Trinity hold the edge in ‘Bradby’ first-leg

By Shamseer Jaleel reporting from Kandy

RUGBY: It’s Bradby time once more. Talk is on rugby and it is over the two foremost schools in the Island - Trinity College and Royal College. Over the years this annual confrontation has always been a close one except for a few occasion.

In some years even when one of the teams has been weak, the weaker outfit has fought their way through against the odds-and even won.

Both schools will lock horns in the first leg of the 64th Bradby Shield encounter on June 14 at the Royal Sports Complex with the kick off at 4.45 p.m. There will also be games for under 12, Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18 the game will be played for Simithrarachchi Trophy.

In the senior game, it looks as it the Trinitians hold the edge in this first encounter. The Bradby encounter over the past years is a much looked forward social event. The initial game was played in 1945.

In this encounter, Trinity won on aggregate 6 points to 3 points. So far in 63 years of Bradby shield, only in 1992 the game ended in a tie. The first leg ended in a nil-all draw and the second one at three a piece. Himesh Gunatilake led Trinity and Harindu Wijesinghe led the Royal outfit in this year.

Centenary game was played in 1983. That was an unique year for both the schools. Two scrum half’s led the schools. Royal was led by Sriyan Cooray and Trinity by Ashan Ratwatte, Sriyan went on to play for the national team at the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens.

Trinity’s best win was in 2005 under B. N. R. Fernando’s leadership. They won the first one 36-6 and repeated the good form in the second leg by 33-7 to aggregate 69 points in both the legs. Royal’s best win was in 2002 when Zulki Hameed’s side thrashed the Trinitians by a huge aggregate of 83 points to nothing.

Odayars’ create history

In the history of Bradby Shield Odayars’ created history where three generations of players represented the Kandy School. S. A. Odayar (1928-30), Uvais Odayar (1955-1957), Ikram Odayar (1984-85) and his younger brother Riza Odayar (1988-89). Ikram went on to lead the national youth team at the Pan Pacific Rugby Tournament held in Taipei.

Trinity is leading the tally with 34 wins to Royals 28 with one tie.

Trinitians had an inexperienced outfit led by burly Flanker Milinda Gunawardena - the only coloursman in the side. They opened the season with a friendly encounter against St. Sylvester’s College, Trinitians won 60 points to nothing.

This was the only warm-up before their season opener against Isipathana that too was in Colombo.

Asking was too much from a young outfit with only a few seniors in the side, Going as under dogs, for this game, the Trinitians, playing cohesive rugby won the encounter 29-10. From that day onwards the expectation of the supporters went sky high and they wanted the side to win whenever they play.

In the next outing, they thrashed Vidyartha College 60-9. They regained the Canon de Seram Trophy overcoming the strong Thomian outfit. In the end, the Lions roared to beat Thomians 15-10. In the next outing they edged out the Antonians by 25-24 and kept their unbeaten tag until the St. Peter’s game.

Though victory was expected it was too much of an asking playing minus their play maker and number 8 Rugby Ramzeen. The Trinitians lost 10-15. In the last outing before the Bradby, the Lions outclassed the Rajans.

Hats off to their two coaches Anil Jayasinghe and Pradeep Basnayake. Anil looked after the three quarters Basnayake was in charge of the forwards. Anil Jayasinghe who played for Vidyartha in his school days later on represented the Kandy SC. He is also one of the leading referees in the Island.

Meanwhile Pradeep Basnayake, the double international having represented the country in basketball and rugby. He played for Trinity in 1995 and was awarded Lion in rugby. Later he not only led the Kandy SC outfit but also led the national rugby team.

Lenaduwa lightning fast

Royal College is led by centre Suvindra Lenaduwa who is lightning fast. They started the season against Kingswood College in Kandy. They were beaten 7-13 in a tough opener.

In their next outing, it was an acid test for the Reid Avenue boys meeting the wounded Isipathana outfit after their defeat from the hands of Trinitians. They were beaten 12-17.

Royal started their winning streak in their third outing against Vidyartha in Kandy beating them 29 to nothing. This game was played without their star Bilal Hassen. In their next two outings they beat Rajans 39-22 and Antonians 25-12. The side is coached by C. P. Abeygunawardena assisted by Nizzam Jamaldeen and Viraj Prasanna.

C.P. was one of the members of the Bowl winners at the Hong Kong Sevens in 1984. He also coached the champion Kandy SC. Nizam Jamaldeen is also one of the leading referees in the country having represented in many international tournaments. He also represented the country at the top level viraj Prasaanna is also a national player.

Both schools play makers are their respective number 8’s. Bilal Hassen will lead the Royal pack while Ruzai Ramzeen will lead the Lions pack.

TRINITY: Milinda Gunawardena (Captain), Pulasthi Gamage, Mohamed Riyazie, Kenon Armstrong, Vishvajith Wijesinghe, Hasidu Dissanayake, Ruzni Ramzeen, Abeeb Hamid, Adul Fahad, Nimesh Yatawara, Snaznim Kitchilan, Idris Omar, Isurath Singalaxana, Lasantha Samarasekera, Surendra Alwis, Shehan Armstrong, Mohamed Ishan, Rahal Balasooriya, Damith Dissanayake, Samreen Sameem, Mathi Umanandan.

ROYAL: Nikira Senanayake, Udara de Silva, Shameer Fajudeen, Shehana Pathirana, Kalana Amarasinghe, Hashika Bandaranayake, Bilal Hassen, Rameez Rafeek, Asif Akram, Suvindha Lenaduwa, (Captain), Duminda Attygalle, Shamil Ahamed, Nabeel Faizer, Mushin Muzamdeen, Ashen Dissanayake, Hamza Hassen, Ranga Perera, Nabeel Jalaldeen, Aqeel Sathuk, Ranithra Chandraratne and Shailendra Chandrasagaer.

REFEREE: Priyantha Gunaratne