Royal run riot against hapless Thurstan
Royal College played a clinical game with their backs to secure a 97-16 win against their neighbours Thurstan College in the seventh week of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024 at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday.
Surpassingly, Thurstan opened scoring through flanker Chamindu Perera with an intercept try to take his team to an unexpected lead in the second minute, and with the conversion by Nethpul Lasantha they led 7-0. Then onwards it was Royal all the way from as their backs, who had a terrible game against St. Peter’s College last weekend, ran circles around their hapless neighbours, who were let down by a badly organised and uncommitted defence that was breached no less than 15 times.
The boys from Reid Avenue opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a well-run try by Didula Jayasuriya, which was converted by Idris Farook to equal the score 7-all. Three minutes later Jayasuriya touched down once again to take the lead for the first time following the conversion by Farook.
Royal backs dominated all the way - Pic by Eshan Fernando
Jayasuriya recorded his hat-trick in the 21st minute off a quick pass from Yahiya, who drew in a couple of Thurstan defenders, to brace an unconverted try that took Royal’s lead to 33-7. On the stroke of halftime blind side winger Amika Samarasinghe scored an easy try which was converted by Farook, as Royal led 4-7 at the break.
Two minutes after the resumption, Samarasinghe touched down for his second try as Farook easily converted to increase the lead 47-7 in favour of Royal. Thurstan retaliated in the 39th minute to add three points to their tally with a 35-metre, but Royal led 47-10.
The Royal backs hit back immediately with a Thiven Lakdev try, and with a failed conversion they extended the lead to 52-10. Two minutes later winger Jayasuriya scored his fourth try to increase the gap 57-10 following Nabil Yahiya’s failed conversion.
Two minutes later winger Samarasinghe ran almost 50 yards to record his hat-trick as Yahiya made no mistake with the conversion to take the score 64-10 in favour of Royal. Jayasuriya added two more tries to his personal tally, bracing in the 50th and 52nd minutes as Royal reached 78-10. An offside offence from Royal in the 55th minute gave Thurstan the opportunity to add three more points to their tally after Nelupul Lasantha put over the kick successfully.
Royal brought their score to 85-13 following a quick dash from centre Thiven Lakdiv, which followed with an easy conversion from Simak Shafeek. In the 62nd minute Jayasuriya continued with his try fest as he touched down for the seventh time for an unconverted try, which pushed Royal’s lead to 90-13.
The Royal prop Bandara joined his wingers on the run to score on the left flank, and with Farook’s conversion the Reid Avenue team looked at the elusive century with a score of 97-13.
Thurstan however added another three-pointer through Lasantha, who put over a 40-yard penalty to close the widening gap to a close with a score of 97-16 in favour of Royal.