Scrum & Engage for SriLankaSports.com with Christopher Jordashe
Script by: Brian Thomas
The pendulum swung, as expected. The Thomian defence blundered yet again; the intent was lacking. Guess all the negativity up front will hurt the Thomians — it was a slip between the cup and the lip.
Royal 5 STC 0
Royal simply dominated from the get-go, as the home team defended their whitewash for 15 minutes on the trot.
My question is: where was that intensity and aggression they showed in the second half? How come it was missing in the first 15 minutes?
They let Pathirana, the blazing inside from Royal, score by the corner flag in the 2nd minute of the game, as the Thomian backline defence was missing. Royal kept attacking the fringes as the Thomians showed early signs of panic and confusion.
Royal 8 STC 0
To add salt to the wound in their own 22, the home team blundered with an infringement, allowing the safe boot of Idris Farook to thump a relatively easy penalty for Royal to extend their lead to 8 points, as the clock read 12 minutes of play.
Royal 8 STC 3
It was in the 18th minute that the Thomian forwards saw light at the end of the tunnel by gaining territorial advantage through sheer power, and earned themselves a penalty. Mayanka Dias, who is a reliable kicking asset, thumped it with glee to reduce the deficit.
Royal 15 STC 3
In the 26th minute, sad to state, the Thomian team’s defence was exposed by the Royal three-quarter line.
A brilliant move by Udan Pathirana led to another infringement by the Thomians, and Royal — instead of depending on their rolling maul — opted for a loosehead scrum just 5 metres away from the Thomian whitewash. Royal scored again, with the Thomian defence faltering, for a converted try under the post.
Royal 15 STC 8
With half-time around the corner, St Thomas’ woke up from their slumber. By using their heavy forwards, they forced play into the Royal red zone. Royal had to falter under the firepower of the Thomian onslaught, and lanky Aluwihare brought a smile to the faces of the Thomians. He touched down for the home team’s lung-opener, but Mayanka Dias, surprisingly, could not add those valuable two points.
Royal 18 STC 8
Royal played it smart by kicking for territorial advantage after the Thomian try. The back division was still meandering to their possession. From a breakdown situation, the Royalists got a penalty and the luxury of a yellow card dished out to a Thomian forward for a high tackle. Royal kicked at goal, indicating clearly that points were what they needed — though couch critics expected Royal to initiate a line-out and look at 7 points instead of 3. Royal favoured the latter, earning 3 points through the penalty.
Half-time: Royal 18 STC 8
Royal 18 STC 15
The second half — and the pep talk during half-time — woke the Thomians from their lack of intent and playing second fiddle to Royal.
Mayanka Dias, the young, nippy wing three-quarter, executed the try of the match with sheer brilliance.
The Thomian fullback found an opening, dummied the first Royal defence, sidestepped, changed direction whilst the Royal defenders looked flat-footed, and Mayanka scored under the post — converting his own try. The Thomians, much to the delight of their supporters, were back in the game, trailing by 3 points.
Royal 25 STC 15
At times, it is a mystery to work out the defensive line of the Thomians. An aimless cross-kick was picked up by Royal skipper Samarasinghe, who plays as wing three-quarter for Royal. He was looking for support, but to no avail — ran laterally whilst the Thomians ball-watched and missed tackles. He straightened up towards the line glaring at him and touched down mid-right.
The Thomian spectators seemed shell-shocked, wondering if their defence was under a curfew, not wanting to bring Samarasinghe down.
It looked appalling, to say the least, as Royal — with the conversion — went 25 points to 15 in the tally.
Royal 25 STC 22
The pendulum was kept busy. With 12 minutes on the clock, it was now or never for the home team. Plan A — the Royalists were fatigue-stricken, their body language spelt it out clearly. The Thomians used their three-quarter line, winning a line-out. Then came the individual brilliance of Liyana Gunawardena, the Thomian halfback, who beat the Royal defence with a brilliant run and scored mid-left. Mayanka Dias added the 2 points. The home team was now within striking distance with almost 8 minutes on the clock.
Royal 25 STC 29
The Thomian grit was at full throttle. The powerfully structured forwards initiated a pick-and-drive move off a breakdown, whilst the Royal fringe defence collapsed — and STC scored under the post. The Thomians led for the first time in the game, with two and a half minutes left on the referee’s clock. STC 29, Royal 25.
Royal 30 STC 29
Bulathsinghala, sadly trying to clear a dangerous Royal last-minute attack to safety, miskicked his execution and chipped from his 25 without sending a booming kick into the Royal 25.
Royal retrieved possession from that kick and formed a maul. After a tussle in defence, with bodies all over, the Royalists touched down in the last move.
The referee could not confirm if the ball was grounded, as Royal supporters invaded the field.
This will be debated — but regardless, the Gunaratne Trophy finds shelter for yet another year at Reid Avenue.
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