The last time Royal played Vidyartha was in 2012 at Nittawela. On that occasion VCK scored 21 points in the 2nd half while Royal managed 14. Luckily, Royal had piled on 24 points in the 1sthalf and held on for a 38-29 victory. In the 2 games that Vidyartha had played this season, they had scored 14 and 10 points respectively in the 4thquarter of each game. The 1st one took them to a win against Science College and the 2nd one made their loss to Trinity look more respectable. The “tigers” from Kandy weren’t going to be a pushover side.
Coach Luka had made just 2 changes to the side that beat SC. He shifted Thineth back to tight-head and had the luxury of Thanvir returning to the side after injury. Thulaib’s younger brother was asked to lock the scrum together with Diga.
Both sides were keen to run the ball early, swinging it wide and then kicking for territory. Thiva was feeding the outside backs constantly resulting in strong runs by Philio, DC, Charu and Duljaya but a few handling errors and penalties did not permit the score board to get going. VCK had their fair share of possession and territory, and it was resolute defence from Thineth, Ayyash, Thanvir and Bastha that prevented them from scoring. Their best opportunity came via their star outside center, Gayan Perera, who made an excellent line break and was odds on to score when Philio saved the blushes of the midfield. His cover tackle was a certain try-saver.
In the 11th minute Simak has a brain explosion and gives away a Yellow card for a leg tackle. Can VCK capitalize on the 15-on-14 advantage. They are adventurous, taking taps rather than kicking for touch. Do they fear Royal’s lineout prowess or are they relying on their speedy backs for points? On one of their tap-and-run moves, they are guilty of a forward pass and Royal have a scrum 32m out. Skipper Randul leads the charge and is well supported by Kavinash, Thanvir, Bastha, Thineth and Duljaya. When Diga is over the line but unable to dot down, he turns sweetly and gives Thineth a well-deserved try in the 19th minute. The hulking tight-head had carried the ball twice in the move before muscling his way over. Thivain has a simple conversion and does not miss. Sadly, a VCK player is stretchered off the field at this point.
When Royal concede their 5th penalty in the first 20 minutes, VCK attempt a kick at goal. It goes left and they miss their opportunity to score points during Simak’s time in the naughty chair.
In the 23rd minute VCK optimistically long pass their 5m line-out ball and drop it under their posts. They concede a penalty for being offside. Simak takes a quick tap and passes to Thineth who has a barn-storming charge before being supported by the other forwards. This time Kavinash the loose-head scores and another error from VCK is well punished by Royal. Simak converts and Royal are gaining confidence with a 14-0 lead.
It doesn’t take long to give the score board operator more work. Royal’s 2nd lineout of the game is around 17m out. Affiya’s throw is on target and Diga brings it down for the well-rehearsed rolling maul to gather steam. Randul has flashbacks from last year and joins the maul. It ends with Kavinash scoring his 2nd try of the game in the 26thminute. Simak has a tough angle from within the right 5m tram line. He nonchalantly executes the best conversion of the evening and Royal are soaring ahead at 21-0.
The VCK pack is feeling the effects of Royal’s superior physicality in both attack and defence. Sadly, a 2nd player is stretchered off the field in the 33rd minute. The hitherto well-disciplined Vidyarthans concede 3 consecutive penalties including one for back-chat and allow Royal into their red zone. The lineout functions smoothly and Randul joins the rolling maul this time too. When Bastha falls over the try line it is on the stroke of half-time and Royal has secured the try Bonus point. Simak’s conversion attempt is just outside the right post and it’s 26-0 at lemons.
Thivain’s 2nd half restart sails directly into touch and a few minutes later VCK are hot on attack. Randul pursues their ball-carrier and executes a copybook ankle-tap to terminate the threatening move. The VCK player loses his footing and falls awkwardly onto Philio’s right ankle. Both players need medical attention and Referee Isuru Perera appears swayed by this fact and the Vidyartha supporters. Even though it is banned in Rugby League, an ankle-tap is quite legal in Rugby Union. After a chat with AR Aruna Shantha, he incredulously dishes out a Yellow card to the skipper. In the worst-case scenario where Randul was lying on the ground when the attacker was running past him and he attempted an ankle-tap, that too would have been a simple PK. Apart from a defensive error, Randul had played his best 38 minutes of this season. He chased box kicks and made dominant tackles interspersed with several hit-ups.
