Royal down Wesley to record fourth win

By M. Shamil Amit

(Daily Mirror) - Royal College recorded their fourth successive win of the Inter-Schools Under-19 League Rugby Tournament with a comfortable 27-14 win over Wesley College in their match played at Havelock Park.

Royal, holding on to a slender 7-6 lead at the breather, accumulated their points through three goals and two penalties with Wesley making up their points from a try and three penalties.

It was Wesley who made the first scoring through a penalty booted over by Haadhi Aleem who followed it up with another for the Double Blue Boys to lead 6-0.

The Royalists were given a tough time by their opponents but managed to creep through for a try a few minutes before the short whistle with full back Yuwan Nisalatha going over for a try and Nabeel Yahiya added the extra points.

On resumption, it was Wesley again who made the first scoring with Aleem booting over a 40-metre penalty to take a close 9-7 lead but Royal replied with Yahiya also booting over a penalty for Royal to take the lead 10-9.

From thereon, Royal who were under pressure, opened up and prop forward Thineth Gamage went over for a try and Yehiya made no mistake with the conversion. Yehiya also booted a penalty a few minutes later for Royal to stretch their lead 20-9.

Royal playing with a better understanding continued to put the Wesleyites under pressure which ended in winger Fahad Nazar breaching the Wesley defence to plant a try and Yehiya made the conversion as Royal increased the lead to 27-9.

The Wesleyites with a do-or-die effort saw them reduce the deficit from an unconverted try scored by prop forward Ashean Emmanuel which turned out to be too late as it could not prevent Royal from coming out victorious.

Referee: Raveen Alexander. 

Pix by: Pradeep Dilrukshana