Will Royal tame Lions in Kandy today?

Dinesh WEERAWANSA

RUGBY: Trinity College, Kandy, with a valuable 11-point lead and home advantage, are fancied to retain the Bradby Shield when they scrum down with Royal College, Colombo in the second leg of their 62nd annual encounter to be played at Bogambara Stadium, Kandy today.

The lions won the first leg by a handsome margin of 21 points (three goals) to 10 (one goal and a penalty).

But the result would not give any indication of the dominance Royal had in the first leg played at Royal Sports Complex in Colombo a fortnight ago.

Despite going as the underdogs, Royal were in total control and had a major portion of territorial advantage. But they lacked that much needed extra brilliance to put the finishing touches to numerous chances that came their way.

Even when they were trailing 10-14, they forced a series of five-metre scrums in the Trinity '25' but the Reid Avenue boys were unlucky not to score. If Royal had even the slightest chance of turning the form book upside down, they ruined it during this stage.

Had Royal had crossed the line even once off those many scrums they forced, or taken one of those easy penalties that came their way, the Reid Avenue boys would have painted a different picture. Instead, they just let Trinity to overcome that psychological barrier.

Once the lions overcame that crunch situation, they scored in style to go to Bogambara with a valuable 11-point lead. Royal will now find it hard to tame the lions in their own den.

True that Royal have fighting skills to meet the big occasion, but it will be an acid test for them as Trinity will be stronger, faster and superior with the home advantage.

Both teams are likely to make a couple of changes from the teams which did duty for them in the first leg.

Hence, they are set to go for the second leg with a different attitude and strategy.

On the other hand, Royal will forget their first leg loss and would have a fresh approach. Their morale is high after last weekend's smashing 35-0 win over S.Thomas'. Trinity managed to beat S. Thomas by 12-0 only.

The Royal-Trinity rugby series commenced way back in 1920, but the coveted shield, offered in memory of the late Royal Principal E.L. Bradby, was introduced in 1945. Ever since, the Royal-Trinity rugby series became a two-leg affair.

Trinity are the present custodians of the Bradby Shield, having won last year's encounter under the leadership of B.N.R. Fernando. Even then, Trinity had to wait for four years to kiss the shield as Royal made a clean sweep from 2001 to 2004.

A 'Bradby' victory would be a special significance to Trinity this year. They are celebrating their rugby centenary this year and would love to take the shield to put icing on the cake of a rich rugby culture at the hill capital school.

Apart from the proud rugby culture and the champagne stuff that is dished out with some fast and open rugby, the 'Bradby' has turned out to be an annual social for the Royalists and Trinitians young and old, as well as their supporters.

Trinity's 1966 rugby captain, Glen Vanlangenberg will be the chief guest at today's second leg.

The changes in the Royal side would see Nikira Senanayake replacing Yasas Ratnayake in the 'pack'. Naren Dhasen, who played as scrum half in the first leg, will move to fly half and make way for skipper Chamika Gamage. Omar Hussain, who played in the first leg, has been dropped.

Then in the Trinity side, flanker Malinda Gunawardena makes way for R. Ranaweera. From the Trinity three quarter line which did duty in Colombo, Eshan Deane will make way for experienced Kosala Tissera.

Of the 61 Bradby shield encounters since 1945, Trinity takes the lead with 33 wins to Royal's 27 with one tie. Sri Lanka's leading IRB referee, Dilroy Fernando, the former CR & FC and Sri Lanka three quarter turned official, will create history when he blows at the second leg as well.

The teams:

ROYAL: Manil Abeyratne, Ayesh Rajapakse, Umesh Koralagama, Dimitri Siriwardena, Nikira Senanayake, Bilal Hassen, Gayeshan Wijesinghe, Dhiren Warnakulasuriya, Chamika Gamage (captain) and Naren Dhasen, Asif Hussain, Dilshan Senanayake, Isuru Jayatillake, Savindra Lenaduwa, Ishara Perera.

TRINITY: Jazeer Hassan, Mohan Wickremasiri, Sathya Ratnatunga, Rashantha Madawela, Sean Wanigasekera, R. Ranaweera, Shehan Deane, Imalka Maddumapatabendi (captain), Niranjan Manickam and Kenneth Jacobs, S. B. Seneviratne, Kosala Tissera, Afzal Marzook, Kasun Samaradivakara, Krishan Kirinda.

Referee: Dilroy Fernando.