Those unstoppable
‘LIONS’
Trinity 26 - Royal 5
By Aubrey Kuruppu
A win is a win, is a win. That was
exactly what the Trinitians achieved when the hungry
lions devoured their Royal opponents by 26 points (3
goals, 1 try) to 5 (a try) in the second leg of the
Bradby before a full house at Bogambara yesterday.
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The story of the day......A Trinity player trying
to wade off a challenge posed by two Royal defenders.
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Playing with the cushion of an eleven
point lead gained in Colombo, the Trinitians were slow
to take control of the game. Once they did so, however,
there was only one team left out at Bogambara.
This probably will not go down as
a Bradby classic. Once the Trinitians were 14 points
to the good at the break, all hopes of a Royal come-back
had effectively vanished and the lack of competitiveness
led to the lack of sparkle.
Royal’s centre Dilshan Senanayake
made two natty breaks but was brought down and subsequently
stretchered off. This was neither his day nor Royals.
Skipper Gamage was off target with two eminently kickable
penalties.
Play swung to the Royal twenty-five
after about 20 minutes and tiny Senarath Seneviratne
who had a fine game almost went over but was halted
by a desperate tackle. The pressure was on and Trinity,
not to be denied, scored when centre Kosala Tissera,
who probably was the Trinity hero, spotted a gap and
sliced through. Kirinde converted (7/0).
Royal’s full back Ishara Perera,
who was off colour, failed to collect just short of
the line and winger Senarath Seneviratne who was bearing
down on him, collected and scored. Kirinde’s conversion
made it 14/0 at the break.
Royal had loads of possession in this
half but achieved precious little. Trinity threatened
whenever they came within striking distance and their
back division was distinctly sharper.
Trinity, sure of their suspending
triumph, opened up the game in the second half. Royal
was defending desperately with a win non existent.
The Royalists gave some cheer to their
supporters with a dandy try – seeing a loss of
personnel on the left flank, the ball was passed quickly
to winger Mevan Gunawardena who went over with a good
burst of speed. The extra points were squandered once
again (14/5).
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Once again it’s celebration
time for the Trinity Lions.
Pix by Gemunu Wellage |
The hard-working Wanigasekera then
made a powerful run and gave over to Kosala Tissera
who went over with the tackle. Kirinde was on target
(21-5).
The final try for Trinity came when
prop Sathya Ranatunga barged over after skipper Maddumapatabendi
had started it all. Kirinde was awry with the conversion.
Royal did well to keep the dangerous
Maddumapatabendi and (in the first half) the roving
Shan Wanigasekera under tight control. But Trinity showed
they were a very committed, cohesive unit and not a
mere two man team.
The last 15 minutes of the game was
played in semi darkness and this robbed the game of
a bit of sparkle. Starting the main game around 4.30
could be the answer, if a junior game or even two cannot
be scrapped.
Dilroy Fernando, who officiated the
first game, stood in this one, too.
The under 18 Trinity team lost the
game 10-15 to Royal but shared the Simithirarachchi
Trophy by virtue of a 10-5 win in Colombo. Under 12
Trinity won 14-0. Under 14 Trinity won 7-0. Under 16
Royal won 3-0.
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