peter’s extended their lead with their fifth try via golden boy Silva, who showed a clean pair of heels and touched down his fourth try under the post to make a mockery of his opponent’s backline. Peter put on the extra points to extend his team’s lead to an unassailable 31-3.
Royal finally hit back in the 54th minute off a brilliant run by Disas Pathirana, who got a good ball from his backs. Yahiya made the most of the rare mistake by the Peterite backs with a difficult conversion to close the gap 31-10.
In the closing minutes Royal playmaker Disas Pathirana planted the ball off a quick tap to score for his team. Yahiya made no mistake yet again to keep his kick at full percentage for this game to move the score 31-17 with the Peterites leading.
Just two minutes later Farook scored the last try of the evening to save face for the hosts off a brilliant dummy run which was the last move for the evening. Yahiya converted the easy kick to close the game 31-24 in favour of the Bamba Brigade. If the Royal backs had not aimlessly kicked to the hands of speedster Vishenka Silva, the game would have been a closer contest.
Royal backs were outplayed completely which would be a worrying factor for the coaching staff who will have to content on Reid Avenue’s next big games against Isipathana for the Major Milroy Fernando Trophy and a resurgent Trinity College team at the first leg of the Bradby Shield at Pallekelle next month.