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Schools Rugby League 2022 – Div 1, 2nd Round
By Jason Perera
The firm favourites for the league title Royal College Colombo beat a fighting Wesley College Colombo by 21 points (3 tries, 3 conversions) to 16 (1 try, 1 conversion, 3 penalties) in their ‘A’ Division Schools Rugby League super round opening match played at CR grounds at Longden Place on 06th August.
At half time Wesley led 9-7.
Wesley started off brilliantly, and raced to a score of 9 points to Royal 0, with a penalty blitz in the first half through fly half Shaveen Jayawardena who slotted in all three Penalties successfully. Royal did well to come back into the game just before the end of the first half with a fiery display as their hooker Danuja Somaratne scored through a rolling maul which was converted by Nabil Yehiya.
The score read 9-7 in favour of Wesley as they went into halftime with the hope of beating Royal College for the first time since 2005.
The visitors started off the second half in a perfect manner as their hooker Somararatne managed to score the second try for Royal, this time on the opposite side of the field and they went on to grab the lead 14-9 for the first time in the game after Yehiya put over the conversion.
The Royal hooker Somaratne completed his hat-trick of tries moments later off another rolling maul with Yehiya putting over the conversion to go into a 21 points to 9 lead. During the space, Royalists ensured to keep Wesleyites at bay without giving any room to run. Royal College was clinical in their approach by dominating set pieces and being superior at the breakdowns. Wesleyites found it hard to break the shackles.
Just before the end of full-time Wesley fly half Jayawardena scored a superb try through a wonderful three-quarter move which he himself slotted in the conversion at the closing stage of the game to cut down the lead to 21-16 in favour of Royal.
The final score stood at Royal College Colombo 21 to Wesley College Colombo 16 points thus ending Wesley’s dream of beating Royal for the first time in 17 years and giving a big boost for Royal to successfully defend the League Championship for a record 4th year running.
Referee: Ishanka Aayakoon had an outstanding game with the whistle.
Photo album: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4617721304997017&type=3
