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Edge out Royal by 19-18 in the Second Leg:
Trinity retain Bradby Shield for fourth successive year
S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Correspondent
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The jubilant Trinity College team is seen here with the
Bradby Shield after they retained it for the fourth
successive year by edging out Royal by 19-18 in the Second
Leg at Pallekele yesterday after having won the First Leg
28-16 in Colombo two weeks ago. Pix : Sulochana Gamage
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A last minute penalty by Trinity College saw them squeeze through to
a 19 points (one goal, four penalties) to 18 (one goal, one try, two
penalties) win over Royal College in the Second Leg of 70th Bradby
Shield encounter played at Pallekele Stadium yesterday. At half time
Trinity led 6-3.
Thus Trinity retain the Bradby Shield for the fourth consecutive year
with an overall aggregate of 47 points to 34 to take the series tally to
39 to Royal's 30 with one tie.
Trinity took an early lead in the sixth minute when they were awarded
a penalty and stand off Tharinda Ratwatte knocked it over. (Trinity
3-0).
In the 26th minute Royal equalized through a penalty by skipper
Nimshan Jayawardene to make it 3-all.
Trinity once again took over the lead in the 32nd minute through a
35-metre penalty put over by skipper Tharinda Ratwatte to make it 6-3 at
lemons.
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A Trinity player is well tackled by a Royalist |
In the sixth minute of the second half, Royal equalized through a
penalty put over by Nimshan Jayawardene and Trinity replied soon after
with another penalty by Tharinda Ratwatte to make it 9-6 in favour of
Trinity. The first try of the game came in the 10th minute of the second
half when Royal College took play deep and hooker Supun Warnakulasuriya
dived over by the left corner flag. Nimshan Jayawardene missed the
conversion and Royal led 11-9.
In the 26th minute, in midfield, Tharinda Ratwatte kicked and Royal
defence misjudged and Number Eight Isuru Ranwala went over by the right
corner flag and Tharinda Ratwatte made a brilliant conversion to give
Trinity a 16-11 lead.
Shortly afterwards, Trinity's flanker JDJ Perera was ‘sin binned’ for
collapsing the scrum twice and in the 26th minute Royal grabbed the lead
when their forwards moved the ball well for Nikil Gunadheera to score
mid-right. Nimshan Jayawardene made a fine conversion to make 18-16 in
favour of Royal.
With play, drifting into the final minutes, Royal College made a
cardinal mistake with one of the players using his hand in a ruck and
the 35-metre penalty in front of the post was happily converted by
Tharinda Ratwatte to give Trinity a thrilling last minute win.
Irshard Cader refereed.
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