Royal out to retain title
Capt: Nikhila Gunadeera
Defending League champions Royal College will go all out to retain the coveted Bradby Shield, when they confront traditional rivals Trinity College, in the 1st Leg, next Saturday (30) at the Royal College Sports Complex, which is also a League fixture for this season. Royal up to now have defeated DS Senanyake 36-10 in their opener. Then scraped through against a nagging Wesley outfit 17-14, and had their unbeaten tag tarnished 15-12 by a brilliant Thomian outfit. Yesterday, Royal were scheduled to play St. Josephs at Longdon Place, their last fixture prior to the much important 1st Leg.
Though the Bradby is in a league of its own, where the underdogs have turned tables on the favourites in its history since 1945, Royal have it in them to come out on top in the 1st Leg. This season Royal is captained by versatile number 8 Nikhila Gunadeera, who has led from the front. He is a junior national player and a 3rd-year coloursman. An experienced and key player who is unstoppable at close range moves. The Royal ‘8’ will play a pivotal role, as they done in previous seasons as well, and could be their trump card. In that respect Trinity will have to do their homework to perfection, if they are to hold the Royal forwards in their trade mark rolling maul, which has been very effective this season against all the opponents.
Ashok Vijekumar
Of the Royal forwards, special mention should be made of hooker Hamza Reeza who had a superb game against the Thomians, scoring two tries, and Prop Ayesh Maduranga who excelled against Wesley. The rest of the forwards in Harith Lokugamage, Mohammed Nabeel, Chamal Rajapakse, Maleesha Madhumewan, Shavinda Viduranga, Sasitha Siyath and Dhammika de Silva are second to none in their specialised roles. Royal’s achilles heal should be their back division, though they posses players of individual brilliance. They were tested to their limits against S. Thomas’ and Wesley.
Vice Captain Ashok Vijekumar is an experienced and versatile Scrumhalf who can also fit in as Standoff or Center-three-quarter. Reliable place-kicker, Orvin Haskey can significantly ease pressure with his judicious kicks to touch. He can either play as Fullback or Standoff. Other players such as Lennox Calyaneratne, Nikhil de Silva, Mahima Gamage and Sabith Feroze will be more than a match for the Trinity defense. Royal head coach Sanath Martis said, “We have studied the strengths and weaknesses of the Trinity team. They are a good side, but on that day, we will field the best XV and play to a plan.”
A noteworthy and significant milestone is that Royal College will be celebrating 100 years of Rugby this year, which would add to their celebrations by taking the 1st Leg. Royal was the 3rd school in the island, to take up Rugby after Kingswood (1893) and Trinity (1906). In the past 36-years, with the exception of 1998, whichever team won the 1st Leg played in Colombo, has won the return Leg as well, and the Bradby. However, in 1998, Trinity led by Prasanna Jayawardena won the 1st Leg 20-18 at Sugathadasa Stadium, but were thrashed 42-11 in the return leg at Bogambara, by the Royal team led by Shanaka Perera, which regained the shield. The Bradby Shield tally to date, since its inception in 1945, is Trinity 39 to Royal 31 and 1 tie.
Royal College Squad:
Props Ayesh Maduranga, Mohammed Nabeel, Dhammika de Silva, Lahin Attygalle
Hookers Hamza Reeza, Azmir Fajudeen
Second Row Shavinda Viduranga, Ashen Fernando, Sasitha Siyath, Fadhil Adahan, Abishek Jayawardena
Flankers Harith Lokugamage, Ebrahim Barrie, Pasindu Amerasinghe, Chamal Rajapakse, Maleesha Madhumewan, Asel Rodrigo, Samadhi Induwara
Locks Nikhila Gunadeera (Captain), Harith Lokugamage
Scrumhalves Nikhil de Silva, Ashok Vijekumar (Vice Captain)
Standoffs Orvin Haskey, Lennox Calyaneratne
Centres Lennox Calyaneratne, Mahima Gamage, Andrew de Silva, Thulaib Hassen
Wings Sabith Feroze, Shaqir Nawfer, Mahima Gamage, Nikhil George, Shenuka Perera, Andrew de Silva, Thulaib Hassen
Fullbacks Orvin Haskey, Sabith Feroze, Shenuka Perera, Mindula Risith