Trinity in superb fight back – beat Royal 37-25

By S M Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Correspondent Reporting from Pallekele

In one of the greatest fight back seen at a Bradby Shield rugby series, Trinity College fought back to score an emphatic 37 points (five tries, three penalties, one drop goal) to 25 (two goals, one try, two penalties) win over Royal College in the First Leg of the 69th Bradby Shield encounter played at the Trinity College Rugby Stadium at Pallekele yesterday. At half time, it was the Royalists who were in command leading 18-8.

Before the commencement of the match, both teams were introduced to the chief guest Rohan Sourjh who captained Trinity in 1975. Also gracing the occasion President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who watched the match from the grand stand.

Trinity College opened their account in the fourth minute of play when their opponents were penalized for collapsing a maul and fly half Tharinda Ratwatte converted a 35-metre penalty. Trinity 3-0.

During the period of play, which followed Rimzi Jamaldeen and Tharinda Ratwatte missed a penalty each. It was in the 21st minute that Royal opened scoring when their hooker Shuyab Jabbar scored over forwards charge. Royal 5-3.

But Trnity took over the lead when scrum half Naresh Perera kicked a head and winger Lakwin Gunasekara collected clean and sprinted away to score an unconverted try to make it 8-5 in favour of Trinity.

In the 35th minute, the Royal three-quarters moved the ball and skipper and fly half Rimzi Jamaldeen scored far right and centre Devin de Silva made a fine conversion. Royal 12-8.

In the 37th minute, Royal went ahead further through a 35-metre penalty fired across by Devin de Silva to make 15-8.

Just before the short break, Royal skipper Rimzi Jamaldeen put over 35-metre penalty to make it 18-8 in favour of Royal at half time.

The second half saw Trinitian going for the kill and soon after the resumption full back Sanchana Sheik scored by the left corner flag, which was not converted. Trinity 13-18.

In the 13th minute, Tharinda Ratwatte put over 35-metre drop goal to reduce the deficit. Trinity 16-18.

In the 18th minute, Trinity went ahead through a penalty by Tharinda Ratwatte to make it 19-18. Then Trinitians scored again through Lakwin Gunasekara which was converted by Ratwatte and Trinity led 26-18.

In the 28th minute, Royalists got closer to Trinity score by to a try by Shahid Haniffa which was goaled by Rimizi Jamaldeen. Royal 25-26.

Another penalty by Tharinda Ratwatte made it 29-25 and then he fired across another penalty to increase Trinit scored to 32-25.

In the final stages of the game Trinity lock forward Isuru Rangala scored the final try to end up with 37-25.

Jonathan Kaplan refereed.