Royal survive while Pathana power their way through

By Shamseer Jaleel

The Singer Rugby league Under20 Cup segment moved towards the last three games as both the unbeaten teams, the defending league champions Isipathana and Royal continued their winning run in this year’s tournament. 

Royal had a narrow shave against the confident Petrite outfit winning  36/25 while the lads from Havelock Town stormed their way and showed no mercy for the Mount Lavinia boys (Science) winning 45/20. 

Trinity too recovered with a moral boosting half a century plus points win over Kingswood and Joes edged out the Thomians in the Lady Jaythilake trophy encounter.

Royal=36 Points

St. Peter’s=25 Points

Both the Peterites and Royal battled it out for the 72nd B C Angei Memorial trophy with the lads from Bambalapitiya dominating the initial part of the first half scoring two tries but Royal hit back with the same number of tries to take Lemons at 10 a-piece. 

Once again for Royal it was their number 8 Supun Warunakulasuriya and the Petirtes player of the game was Kevin Dixonwho showed their class. Kevin came to play only in the later part of the first half who was nursing with an injury. 

After the turn around Royal scored two back to back tries to take the lead. St Peter’s replied with one but Royal was in lightning speed scoring two more tries to grab the game 36/25. Though the difference between the two teams was 11 points, the try difference was only one separating the two outfits. The lads from Bambalapitiya will need to come up with some better kicking abilities to grab the remaining games, stay on top three in the League.

Trinity=58 Points

Kingswood=25 Points

Trinity put up a superb second half burst to ground the Kingswoodians in a high scoring game at Pallekelle. Trinity led by Isuru Rangala after going down in their last three games settled well to take a narrow lead of two points at the short breather (19/17). But the second half try spree coming their way at a brisk speed to end on a comfortable and morale boosting 58/25 win with a 9 try blitz. 

Skipper Isuru Rangala and Second Rower Rahul Karunathulake were outstanding both in attack as well in defense. Trinity winger Ayesha Edirisinghe too played an outstanding game the little dynamo initiating some very sensible move though small made accounting for two tries for the Lions. 

Kingswood showed some good pairs of legs and the combination between scrum half and fly half was in good shape but failed to continue their good work in the later half. This will be a good warm up for Trinity who will host the unbeaten defending Singer League champions Isipathana next Saturday.  

St. Joseph’s=27 Points

S. Thomas’=25 Points

St. Joseph’s College survived yet another battle this time against the Thomians 27/25. Though Joes took a lead 20/13 the Mount Lavinia lads came back but was so close and yet so far for them this season. With this win Joes retained the Lady Jaythilake shield for yet another year at Darley Road.

Isipathana=45 Points

Science=20 Points 

Isipathana led by national youth player Omalka Gunaratne ran through the Science three quarter-line in a 7 try blitz win at Mount Lavnia. Isipathana after leading 19/3 at the short breather went on to complete a well-deserved win before their next important clash against Trinity up in Kandy. Science never gave up fighting till the end but unfortunately lost out on Maduranga who was injured and their place kicking was their main worry. They hardly found the touch kicks accurate but instead going in to the safe hands of the Pathana players who re-grouped and attacked with some excellent three quarter moves. 

For Isipathana skipper Omalka Gunaratne, Chamod Fernando and Chathura Dilshan showed their class while for the Mount Lavinia school skipper and number 8 Lasindu Ishan was piece of class both in attack as well in defence.