How would Royal fare without their inspirational leader till he returned in the 48th minute? Would VCK take advantage of the Referees folly? Once again, they decide to tap and run. Their attack fizzles out as they enter the Royal red zone, with an errant pass ending up in right winger Charu’s hands. What follows next is probably the try of the season for Royal (thus far).
All 14 players appear to get involved as the move that Charu initiated on the right side of the field goes extreme left and returns to the extreme right for another 5-pointer. Charu deservedly scored his 2ndtry of the season after being involved twice previously in the move that had gone 8 phases. In those 78 seconds without Randul, there was a blur between forwards and backs; Ayyash and Thanvir appeasing the eye with Gazelle like runs in the open. Simak makes another excellent conversion, and the score is 33-0
Royal is dealt another body blow as Philio hobbles off and is replaced by Nabil. VCK also continue their injury woes as a 3rd starter goes off the field. Repeated offences in their red zone sees Simak tap and go again but this time Kavinash is held up in goal and misses a hat-trick. A 4thVCK player is injured and replaced before Randul returns. Was Royal inspired to not only keep VCK off the scoreboard, but also score 7 points of their own in his absence?
Randuls’ unwarranted cooling-off period may have contributed to his only other blemish of the game as he and Simak get tangled under a high ball and a knock-on ensues. Luckily, VCK cannot take advantage of the faux pas.
In the 55th minute, Referee Isuru Perera dishes out Royal’s 3rd and possibly 2nd unjustified Yellow Card. This time he books Thanvir for jumping a tackle. That’s listed as Foul play in Law 9.11 by World Rugby, but his sanction may have been overkill as the prescribed one is a PK. On the 28th of February 2022, World Rugby issued a clarification in this law, wherein they reiterated that the sanction is a PK. In the STC v Kingswood game a similar ‘jumping a tackle’ incident was correctly sanctioned by Referee Gihan Yatawara with a PK only.
Thanvir had been all over the park on his return from injury. He was seen running, passing, and tackling with great urgency. How would VCK take advantage of his absence? They respond with 2 consecutive lineout overthrows. Ayyash collects the 2nd and dashes 30m into VCK territory. Nabil shows he is getting back to his running best by carrying the ball up to the opponent’s 10m line and then DC goose-steps his way over 42m to score his 1st ever 1st XV try under the posts. It was good reward for the left winger who had been showing postive intent all game with several strong runs including one out of his own goal line that gained 30m. He had looked for work in the middle and showed his strength, gaining post-contact meters whilst dragging defenders along. Nabil makes the simple conversion as Coach Luka sends on all but 2 subs with 10 minutes to go and the score reading a healthy 40-0
VCK are probably thinking that they can still take advantage of Thanvir’s absence as they keep running the ball. Their enthusiasm is not rewarded as they turnover possession to Royal via an unenforced error. DC, Duljaya and Charu combine to take the ball back into VCK territory but Royal are penalized for ‘holding on’ and VCK take a tap. Once again, the skipper is leading from the front as he Jackals possession back from VCK. He follows that up with another hit-up and the outstanding Thineth comes very close to scoring his 2nd try. He is short of the line but replacement prop AbdulRahman crosses the whitewash for Royal’s 7th. There’s 5 minutes remaining when Nabil converts and takes Royal to 47-0
The last 2 subs come onto the field as Thanvir’s warming of the naughty chair had seen 14 more points scored by Royal. VCK fumbled the ball at least 6 times in the 2nd half, but Royal were unable to add any further points as they kept conceding penalties. Royal had successfully kept VCK scoreless the entire game and it was only in overtime that VCK dropped a goal and avoided a blank sheet.
Despite scoring the highest points in a game thus far this season, recording the biggest winning margin, the most ‘points for’ and the most tries scored (14 against Pathana’s 13), Royal will be concerned about the Yellow card count (fair or unfair) and the lopsided penalty count against them. On the positive side, the spot kick success rate has improved to 65% and the lineout success rate is a healthy 85%.
