Glorious uncertainties of Bradby rivalry
At the conclusion of a wonderfully exciting game, a rejuvenated Trinity side had pulled off an 18 points (1 goal, 1 try, 2 penalties) to 13 (1 goal, 2 penalties) win over a Royal team that was a bit flat, especially in the second half.
Tussle for the shield -- both Trinity and Royal engaged in a after-game scrummage - Pic by Amila Gamage
Royal’s inability to pull off a win, especially after they had led 10-5 at the break was probably due in part to the fact that Trinity blocked their celebrated rolling maul. Credit should go to the Trinity forwards for their endeavour.
When they found that their hitherto successful tactic wasn’t working as well as they hoped, Royal tried to involve the backs a bit more in the play. But, to be honest, the Royal three quarters were honest to goodness triers – nothing else. By contrast, whenever Trinity ran the ball, alarm signals went out among the Royalists. Trinity handled the ball very well and their backing up was superb.
Both sides wasted scoring chances within the first seven minutes of play. Trinity were trying to work the outsides at every given opportunity, but they came back up against an unyielding defence. Askey put Royal ahead in the ninth minute by putting over a simple conversion.
On one occasion, the Trinity winger was put clear, but to his supporter’s and team-mates chagrin, he dropped the ball with the tackle, when he was over the line. Trinity dictated terms in the early scrums. Royal lost four line outs in-a-row. A little later, the visitors were more organised and began controlling the scrums.
Lock Harith Lokugamage sneaked over the line in the 27th minute to affect the first touch down in the match. Askey added the extra points and Royal led 10-0.
Trinity had lots of possession in this half but could not convert that into points. To everyone’s surprise, Trinity even had a crack at a rolling maul.
Six minutes from the short whistle, the Trinity backs spun out an exciting move. Centre Sanjana Sangasinghe dummied beautifully to send two Royalists the wrong way and fell over. This try wasn’t converted and half time was taken at 10-5 in Royal’s favour.
Trinity introduced linkman Anuk Boyagoda for Bandaranaike and from the start, almost Trinity kept attacking and piled on the pressure.
A penalty taken by full back Sanushka Abeywickrema cut the deficit (10-8). Vijekumar, Royal’s hardy and effective scrum half, had to fall on the ball to prevent the rampaging lions from scoring. An 18th minute penalty, nicely angled in by fly half Lashan Wijesuriya put Trinity in the lead for the first time. (11-10). Shortly after this, a good cross-kick from Wijesuriya relieved pressure an Trinity and put them into an advantageous position.
Trinity’s forwards, at this point seem content with playing second fiddle to Royal’s. They kept storming the line and off one such effort Anuk Boyagoda was able to contort his body and touch down. Wijesuriya added the extra points, and at 18-10 the Bradby seemed Trinity’s for the keeping.
But they reckoned without Royal’s fighting spirit. Time was running out, and for Gunadheer’s men it was a case of ‘touch down or depart.’
The forwards had recourse to their trade-mark rolling maul. Trinity’s forwards were just about to keep them out. One one occasion, a Royalist seemed to have touched down. But Referee Aruna Rankothge referred the decision to the TV official who ruled that the touch down was not clear. Possibly there were too heads interfering with his view of the proceedings.
Royal’s persistence in those vital last few minutes paid off when Trinity was penalised. The fate of the 2016 Bradby didn’t seem to lie heavily on Askey as he slotted it through without displaying any tension or excitement. (18-13).
The final whistle was blown after this. Trinity had added 13 points in the second half and, it could be said that they really dominated it.
The five point leeway had been made up, before Askey made in even stevens – 18 all and both Royal and Trinity deserve kudos for producing a fighting, exciting match.
In the final analysis, it was the fitness of things that the match ended the way it did.
A regrettable end
What happened after the match did not bring credit to either school. It was announced that the shield will be shared and, that following convention, Royal, as holders, will keep it the first six months.
After accepting the Shield, the Royal skipper did not seem all that keen on allowing his rival skipper to hold it, too. It was this that aggravated the crisis. Players and spectators poured on to the field and the fracas went on for about half an hour.
A regrettable end to a good game of rugby that was played in the correct spirit.