RUGBY - PETES LOSE TO ROYAL The Peterite - Royal match was to be for the Anghi Trophy which the Petes won last year but for the second time in the season a trophy match was begun without the traditional ceremony of anthems. But about the match, it was known that the Royalists had a very mobile set of forwards and if the Peterites had a plan to counter this threat, it was not evident. Inevitably Royal enjoyed plenty of territory throughout the game and used it to telling effect which put paid to any chances of Peterites working their three quarter line. In the 19th minute after the kick off Royal was awarded a penalty when the Peterites were found to have illegally collapsed a maul. Nimshan Jayawardena duly obliged and Royal led 3 - 0. Royalists continued to dominate play through their forwards and in the very few opportunities the Peterite three quarters had, they were forced into making errors by the fast moving Royalist forwards. Play continued with neither side scoring but the SPC defence which held firm till the 34th minute gave way in the face of RCs rolling maul which was again used by the Royalists to score their 1st try but the conversion was missed and RC led 8 - 0. The score remained so till half time. 10 minutes into the second half saw arguably the best three quarter move of the match when the Royal line worked for their outside center to scored far left but a difficult conversion was missed again. RC 13 - SPC 0. 10 minutes later Burah missed converting a penalty into points when he sent the ball awry from within 35 metres and opposite the posts. But Royal did not miss an opportunity they got using the rolling maul again in the 26th minute of the 2nd half to score mid left, but their place kicker missed the conversion and RC went further ahead 18 - 0. it was in the 31st minute of the 2nd half that the Peterites were able to score a consolation try through their play maker Kevin Dixon but Burah could not add the extra points and Royal led 18 - 5 which score line remained till the referee blew no side. In the writers opinion Royal played the better game using their forwards well and their win was no surprise though it must also be said for the Peterites that their defence was good and a lesser side would have conceded more tries. This was a game the Peterites would like to forget and having lost the unbeaten tag this season (and the Anghi trophy, if it is still being awarded), they are better advised to come up with a better plan next Saturday when they meet a very confident Josephian side. Referee - Dinka Peiris (pictures will be posted on the OBU Facebook Page)
Posted on: Sun, 01 Jun 2014 01:12:51 +0000