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Wesley
shatter Royal's unbeaten record
Royal who have been unbeaten since last year had their record shattered by Wesley when they were outclassed by 22 points (1 penalty goal, 1 goal, 1 try, 1 penalty) to 18 (3 tries, 1 penalty) in an enthralling Milo inter-school rugby tournament match at the Royal Complex grounds yesterday. At the breather the Wesleyites led 7-3. Wesley proved to all that the win against the Peterites last week was not a flash in the pan. It was the Wesleyites that dominated the game from the word 'go'. Top class rugby was dished out by both the teams. For the Wesleyites this is their first win against Royal since the two schools began confronting each other from 1958. And it was also Royal's first defeat since they began playing on this ground. The Wesleyites dominated play in the first half and drew first blood when in the ninth minute the Royalists were penalised for a collar tackle. This gave them a penalty goal which was scored by winger Naushki Fareez. Unfortunately Naushki who received a nasty blow was not able to continue for the rest of the game and was replaced by Saliman Buckman. With the game being played at a hectic pace the Royalists succeeded to reduce the lead through a penalty put over by full back Shihab Bahudeen in the dying stages of the first half after which the short whistle was blown. Resuming in the second half the Wesleyites playing with a different game plan increased their lead with a fourth minute try when scrum half Rukshan Oumar dummied his way pass several defenders from a 25 metre scrum to score under the post. Full back Yasas Nonis goaled it. As in the previous games the Royalists, who have won their last two games with some lightning play in the second half, replied in the 17th minute with a try scored by second row Dhanushka Rajapakse but the kick at goal by full back Bahudeen went astray. Six minutes later Wesley made the challenge for the Royalists a bit tough when winger Niranjan Wickramaratne went over for an unconverted try. Royal not giving up, fought back with some sporadic moves only to be stalled by the Wesley defenders. In the 20th minute the Royal forward line clicked and succeeded with fly half Varuna Wijewardena going over for a try and again the conversion was fluffed. But Wesley kept on increasing their lead when Yasas Nonis booted over a penalty to give them a healthy nine point lead with five minutes to go. Wesley - 22 Royal - 13. The Royalists made a last minute ditch and succeeded with a try by skipper and centre Rajitha Jayasundara but it was too late to prevent the Wesleyites earning a game that was theirs. Referee: A.C. Tennekoon. Isipathana
outclass S. Thomas' Hooker Sendil Kumar, full back Achintha de Costa and winger Chanaka Fonseka were the try scorer for the Isipathana with Sendil Kumar making one conversion and booting the penalty. While number eight Namal Rajapakse s was the try scorer for the Thomians with full back Wasim Thajudeen converting it. Referee: A. Rankothge-MSA St.
Peter's fight back to win The Peterites
scored their tries through winger Suren Rajakaruna (2), number eight
Dananjaya Nonis and centre Mateesha Silva one each. Full back Mohamed
Sheriff converted two and put over the penalty. Scrum half Udayanga
Lakmal scored the try for Dharmaraja with full back Lasitha Uduruwana
booting over the penalties. Kaushalya
guides Seylan Bank to title Weeraratne hit a run-a-ball 73 which included half a dozen sixes, most of which were out of the ground and then captured 2 for 35 to help Seylan Bank to beat John Keells by 38 runs. Batting first the Bankers hit up 229 for 8 wickets in 50 overs after they were given a solid start from their openers Ian Daniel (22) and Nuwan Shiroman (37) who put on 55 runs. Despite losing a few wickets the Bankers never faltered as they kept the scoreboard ticking through some valuable partnerships. Naweed Nawaz who struck 49 put on 47 runs for the 5th wicket with Weeraratne who later added a further 62 runs for the 6th wicket with O Wijeysiriwardene (18) as the Bankers reached 229 for 8 in their 50 overs. Needing to
score over 4.5 runs an over John Keells lost both their openers
Dilip Vitharana and Pradeep Hewage in quick succession to Kaushalya
Weeraratne. |
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