Azmeer’s five help Royal secure third slot
Royal hooker Azmeer Fajudeen put in a scintillating performance against Science College in the battle for the third slot of the Singer U20 inter-schools rugby tournament played at Havelock Park yesterday when he scored all of his sides’ five tries to steer them to a 29 points to 22 win which ensured Royal the third slot.
Royal having taken a 17-10 lead at the breather made up their points through two goals and three tries as against a goal and three tries scored by Science.
Azmeer’s five tries could be the only occasion that a player has achieved the feat of scoring all the tries in a school rugby encounter.
Azmeer’s try scoring spree began in the second minute after the whistle was blown which came through a 15 metre line out in Science territory with the Royal pack in a maul saw him going over for his first try for them to go into the lead.
But Science took up the challenge and gave some anxious moments to the Royal defenders and they succeeded with winger Thanuja Maduranga scraping through for an unconverted try to make five each in the 14th minute.
Royal undeterred going into the attack and the second try which came five minutes later was achieved in the same pattern as the first one with Azmeer going over for his second unconverted try.
Five minutes later the Science forwards playing with more cohesion saw No 8 Yasath Fernando helping his side to be on par with their opponents when he went over for an unconverted try to make it ten each.
From there on the two sides shared the honours of the proceedings and Royal through Azmeer and with fly half Ovin Askay making no mistake with the conversion this time succeeded to take over the lead in the dying stages before referee Roshan Fernando blew the short whistle with Royal leading 17-10.
On resumption Science threw away an opportunity of decreasing the lead in the first minute when a penalty offered for rough play was kicked astray. But they made amends five minutes later with fly half Hashan Madumadawa going over for a try and with he himself making the conversion they managed to make it 17 each.
With no quarters asked or given the two sides were well balanced in attack and defense and it took another 13 minutes for the next scoring to be done which was by Royal with Azmeer going over for another unconverted try.
In between two Science players and a Royal player were sin binned for rough play which saw Science reduced to 13 players and Royal taking advantage of that saw Azmeer almost sealing the game for his side with his fifth and last try and with Ovin Askay adding the extra points Royal at that stage was ahead with the score on 29-17.
In the dying stages of the match the Science gave their supporters some hope when Thanuja Maduranga went over for his second unconverted try which turned to be a consolation try as Royal held on till the long whistle was blown which saw them win the battle for the third slot. Referee – Roshan Fernando.