Looking back how Trinity pulled it off
The opening leg of the 69th Bradby Shield encounter played at the Pallekele Stadium last Saturday is now the province of history. The game has been analyzed and dissected by Royalists and Trinitians, young and old, and infinitum. Did Royal change track in the second half? How did Trinity’s quite magnificent come back occur? Why didn’t Royal continue to play to their strength in the second half? Did Trinity err in not playing the run and pass game earlier? To find the answers to these and other issues, the Sunday Times spoke to varied group of ex-rugby stalwarts.
To start off with an Eagle, Sanjay Amunugama led the Antonians in 1986 and subsequently played for the Arabian Gulf team. He feels that Trinity changed their pattern of play in the second half. They ran the ball, something they failed to do earlier. Ratwatte gained good territory with each and every touch. The scrum half fed the back division well. However, Royal had lots of opportunities.
The second leg will be different. It’s difficult to overcome a twelve point deficit. Royals three quarters are heavy and don’t come up fast enough. In consequence, Trinity’s back division had a lot of freedom to operate.
Trinity drubbed Royal at Pallekele and took a 12-point advantage before their second leg encounter in Colombo this weekend. - Pic by Amila Gamage
Next to another ‘outsider’ mercurial Nalaka Weerakkody needs no introduction to rugby fans. He was of the opinion that – Trinity’s superior fitness counted in the last twenty minutes. Trinity had total contract at this point. The line kicking, the touch kicking were good. Above all, they had the hunger to win – the fire in the belly. Trinity will be a confident side. All the pressure will be on Royal. They have to win the game and also make up the leeway.
Remember Tyrrel Rajapakse’s fantastic side of 1987? The man behind the scenes, the architect of their wins, Alex Lazanes, has a slightly different take and perspective. Fitness was the one, single ingredient for the success of the Lions. That is now something you can acquire in ten days also. Trinity had far better skills in the line outs and in loose play. They were even able to push the Royalists back a few times.
Trinity played as a team. Umesh Samarawickrema and the others in the third row were active and fearless. If Royal had that ingredient (fitness) they could have continued at the same pace and tempo. Trinity waited he says, and changed gears in the second half.
The twelve-point lead is not insurmountable the heat in Colombo wouldn’t matter all that match if you have had your fill of vitamins, carbohydrates etc in the course of the week. The ex-Lion, Lazarus, is emphatic that Trinity will win.
2011 skipper Murad Ramzeen had mixed fortunes in the Bradby, his team lost the first leg 25-33, but came back to win the second, and with it the shield (40-5). Murad says both sides played a fast game, the game flowed you’ve got to give the referee the credit for that. Trinity made too many unforced errors in the first half. But they capitalized on their strengths in the second half. The team played together, cutting out the mistakes. Twelve points is a decent tally. Trinity should put their boards down and focus on the little things. Royal is good side. They should capitalise on their strengths.
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