Trinity fight-back to score a 36-20 win over Royal

Thushan JAYASURIYA

Trinity College Kandy spearheaded by their dazzling three quarters once again staged a superb fight back in the second half to score an emphatic 36 – 20 win over Royal College Colombo to retain the prestigious Bradby Shield for the second successive year.

The lads from Kandy, who were trailing 19 – 20 just ten minutes before the final whistle forged ahead through a fine try by winger Dharshana Udalagama off a scrum in the Royal 25 to make it 24 – 20. Then , in the 36th minute , an erratic pass by Royal skipper Arshad Jamaldeen saw Udalagama making an interception and dashed through 50 metres to score under the posts to give Thisila Karunatillake an easy kick at goal to make it 31 – 20 .

Then in the last minute of the match, Trinity's Full Back Halique Wadood capped a fine performance by putting the finishing touches to a three quarter move by scoring by the corner flag.Thisila Karunatillake made a splendid conversion to give Trinity a 36 – 20 win much to the delight of their supporters.

Royal once again paid the penalty of playing a half-fit Arshad Jamaldeen in the Fly Half position and their lack of fitness.

Jamaldeen was clearly hampered by his injury and merely collected the ball and passed to his team mates while Royal's lack of fitness was exposed for the third successive week with the Trinity Lions scoring three tries during the last 10 minutes.

The first half was dominated by the marauding Royal forwards who completely outplayed their counterparts in the loose.Eroshan de Alwis and Wasim Bawa played a terrific game and were a source of inspiration to their pack-mates Andrew Siriwardena, Shuaib Mutaliph, Lahiru Pavithra, Yasun Weerasuriya, Madhusha Kularatne and Kaveen Perera who gave off their best as the Royal ‘Eight’ reigned supreme in the loose.

The lads from Reid Avenue, also won an abundance of possession with hooker Lahiru Pavithra getting the bettter of his opposite number Dhuli Samarakoon while the Royal trio of Wasim Bawa, Andrew Siriwardena and Yasun Weerasuriya held sway in the line outs. But the Royal threes could not make much headway with a half fit Arshad Jamaldeen occupying the fly half berth and they had to keep play with their hard-working forwards.

Royal's full back Damien Ratwatte had another excellent game with his safe collections and booming kicks to touch and also looked dangerous on the few occasions he joined the line in attack.

Despite the dominance of the Royal “Eight” they could not score more than two tries in the first half due to the resolute defence put up by the Trinitians.The Trinity three quarters despite not getting much possession , always looked dangerous when they were fed with “good ball”.

Centres Kaneel Seneviratne and Thisila Karunatillake tested the Royal defence with their side stepping and speed while the two wingers Lochana Girihagama and Dharshana Udalagama stood out with their powerful runs down the flank.

Udalagama, who had a fine game, went onto score three tries while Girihagama scored the first try for the Lions.Fullback Halique Wadood joined the line to form the overlap time and again and capped a fine game with two splendid tries.

Fine team-work and their superior fitness was the main reason for Trinity's success this season which saw them coming back fighting after losing to St.Peter's ( 29 – 34 ) early in the season to clinch the ‘A’ division league title after 25 years and the coveted Bradby Shield for the second consecutive year.

Royal , who were leading the points table, with seven successive wins, were relegated to the third place after losing the last two league matches to Trinity and Isipatana.

Royal lacked a specialist fitness trainer with the head coach performing the role of trainer which was the main reason for their defeats in the last three matches with the presence of a half-fit fly half Arshad Jamaldeen also adding to their woes.