Royal College Triumphs Over Trinity College in Thrilling Encounter at Sugathadasa Stadium

In an electrifying clash at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday, Royal College emerged victorious with a narrow 22-19 win over Trinity College, wrapping up the Dialog Schools Rugby League campaign for both teams. This intense match sets the stage for what promises to be a highly anticipated Bradby Shield encounter at the Royal Complex next week.

Playing at the Sugathadasa Stadium for the first time since their historic 2001 Bradby encounter, both teams showed their mettle in a fiercely contested game that had fans on the edge of their seats.

Royal College took control early on, asserting their dominance in the first half. Within the opening five minutes, Naqueeb Mohamed powered through Trinity's defense with a driving maul to score the first try of the match. Royal’s fly-half, Idris Farouk, added the extras, putting Royal ahead 7-0.

The Royalists continued to apply pressure, and their efforts paid off when Amika Samarasinghe finished a slick backline move to cross the whitewash for another try. Although the conversion attempt was unsuccessful, Royal extended their lead to 12-0.

A Trinity infringement led to a penalty, which Farouk successfully slotted through the posts, further widening Royal's advantage. The Hill Country team was also penalized with a yellow card, compounding their difficulties as they conceded the costly penalty that made it 15-0 in favor of Royal.

Just before halftime, Royal’s winger Mohamed Fahad delivered a moment of individual brilliance. With his blistering pace, he outpaced the Trinity defense to score in the corner. Farouk’s conversion was on target, giving Royal a commanding 22-0 lead at the break.

Halftime Score: Royal College 22 (3T 2C 1P) – 0 Trinity College

Trinity College, however, came out in the second half with renewed vigor. They quickly reduced the deficit with a try of their own, courtesy of a well-executed driving maul led by Yasiru Ariyawansha. The conversion, however, was missed, leaving the score at 22-5.

The match took a dramatic turn when Royal was reduced to 14 men following a dangerous tackle. Trinity capitalized on their numerical advantage, with number eight Thisanga Dissanayake powering over for a try. This time, Shaan Althaf made no mistake with the conversion, closing the gap to 22-12.

With the clock ticking down, Trinity mounted a final surge. Manusha Silva's break through Royal’s defense reignited hopes of a miraculous comeback. Althaf's conversion brought Trinity within three points, setting up a nerve-wracking finish. However, Royal held firm in the dying minutes to secure a hard-fought 22-19 victory.

Full Time: Royal College 22 (3T 2C 1P) – 19 Trinity College (3T 2C)

Idris Farouk's outstanding performance, including two conversions and a penalty, earned him the NDB Bank Player of the Match award, highlighting his crucial role in Royal’s triumph.

This thrilling encounter has undoubtedly heightened anticipation for the upcoming Bradby Shield clash, where both teams will be eager to claim victory and secure the coveted title.