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| Sunday, 20 July 2003 |
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Trinity led 11 - 0 but Royal storm back to win 13/11 by S. M. JIFFREY ABDEEN, Kandy Sports Corr. Royal College was made to fight all the way before poasting a narrow 13 points (1 goal 2 penalties), to 11 (1 try 1 penalty 1 drop goal) win over Trinity College to take the first leg of the 59th Bradby Shield encounter sponsored by Singer Sri Lanka and played before a large crowd at the Bogambara Stadium yesterday. At half-time Trinity led 11-7 Before the commencement of the match both teams were introduced to the Chief Guest and Trinity's Rugby Captain of 1965 and a double Lion at rugby and cricket M. T. M. Zarook. Royal College dominated play both in the line outs and scrums but could not make use of it as the Trinitians often hit back in the loose Royal had many opportunities scoring especially before the short blast, but the defence put up by the Trinitian proved to impregnable. Royal was also guilty of not working their three quarters and instead went for the 'hits' which proved to be future. It was Trinity who opened the scoring when in the 3rd minute a Royal player was penalised for not heleasing a Trinity player he had tackled and full back Saliya Kumara fired across a 35 metre penalty. Trinity 3-0. But Royal came back storming into the game through, some excellent play by their forwards and were breathing fire on Trinity's line and it was only quick clearance by full back Saliya Kumara which foiled Royal's chances of scoring. In the 10th minute of play Trinity College scored their first try in 3 years and after 5 Bradby battles when Winger Isuru Jayasena intercepted a pass off Royals centre Kasun Wijesekera and slipt ped tackles to scor far left. Full back Saliya Kumara failed to add the extra points. Trinity led 8-0. Trinity score once again in the 17th minute when they done play deep inside Royal territory who had fortified their defence. The ball came out of the rueks and flanker Dhamikka Senarath slung a pass to fullback Saliya Kumara who executed a peach of a drop goal from 30 metres out for Trinity to lead 11-0. But that was their last scoring effort in the match while Royal turned the lables through some fine play. Royal's first scoring came only in the 25th minute of the first when they were inside Trinity 22 and the ball came out of their way from the loose maul are skipper and centre Rajith Jayasundera breezed his way to score far right full back Shihab Bahudeen made a very good kick at goal to reduce the lead Royal 7-11. Trinity who gave out their best in the initial half could not maintain the same tempo though skipper Migaro Madummapatendi played tirelessly despite a bleeding injury in the mouth. Royal further reduced the lead in the 5th minute of the second half when one of their forwards was penalised for going round the rucks and full back Shihab Bahudeen put over the pealty with glee Royal 10-11. Royal now back in the saddle and was pressing hard and it was the long kicks to touch by Trinity full back Saliya Kumara which kept them at bay. In the 16th minute Trinity could have increased their tally as a Royal forward was penalised for tackling within 5 metres. Saliya Kumara's kick at goal was off target. In the 20th minute Trinity made two changes with Roshan Munaweera replacing Nalaka Tillina Kumara as prop and Waruna Senanayake replacing Erande Senanayake in the second row to add more weight to the pack. Then came the costly lapse in the 24th minute by Trinity when one of their forwards was penalised for being off side in the rucks and Royals full back Shihab Badudeen fired the 35 metre penalty for Royal to 13-11 for the first line in the match. Trinity in a last ditch made a valiant attempt in the final minutes of play but Royal's defence held. Dilroy Fernando refereed assisted by A. C. Tennakoon and S. Gamini as touch judges. Trinity had the consolation of winning the junior game for the Simithrarachchi trophy beating Royal 11 points (1 try 2 penalties) to 5 (1 try). Prop Mahen Wickremasiri scored the try for Trinity and penalties were put over by full back Lishan Jayawardena. For Royal winger Ramith Amerasinghe scored the try. M. Faizal refereed. |
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