Ashan and Tharinda Ratwatte - only 4th pair of father and son to receive 'Rugby Lion' at Trinity

by S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Cor.

FATHER AND SON GET AWARD .... Ashan and Tharinda Ratwatte are only the fourth pair of father and son combination to receive the coveted Rugby Lion' at Trinity College when this award was made at the term and School Assembly by its Principal Brigadier Udaya Ariyaratne on Friday.

Tharinda Ratwatte played as stand-off and a reliable place for Trinity College and captained the school to win the prestigious Bradby Shield for the fourth year this year. Trinity College won both 'legs' this year.

Tharinda Ratwatte's role as skipper of the team was many as his judicious kicking or feeding the three quartors at crucial stages had a big impact on the match. For Trintians it is the Bradby Shield which is all important and it could be bigger than winning the schools rugby rugby title. It is a match for which Trinitians demiciled in many parts of the world fly over here just to witness the match. Tickets are sold well ahead of time.

When matches are played at Pallekele the crowd is so large and the vehicles so many that parking space is so difficult that the vehicles moving out of the rugby stadium could be seen even at 10 p.m.

This year's clash was memorable. Trinity won the first 'leg' of the Bradly Shield with a clear 12 point margin. Came the second 'leg' and till the final minute of play Royal College were leading 18-16 and a lapse by the Royalists saw the referee awarding a penalty to the Trinitians. Despite the pressure of the situation and the shoutung of the crowd. Tharinda Ratwatte with his golden boots brought an unexpected victory for the 'Lions'.

The ball soiled over the posts with dead accuracy and young Tharinda Ratwatte was not overawed by the situation and the crawds were biggest over for a rugby match.

Winning the second leg' at that stage was only of academical interest as the war was won and but losing the battle was something the Trinitians did not want and Tharinda Ratwatte obliged.

Tharinda's father Ashan Ratwatte played at the base of the scrum and captained Trinity in 1983 and the "Lions" won the Bradby Shield that year.

It was a rare privilege for the Ratwattes. Both father and son led Trinity, they were awarded the Rugby Lions' and they led their school to win the prestigious Bradby Shield.

Ashan Ratwatte played for Kandy Sports Club and at that time he was the number one scrum half in the country and was an automatic choice to the national team. He ended his career playing for CR & FC. The other father and son combination who won the Rugby 'Lions' were the Buuljens in the pre-Bradby days. M.G. Sourjah and M.R. Sourjah and the third was that famous Iswan Omar and Harris Omar. Both Father and son captaine Kandy Sports Club. Harris Omar captained Trinity College in 1995 and won the Bradby Shield and also later played with distinction for Sri Lanka.