Thursday Dec 26, 2024
Thursday Dec 26, 2024
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Royal accounts for the Michael Gunaratne Trophy for 4 years in a row
Line out ball contest Joe's vs Trinity.tif
By Shamseer Jaleel
Defending Schools Rugby League Under 20 Champions, Royal College beat their rivals, St Thomas College 20/8 to win the Michael Gunaratne Trophy for a record 4th year in running at the Royals Sports Complex last weekend.
At the short breather Royal led 10/3.
Kaveen Sasanga and Abdullah Yusuf try a-piece put the Reid Avenue School early on the board early in the initial half. Thomians replied through a penalty by Yehan Bulathsinhalage. After the turn around Royal touched down once more through Kaveen Sasanga. Nabeel Yehya who was on target with the kick at goal also put over a penalty. The Thomians only try was scored through Akila Perera.
Royal’s winning streak in the series of Michael Gunaratne Trophy counts back to 2017, 2018, 2019. There were no games played in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid pandemic.
Referee Raveen Alexander
Vidyartha continue winning streak
Vidyartha College continued their winning streak in tandem when they beat Rajans by 17/8 at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium last weekend.
At the short breather winners led 7/0.
After a scrappy first 20 minutes Vidyartha settled well to take the lead through Kavishka Wijeratne try and Menuka Thilakaratne conversion. Early in the initial half Thilakratne missed an easy penalty kick for Vidyartha.
After the turn around Vidyartha scored through Nipun Weerasinghe try and two more penalties by Menuka Thilakratne. For Rajans there try was scored by Co-Captain, Theunaka Wickremasinghe with Co-Captain, Saumya Wijesiri added the extras.
Vidyartha out of there three games have won two of them in with a chance to end on top two in order to move to the next round.
Referee Gihan Yatawara
Joes continue winning streak in the Hills
Joes continued their winning streak when they went past error full Trinity by 20/15.
At the short breather the Darley Road School led 17/8.
Joes settled early but Trinity stormed back with some good phases of play. Their defense looked good but their ball handling and converting territory advantage to points was far below standard. In the later half they were dominating in the visitor’s territory but lacked the finishes in many moves.
Joes drew first blood through Naveen Marasinghe when Trinity scrum half, Sheveen Premarathne failed to clear the ball, which fell into the safe hands of the burly number 8. Dilhara Subash added the extras. Another Dilhara Subash penalty to took Joes in to a commanding 10/0 lead. Soon afterwards Trinity full back, Kovida Wickremasinghe put over a beautiful long range 40-meter penalty to cut the deficit to seven points.
Second Joes try through Rahel Jayawardena and conversion by Dilhara put Trinity on the backfoot but the home team who never gave up worked their three-quarter line to touch down through their Centre, Ashen Wijesuriya.
After the turn around through dominating proceedings through territory advantage they could score only one try through Abdul Kaleel which was goaled by Anuhas Kodituwakku. For Joes Dilhara Subash put over a solitary second half penalty which was the only scoring in the later half for the Darley Road outfit who will await Royal in their next outing.
Referee Prageeth Weranga
Wesley run riot at Longdon Place
Wesley College produced some cohesive rugby to down the “Dark Horse” of the tournament Science College 38/10 at Long don Place last weekend.
At the short breather winners led 24/5.
Maleesha Thiranagama scored first for the Wesley lads. Shem Elisha scored their second try while their play maker and rock solid forward, Hafiz Thabeeth went over their third try. Shaveen Jayawardena converted two of the tries. Science put their name on the score board through Malshan Perera try but it was short lived as Wesley hit bac through another converted try by Shaveen Jayawardena who added the extras.
After the turn around Kavindu Nimsara scored their second try for the Mount Lavinia lads while Wesely scored two more converted tries through Nithila Rodrigo and Hafiz Thabeeth who had a grand game scored his second of the game.
Referee Ishanka Abeykoon
