Most rugby experts and connoisseurs seem to think that Trinity has the best rugby side among schools. Yet, mystifyingly, they lost the first leg of the Bradby by an eight point margin. They also suffered a one point loss to Science College. Have the Lions shot their bolt or is it a momentary aberration?
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| Action at the Bradby first leg where Royal gave a stunning performance. Pic by Sanka Vidanagama |
The Sunday Times spoke to a cross section of former Sri Lankan rugby players, some of them old Trinitians, for their views. They make interesting reading.
Viper Guneratne (Snr): The first try was the turning point. The positioning was wrong. The short side flanker, the winger and the full back should have prevented it.
Trinity should have got a heavy forward to get the ball between the centers. Royal’s tactical kicking was superb. Every time they used the punt, it paid dividends. A second line of defense to counter this was missing. It was a case of attack, attack…; they forgot defense. Royal played better rugby. Royal’s number eight was outstanding. His counterpart never started a move from the base of the scrum. There was no man to man marking by Royal when the Trinity centers ran at them. The chip was not used to get behind the defense.The lines out lacked variation. They stuck by the standard seven man line out.
Recycling of players should be done at the correct time unlike those days, now it’s a 22 man game. Tactical replacements were not in evidence. I don’t think Trinity can make it. Royal are confident and play as a team. Franklyn Jacob: From the kick off, the Trinitians were running back and taking the ball. It should be collected in front. When Royal collected ball, they were falling correctly. This enabled them to get it back. Whenever Trinity fell, Royal invariably got the ball.
Was adequate thought given at the toss to the preferred side and the wind factor? The sun was facing Royal in the first half. Trinity had neither the side nor the kick. The Trinity fly half was running across and not gaining advantage. The line had no time to take off. The lines out were putrid and were dominated by Royal. Royal gained touch when they kicked. Not so Trinity.
As for the second leg, Trinity can come back. No reason why we shouldn’t match them. Lasantha Wijesuriya: Trinity was the favourites, but they made plenty of mistakes from the start. They didn’t change their plan. They should have gone with the forwards a bit more.
Trinity is the best side this year. They like to attack. But here they were in defense most times. They should have got into the Royal half more than they did. In my view, Trinity can make it in Colombo.
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