When Trinity scored a resounding win over Joes in 1973

Sharm de Alwis

St Joseph’s inflicted a humiliating defeat on Trinity in that it was the first in the series which commenced in 1955, the year in which Mahinda Ratwatte’s team won handsomely every match they played. Losing a game has wholesome effects and it is hoped that Trinity will learn from their pathetic display, particularly of ball handling.

In the absence of any redeeming feature in the game from which Trinitians may draw succour, a game in which SJC triumped by 27 points to 24 it is left for Trinitians to chew on nostalgia.

For Trinitians the Holy Grail in the series is the game in 1973. It was Major General Niranjan Ranasinghe’s first year in the Trinity jersey and under dynamic Nr 8 and Lion Jeffrey Yu who went on to wear the jerseys of Havelocks and the Country, SJC was beaten by 78 points to NIL which in today’s context of points would be 91 - NIL.

Jeffrey Yu, incidentally, is the nephew of David Gyi whose father was Maung Gyi, the pulsating Trinity captain of 1918.David Gyi played SJC rugger in 1960 and ‘61 and in 1960 SJC had a close game, losing only 0-3 to Trinity, captained by Eric Roles.Niranjan wondered if Trinity, brimful of talent this year would improve on the 1973 record.

Perhaps Niranjan was indulging in some effacement because Trinity in 1973 had, in addition to Lion Jeffrey Yu, five others who would be awarded the coveted Lion in the following year - C.Y.Ching [Snr], Rohan Sourjah, S.Y.Suan, Rohan Perera, Gamini Balasuriya with C.Y.Ching [Jnr] and Niranjan, himself following in 1975. It was an awesome team at Jeffrey Yu’s command and they played right through the season with ruthless fury and elan.

The team which swept every game before them comprised, position-wise:- Ashantha Samarasinghe, S.U.Suan, Gamini Balasuriya, S.B.Herath, Michael Schoorman, Ananda Pathiratne, Niranjan Ranasinghe, Jeffrey Yu, Hamzil Samad, Jayantha Ratwatte, C.Y.Ching [Snr], Asoka Balasuriya, Rohan Sourjah, Lakshman Bandaranayake and Rohan Perera. They were coached by Major Bertie Dias.

Results of the Year’s games :- Wesley - won 24-3, Zahira - won 48-0, SACK - won 12-0, STC - won 36-0, Bradby - lost 4 - 18, won 12-4 without 8 seniors, SPC - won 10 - 9.