62nd Bradby Shield match: Lions roar to 26-5 victory

by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Corr.

Trinity lions' soared to score an emphatic 26 points (3 goals, 1 try) to 5 (1 try) in the second leg of the 62nd Bradby Shield encounter sponsored by Singer Sri Lanka (Pvt) Limited and played before a jam packed Bogambara Stadium yesterday. At half time Trinity led 14-0.

Trinity won the first leg 21-10 and won the 62nd encounter by an aggregate of 47-15. This win brings Trinity's tally in the series to 34 against 27 wins by Royal with one encounter being tied.

Before the commencement of the match both teams were introduced to the chief guest Glen Vanlangenberg - Trinity's rugby lion and captain of 1966.

Royal had the better of the exchanges in the line out while the Trinitians held sway in the scrum and the loos play which brought them victory and the Bradby Shield in their 100th year of rugby. This win is fitting occasion to celebrate. First quarter saw Royal pressing with more play in the Trinity territory.

Royal also lost Dilshan Edirisinghe and was replaced by Weerakoon as centre. Royal's skipper scrum half Chamika Sandaruwan missed converting a penalty offered which was from a kickable distance.

Another penalty offered for an infringement midway in Trinity's territory was fluffed by Royal's Chamika Sandaruwan. Royal missing their second chance to open their account.

Royal dominated the proceedings in the early part of the match that it took 16 minutes for Trinity to move the ball into Royal territory. But when they did they looked threatening to score at any move.

The first scoring in the match in the 22nd when look forward Sean Wanigasekera made a blistering run and was brought down a few feet from the goal line - Trinity were home in the ensuring rack when scrums half Nishantha Manickam sent a short pass to centre Kosala Tissera who dived over to score under the post. Full-back Krishan Kirinde added the extra points. Trinity led 7-0.

Trinity scored again almost on the stroke of the short blast when fly half Keneth Jacobs punted ahead and centre Srinath Senaviratne was on the ball in a flash and made a breezy run to touch down by the right corner flag. Full back Krishan Kirinde made a brilliant conversion for Trinity to increase their lead to 14-0 further diminishing Royal's chances of regaining the Bradby.

A refreshed Royal team after the turn around did well to contain the Lions from going on a rampage. In fact they made several in roads to lions den but lacked the finish. They were also plagued by injuries with replacements being sent in frequently. To add their misery their flanker Gayashan Wijeyasinghe was sent on 'Sin Bin' for unwarranted play.

Royal made their only scoring in the match when winger Riwan Gunawardena was led with the ball by skipper Chamika Sandaruwan and the former scampered over for a good try mid left. But fly-half Omar Hussain failed to add the extra points. Royal 5-14.

But Trinity's guns fired again to scuttle the Royalists and centre Kosala Tissera scored once again mid left off a three quarter movement. Krishan Kirinde added the extra points. With five minutes from the end Trinity completed the rout through a try by prop Sathya Ranatunge which went unconverted.

Dilroy Fernando refereed.