Royal ends Isipathana’s unbeaten run

Monday, 14 August 2023 02:19 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Nabeel Yehya in a powerful move for Royal

Royal player Duljaya Gamanayake on a powerful move

By Shamseer Jaleel

Royal College ended the unbeaten run of the defending champions, Isipathana College by 22 points (1 try, 1 conversion, 5 penalties) to 17 points (1 try, 1 penalty try, 1 conversion, 1 penalty) at Royal Sports Complex on Saturday.

With this win Royal managed to reclaim back the Maj Milroy Fernando Trophy.

At the short breather lads from Reid Avenue led 6/3.

Royal’s Nabeel Yehya was in outstanding form converting one try and putting over 5 penalties contributing 17 points for the winners who had made Isipathana’s life difficult as they were in a must win game against the Peterites in their final game in order to retain the League title.

Royal opened the scoring through Nabeel Yehya converting a penalty 40 meters out after missing one. Rishen Silva of Isipathana soon equalised through a good penalty kick. Second Yehya penalty took them in to the lead at the short breather for the Royal outfit.

Royal fly half, Thiven Perera dummied his way through for a superb try and Nabeel conversion took Royal lead to 13/3. Royal went further ahead through another Nabeel penalty. But the Green Shirts hit back in 5 minutes time through Rinesh Silva’s try and conversion to cut the deficit to 6 points. Another 2 more penalties by Nabeel put Isipathana in a tough situation at 22/10. Isipathana had time for one more penalty try in the late stages of the game not only losing out the game but also in a must win situation in their least game in order to safely keep the League title at Havelock Town School cupboard.

Referee was Gihan Yatawara.