66th Bradby Shield :

Royal win first leg in thriller 38-37

By Dilanka MANNAKKARA

RUGBY: After a keen tussle for supremacy in the pinnacle of schools rugby, Royal College won the first leg of the Bradby Shield beating the Trinity Lions 38-37 in a nail biter. The mammoth crowd gathered at the Royal College Sports complex witnessed a thrilling encounter where the powerful pack of Royal forwards were up against probably one of the best three quarter lines of Trinity. Both sides made mistakes under slippery conditions but Royal were the worst affected with their weak defense line being exposed. Royal scored 3 goals, 1 try, 3 penalties and a drop goal while Trinity scored 3 goals, 2 tries and 2 penalties.

Trinity drew first blood in the second minute of play with a wonderful second phase move by fly half Rehan Weerakoon who passed the ball on to Wing three quarter Akila Dissanayake who scored a scintillating try. Kanchana Ramanayake who had a marvellous game for Trinity converted for his team to lead 7-0 in the opening minutes of play.

Royal struck back fiercely with centre Tharaka Wijesuriya dashing through an open space to touch down. Musheen Faleel converted it and the scores were at 7-7. Trinity were awarded a couple of penalties and star player Kanchana Ramanayake was successful in a 45m difficult kick. He was spot on with his second kick as well which was a relatively easy one and Trinity were again in the lead 13-07.

In the 24th minute of play Royal were awarded a penalty and Fly Half Arshad Jamaldeen was successful with the kick. Another penalty was awarded to Royal and Jamaldeen who probably had his best game as a place kicker in the season was yet again successful and the score was even at 13-13.

Royal were once again on the charge in a 10m scrum with their powerful forwards led by No. 8 Shehan Pathirana and Jamaldeen executed a brilliant drop goal to have the score in Royals favour at 16-13.

The pendulum was swinging both ways as Trinity struck back with a wonderful try by Kanchana Ramanayake who was able to ease through the weak Royal three quarter line and he added extra points which gave Trinity the lead at the 33rd minute of play. In the 36 minute Trinity star player and No. 8 Shanon Armstrong was yellow carded by the referee. Just before half time Royal scored with a lovely inside pass by Jamaldeen to Dilshan Palihakkara. Musheen Faleel added extra points and at lemons Royal were leading 23-20.

Just after half time Royal were awarded another penalty and Jamaldeen was again successful with his golden boot.In slippery conditions and wet weather Trinity making mistakes, Royal were rewarded with a five meter scrum but Shehan Pathirana failed to score. The Royal third row who had an excellent game continued in being dominant against their counterparts as birthday boy Chilanka Samarajeewa dashed through the formidable Trinity defense to score another try. Jamaldeen failed to add extra points.

Royal were having a 11 point lead in the 58th minute but with both teams making mistakes under slippery conditions and Royal's defense line being weak, it was all to play for Trinity. Royal's vulnerable defense was exposed once again as the Trinity superior back division worked the ball wide and Centre Mohammad Shezan scored a breathtaking try.

Shezan's joy was short-lived as he was awarded the Red Card for dangerous play and Trinity were down to 14 men in the park. Although one man down Trinity were once again in business and they were rewarded for their outstanding passing skills and forward play with Nimesh Yatawara scoring off a workman like try from a fourth phase play. It put Trinity once again in the lead with 32-31. In the 79th minute it was Royal's turn to score as marauding hooker Adil Jabar scored under the post and Jamaldeen added extra points.

Trinity showed a lot of grit in the dying seconds and grinded through the faded Royal defense with some superb three quarter moves and speedy winger Akila Dissanayake scored in the blind side but reliable place kicker Ramanayake failed to do the all important conversion and the score was in Royal's favour 38-37. Royal missed another opportunity to score a valuable try in loose play with the forwards loosing the ball and Referee Irshard Cader blew the whistle for full time.

The second leg of Bradby will take place in Pallekele on the 26th of June.

Royal won the Under 18 game 26-05.