Trinity retain Bradby Shield with a superb 36-20 win over Royal

S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN -Kandy Sports Corr. in Pallekele

Trinity College, Kandy completed the rout of Royal College by winning the second leg of 68th Bradby Shield by scoring a comprehensive 36 points (3 goals 3 tries) to 20 (1 goal, 2 tries, 1 penalty)win at the Trinity College Rugby Stadium at Pallekele yesterday. At half time Royal College led 12-7.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa handed over the Bradby Shield to the captain of Trinity College Kaneel Senaviratne and also gracing the occasion was Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake and Kabir Hasheem.Trinity College won the first leg 34-11 and lifted the shield with an aggregate of 70-13 which is their best performance in this 68 year encounter.Trinity now lead the series with 37 wins against 30 by Royal with one encounter ending in a tie.Trinity College went ahead in the 10th minute when centreKaneel Senaviratne ran through a gap and sling a pass to winger Lochana Girihagama who made a bee line to the right corner flag and came around to touch down under the post.

Centre Thisila karunatillake added the extra points. Trinity 7-0. This was all the scoring they could do in this as Royal College came back storming into the game, using their forwards to blunt Trinity attack.

In the 15th minute Royal College forwards exerted a lot of pressure on the Trinity ‘line’ and lock forward Wasim Bawa scored far left and fly half Rianze Jamaldeen converted through their forward incessant and it was only a matter of time before prop. Eroshan de Alwis fell over far right and Arshand Jamaldeen failed to add the extra points. Royal 12-7.

In the period of play which Royal College was seen more on the offensive and it was the intelligent play of fly half Tharinda Ratwatte who drove them back. After the team had changed ends. Royal increased their score to 15-7 through a 30 metre penalty countered by Arshad Jamaleen.In the 16th minujte Tharinda Ratwatte set his three-quarter in motion and winger Dharshana Udalagama scored far left. Thisila Karunathilake faield to add the extra points. Trinity 12-15. In the 28th minute Trinity’s three-quarter moved the ball and full back Halique Wadood covered 20 metres before off loading to Dharshana Udalagama who scored far right and Thisila Karunatillake added the extra points Trinity led 19 – 15 had taken over the lead. In the 30th minute Royal’s forwards once again penetrated the Lions defence and lock forward Wasim scored for left centre Rinzi Jamaldeen failed to add the extra points Royal 20-19.But here onwards it was the Trinitians who dominated play scoring 3 tries through full back Halique Wadood, Dharshana Udalagama and skipper Kaneel Senaviratne.

The last try by auty when he intercepted a pass in Trinity territory and ran 55 metres to score under the post and Thisila Karunatillake added the extra points.

Dilroy Fernando refereed.

Trintiy won the Junior game 19-12 and retaiend the Simithraarachchi Trophy by an aggregate of 31-24.