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Royal win on the post
Royal 10, St.Anthony's 07
By Bernie Wijesekera
When elephants fight, it's the grass that suffers. That's how the much looked forward to clash between two unbeaten school teams Royal and St. Anthony's Kandy went at the Royal College Complex, played before a big crowd, last evening.

Royal, who were led 0-7 at the turn around nudged the Kandy school on the post thanks to hard running athletically - built winger Lakshaman Dissanayake shrugging off the defence to scorche his way to a corner - flag try helping the Ried Avenue school to win 10 (two tries) to 7 ( a goal), in a spine - chilling contest to maintain their unbeaten tag.

The scoreline was no indication how the game went as both teams had strong and mobile sets of forwards who gave nothing away. The soggy conditions underfoot was ideal for rugby and the respective forwards reveled in the conditions.

For the Reid Avenue school it was a comedy of errors when they spilled the ball in the initial half with their butter fingers. Skipper Rajitha Jayasundera was the showpiece, but he was closely marked. SACK scored off a strong pass in the 7th minute of the first half. Winger Sumith Jagoda collected the wild ball and crossed the Royal line. Fly - half Sumal Wijesiri added the extra points.

The Kandy school held on to the lead grimly thanks to the Royal's back division's poor ball handling. The Katugastota lads could have increased the lead, but for the Ried Avenue school's defence which stood firm.

After the short break Royal changed their ploy and handled the ball better. It was a ding-dong battle with the ball moving pendulum-wise. Antonian No. 8 Imran Bilamin fought a relentless battle in the loose, with the Royal defence tottering. But technical errors cost them dearly.

In the 22nd minute with SACK on the offensive, A penalty ensued. For Royal kicked to touch. Off the ensuing ruck, the Royalists knocked on five metres out losing a glorious chance of crossing the line.

Then came the chance for Royal who fought a ferocious battle against a bemused SACK defence to score their first try off a short tap, fly-half Varuna Wijewardena touched down. Fullback Shiek Boudween failed to convert 5-7.

The Royal forwards forced their way to the SACK defence. A scrum in the '25'. The ball changed several hands. 'Royal's Man of Steel', Lakshman Dissanayake was at hand to collect the ball with a hand off going over the corner-flag to take the lead and the match when Ref. A.T. Tennakoon blew the long whistle.

It was one of the finest games seen for a long time played in the correct spirit. The Katugastota lads proved they posses plenty of talent for the future of Sri Lanka rugby.

Rugby shock as Wesley humble Peterites
Wesley 19, St.Peter's 13
By M. Shamil Amit
Wesley inflicted the second defeat on St Peter's in the on going schools rugby season with a shock win by 19 points (2 goals, 1 penalty) to 13 (1 goal, 2 penalties) in the Under 19 inter-school rugby encounter played at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday. Wesley led 5-3 at the short whistle.

The Peterites who went into the game as favourites fielding a stronger and experienced outfit unlike the Wesleyites who had been having mixed fortunes in their games played so far this season and going into this game as sheer underdogs. They played to a game plan and dominated the game during both periods of play.

The Peterites have to blame themselves for the poor ball handling specially by the scrum half. Nevertheless the Wesleyites played their hearts out putting the Petes under pressure and gave them the first shock when in the 12th minute winger Naushki Fareez gave the Wesleyites the lead when he went over for a corner flag try with the kick at goal for full back Yasas Nonis being out of reach. The Peterites replied with a penalty put over by full back Mohamed Sherrif and the sides were changed with Wesley leading 5-3.

Resuming in the second half the Wesleyites continued from where they left making sporadic and threatning moves and succeeded in the eighth minute through a try from number eight Tyronne Harrison with Yasas Nonis making no mistake with the conversion. Four minutes later the Peterites reduced the lead with a penalty booted by Mohamed Sherrif.

With a ding dong battle going on and no quarters asked or given, the Peterites were under pressure and the Wesleyites increased the lead when skipper and flanker Kasun de Silva who was recovering from a head injury planted a try six minutes away from the finish for Yasas Nonis to add the extra points and Wesley led 19-6. With two minutes left for play the Peterites scored a consolation try through centre Malith Perera with Mohamed Sherrif adding the extra points.

It was too late and the writing was there on the wall with Wesley providing the biggest shock in the ongoing schools rugby season with a well earned win against the reigning schools league champs. Referee: Piyal Navaratne

Thomians crush Trinity
St. Thomas - 27 Trinity - 10
By Shamseer Jaleel
St. Thoma's College Mount Lavinia who were the underdogs put up an excellent performances to beat Trinity College Kandy by 27 (2 goals, 2 tries, 1 penalty) to 10 (1 goal, 1 penalty) in their annual inter school rugby encounter played at Longden Place yesterday. With this victory Thomians have grabbed the De Saram shield for the eleventh time.

Though Trinity side was more expreineced and had more weight Thomians had an excellent game plan, their forwards and their three quaters clicked well to find holes in the weak Trinity defence. Canon De Saram shield was on offer first in the year 1978, in which Trinity won. Trinity won the under 17 by 10 points to nil. First XV match - Referee - Aruna Jayasekera.

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