Trinity open rugby season on March 17
Hafiz Marikar
Trinity College, one of the oldest rugby playing schools will kick
off the 2013 inter-school season on March 17 with the match against home
town school Dharmaraja College at Pallekelle.
Today rugger is the number one glamour sport both in Colombo and
Kandy. Its popularity is such that crowds of anything from ten to
fifteen thousand are almost commonplace at most big games.
The rest of the Trinity fixtures
March 23 vs Science College in Colombo
April 6 Kingswood College at Pallekelle
April 20 S. Thomas’ College in Colombo
April 27 St. Peter’s College at Bambalapitiya
May 3 Wesley College at Longden Place
May 11 St Anthony’s College at Pallekelle
May 18 St. Joseph's College in Colombo
June 8 vs Isipathana College at Pallekelle.
And the most looked forward schools rugby encounter, the “Bradby
Shield” which is played between two of the school with the oldest
unbroken interest and participation in the game, Trinity and Royal, this
time will be playing the first leg of the 69th Bradby on June 1 at
Pallekelle and the 2nd leg will be on June 15 at Royal College Complex.
The teams scrum down not only play to play rugger, but to also
reaffirm all the traditions, sportsmanship, friendly rivalry and
camaraderie associated with this contest. May Trinity and Royal, not
only play to the best of their abilities, but also show how the game
should be played in the true spirit of the game.
Trinity, which has been playing rugby since 1906, has a proud
history. Not only have they produced several champion teams but have
also provided the National team with the most number of ruggerites over
the last many years.
At one time Trinity was known as the cradle of rugby. It was said
that Trinitians take to rugby like ducks taking to water. Rugby is the
most popular game at Trinity and the school provides the ruggerites the
best facilities.
Trinity principal Brig. Udaya Ariyaratne, says that Trinity first
played Royal in 1920 and that was a historic occasion, even if it was
not our first inter school game to be played in the country. Before that
the firs game was played in 1906 against Kingswood College after two
years Randle Hills School gave up and the school was playing house
matches and club sides.
For the club games the school side was strengthened with the
inclusion of a few masters. The Principal said at that time after Royal,
1924 Zahira College and in 1933 St. Peter's College took to the game.
These were the only four schools that played rugger at that time.
Soon after the outbreak of war, Zahira and St. Peter's were forced
out of the game, when they were deprived of their premises for military
use. And Trinty were back again with Royal.
And in 1945 the Bradby shield game was introduced and the shield was
awarded on the aggregate of points from the two games. So, in 1945 Royal
led by C.D.L. Fernando won the first leg in Colombo and the send leg in
Kandy won by Trinity led by Robert Sourjah, so the first winners were
the Trinitians. The Shield was not awarded after the game it was given
at the school assembly, because the shield was not ready at the end of
the second leg.
It was Royal principal who paid for the shield. Since that day Bradby
shield has taken pride of place in the school rugby calendar even though
in recent years a number of trophies have been presented.
This season Trinitians will be led by fullback Halique Wadood, who
undoubtedly was the best full back in the schools in Kandy last season.
His deputy will be S. Singalaxana. There are a few senior players like
Lochana Giriyagama, Tarinda Ratwatte, A.Karunatilake, Kishin
Sivasubramanium, Isuru Rangala. Once again the Trinitians will be under
the watch full eyes of New Zealander Niel Footi, who is the Rugby
Consultant, and the man who is giving a big hand for rugby. Prabath
Senanayke who has been handling rugby for well over seven years, as the
Master in Charge, says they have started practices and players are given
the best possible backing.
This time the 1st leg of the Bradby will played under the patronage
of 1975 Trinity captain Rohan Sourjah. Under Sourjah Trinity lost both
legs, to Royal led by Iftikar Hassan, 11/13 and 03/21. The chief guest
for the 2nd leg should have been G.D.S.Gunasekara. But he is no more,
and next in line is M.G.Muller. It will be ideal, if the captain of that
year is present. If he is not available, they should think about the
next senior player of that team.
Trinity Rugby Carnival 2013
Trinity Rugby Carnival will be held today and tomorrow, starting at
9.00 am at the Pallekelle Rugby Stadium.
There will be mini rugby, touch rugby, under 16 and 18 playing with
other school, traditional present boys old boys game, the present boys
team will be this year's senior side, and the Old boy team will have
some top players who played in 2010 to 2012.
This is going to be a carnival atmosphere and the old boys are
expected in umbers to make the event a memorable one. |
