As the Royal College 1st XV Rugby Team took to the familiar grounds of the Sports Complex, the coveted Singer School’s Rugby league hung in the balance. Royal needed to overcome a powerful Joesphian side with a bonus point.

Royal hit the ground running from the first kick as they kept on attacking for more than fifteen phases but the Josephians were relentless in tightening their hold on the game, giving their opposition no leeway, but were however eventually overcome by the Rolling Maul as Rajindu Jayasooriya found his way to the try line and Dulan Gunawardena successfully added two points to bring the score to RC:07 – SJC:00

With one down Royal fought tooth and nail to get the remaining three need to clinch the all imported bonus point. Royal kept their foot on the gas pushing a resilient Joes defensive line. Eventually the combination of quick clinical passing and nimble running got Yasis Rashmika over the line for the second try. With another successful conversion by Gunewardena the game stood at RC:14 – SJC:00

The Joesephians who had their eyes set on a second place finish did not hold back any ounches and were quick to reply with a try of their own with their first attacking move of the game as Gershorm Thangaiya touched down over their line. Santhush Algama pierced the posts to cut the deficit to RC:14 – SJC:07

In the closing minutes of the first half St. Joesph’s College were able to further cut down their deficit by 3 points following an unfortunate penalty by leaked the Royal defence. Algama made the most of their opportunity bringing the game to RC:14 – SJC:10

Royal, desperate for two more tries to secure the League kept on pilling pressure, but unwanted handling errors cost them a try scoring opportunity and allowed Joes to score on the counter attack when they collected a loose ball and made a kick towards the open space that their scrum half Rashen Gunawardena collected to score a try for the Josephians. Santhush Algama converted from the touch line to overtake the Royalists for the first time in the evening by three points (RC:14 – SJC:17), leaving a lump in every Royalist’s throat as winning as wishes of winning the League for the 3rd consecutive year began to feel like a fantasy.

However St. Joseph’s new found momentum was diminished as their skipper was sent off for a shoulder charge and Royal reaped the benefits of their numerical advantage as the forwards charged relentlessly towards the Joes line, where finally Achitha Radeeshan found his way through a desperate Josephian defense. RC:19 – SJC:17

With three tries scored, The taste of a league loomed ever so faintly on the tongue of every Royalist present on that day. Which eventually drove the Home Crowd into a Frenzy as they called for “One More! One More!” and the Rugger team did just that, securing the League as Achitha Radeeshan scored the fourth try for the day giving Royal the precious Bonus point as well. RC:24 – SJC:17

The next five minutes was a constant test of the Royal Defense as Joes charged relentlessly to bring the game to a draw but their efforts where dismissed one after the other and by the end of the final whistle Royal College where crowned as the Champions of the Singer Schools Rugby league for the 3rd consecutive year.