Trinity has two demons to exorcise
Thusila Perera
It’s not really “Bradby time” However, the die is cast and Royal and Trinity will have to buckle down to the job on the 30th at the Royal Complex. Winning the first leg doesn’t always mean that the battle has been won. Casting one’s mind back to 2015,Trinity lost the first leg 22-23 on home ground but then suffered a painful, incredible thrashing 0-49 in Colombo. So, Trinity has two demons to exorcise. That of the venue, and the crushing defeat that led to the surrender of the Shield after tour years. At the time of writing, Trinity are an unbeaten side. Not so, Royal who went under to their traditional opponents.
If could be said that Rahul Karunatilleka’s team is hitting their straps after a pretty ordinary first match against Wesley. Trinity won 7-5 but Wesley had the satisfaction of scoring first and retaining the lead almost till the end. In truth, Trinity didn’t seem to have a plan and were quite disorganised. In all probability, they wouldn’t have expected such a tough game first up. The next two games (against St. Joseph’s and DSS) were won by convincing margins. The opposition was not at its fiercest. Trinity seemed to get motivated by scoring points. It appeared that they had got their combinations right, that there was a structure in place and that the team was coming together.
Rahul Karunatilleka
There is no discernible weakness in forwards play. Yet there’s no gain saying that Trinity’s strength lies with their backs. Geeshan Pethiyagoda has been outstanding, so has full back Sanushka Abeywickrama. Scrum-half, Anuka Boyagoda has been adventurous and exciting. Rukshan Dhammapala has gained yards and yards and has been a good ball carries. Skipper Karunatilleka has been exemplary. He’s here, there and everywhere, winning turn over ball one moment, then starting a movement the next. Centre Avishka Shiek has been impressive and daring.
Speaking to the skipper, one gets the feeling that he seems quietly confident of going one up, come the 30th. His optimism is based on solid fact. The Royal team of 2016 is not the same as the all conquering team of Bhanuka Gamage. This has led Trinity to see some light at the end of the tunnel. Royal’s chief stock-in-trade, the rolling maul, has been the nemesis of Trinity and quite a few other teams. If Trinity can handle the rolling maul, they would have gone half way to winning the game.
A grey area for the Trinitians is the place kicking. Thusila Perera and Lashan Wijesuriya take turns at the conversions. Trinity converted only four out of eleven tries in the DS game. Food for thought indeed. Over the years, Royal has come up with excellent forwards play. Trinity has countered that with a quick-silver back division. One feels that the script will be on the same lines this year too.
Trinity (Probable line-up):
Props Melan Malish, Avisha Priyankara
Hooker Nathan Yee
Locks Rahul Karunatilleka, Anjana Bandara
Flankers Rukshan Dhammapala, Shadi Deen
No.8 Rishen Madena
Scrumhalf Anuka Boyagoda
Fly Half Thusila Perera
Centres Sajana Sangasinghe, Avishka Shiek
Wingers Geeshan Pethiyagoda, Diluksha Dange
Full Back Sanushka Abeywickrama
Coach Eric Miller