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| R-O-Y-A-L! The lusty throats of the Royal rugby team after regaining the Bradby Shield yesterday. Picture by Sanka Vidanagamage |
Royal’s fantastic smash and grab attitude completely tamed Trinity and they stormed through to a 31 (3 goals, 2 tries) to 15 (1 goal, 1 try, 1 penalty) win over Trinity in the 65th Bradby Shield second leg encounter at the Royal Complex in Colombo yesterday.
Royal’s power-packed forwards deserve all the credit for yesterday’s victory. They never allowed the superior Trinity outsides to get going with their close marking.
For a few dizzy minutes Trinity led when winger Kenon Armstrong converted a penalty. But Royal didn’t permit them to dictate terms with No 8 Hamza Hassan being prominent amongst them,. They gave their opponents a torrid time. Royal had the chance of equalizing in the 10th minute but Muhsin Falil failed with a penalty.
Royal got their chance to surge ahead in the 14th minute when Hamza Hassen scored off a five -yard scrum and Muhsin Falil was on target with his conversion. Royal led 7-3 at this stage.
Slowly but surely Royal consolidated their position and from then onwards there was no doubt that Royal would be the ultimate winners, only the margin of victory remained in doubt.
In the 19th minute skipper Naren Dason scored far left after full back Shabbir Mohammed joined the line. The try was unconverted and Royal led 12-3.
At one point Royal winger Duminda Attygalle broke through and knocked on while he was over the score line when he should have grounded the ball for a try.
Royal’s chance to score next came in the 32nd minute when Shehan Pathirana practically strolled through to score under the posts. Muhsin Falil converted with ease and Royal led comfortably at 19-3. This seemed to be the signal to pile on the points and in the 40th minute just before ‘lemons’ second rower Ranga Perera barged over and Falil converted to put Royal firmly ahead at 26-3.
Trinity tried their utmost to pull the game out of the fire in the second half through tries by Kenon Armstrong and an injury time try by Shanon Armstrong, which was converted by Kenon Armstrong, however Royal’s power play was too much and they won the game easily though the wide margin made Royal relax and Trinity win the second half. Royal scored a try in this half through right winger Shamil Ahmed which was unconverted.
Royal’s aggregate from the two matches was 53 to Trinity’s 27.
When the game ended hoards of Royal supporters invaded the field and crackers which emerged from nowhere engulfed the ground in smoke.
When the chief guest C.R. ‘Bulla’ de Silva, Royal’s 1968 Bradby Shield winning skipper and former Attorney General presented the Bradby Shield to Royal skipper Naren Dason, the crowd went wild with joy. The scenes of happy Royalists were a thing to be seen.
Referee: Pradeep Fernando.
Trinity won the Simithiarachchi Shield defeating Royal 19-5 in the Under 18 game yesterday Trinity won the first leg too at Bogambara at 5-0.
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