78th Bradby Shield today: Both teams evenly matched

By Shamseer Jaleel

Rugby fans are eagerly awaiting a thrilling display of top-class rugby as traditional rivals, Royal College and Trinity College, prepare to face off in the first leg of the 78th prestigious Bradby Shield encounter at the Royal Sports Complex today (24).

The kick-off is scheduled for 4:15 p.m.

For the sake of the history of this Shield, in 1945, Royal College Principal E.L. Bradby extended an offer to Trinity College Principal C.E. Simithraaratchy, proposing the donation of a coveted Shield. Simithraaratchy accepted this proposal. Initially, the C.E. Simithraaarachy Shield was offered for the Under-18 encounter, but later on switched to Under-16 games between the two esteemed institutions. 

There were only two years during which the Bradby Shield could not take place – 2020 and 2021 – which was due to the COVID-19 pandemic around the globe. Further, the 1971 encounter was possible with only one leg in Kandy. The inaugural year saw Trinity winning the Shield on aggregate, led by Robert Sourjah in 1945.

Out of the 77 encounters played so far, Trinitians are leading with 39 wins, while Royal took home the trophy 36 times with two encounters ending in draws in 1992 and 2016.

 Trinity regular skipper Anuhas Kodituwakku will miss the first leg and will give number 8, Thisanga Dissanayake, a chance to lead the outfit. Meanwhile, Royal will be led by Thivain Perera. The chief guest for the first leg will be 1985 Royal College Captain Chiranjaya Nanayakkara.

Both teams are well-prepared and determined to put on a top performance in what promises to be a fiercely contested match. On paper, Royal hold a slight edge playing at home, but Trinity’s vastly improved outfit is all out to give their best at this encounter.

Royal College has dominated the Bradby Shield in recent years, having won it continuously since 2015, except for 2020 and 2021, when the tournament was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The lads from Reid Avenue have been in good form this season, notching up seven wins and losing out to Isipathana and St. Peter’s.

The lads from Reid Avenue started off by handing off Kingswood (60/5), Vidyartha (25/10), Zahira (34/7), Wesley (27/14), St. Joseph’s (28/19), and Thurstan (97/16) and lost out to St. Peter’s (22/31). Reaching the Super Round, they lost to Isipathana 18/19 and beat Trinity in their last encounter 22/19.

Trinity College, on the other hand, looked an ordinary side at the inception, but with the league maturing, turned out to be one of the top sides, but were also the unfortunate side to lose out on more than one game where a few on field decisions went against them.

The Lions started off with a superb second half rally to beat Thomians 31/8 after being led at the short breather 7/8. With this Canon de Seram Shield win, they went on to beat Sri Sumangala (49/14), Dharmaraja (40/14), Science (36/0), and St. Anthony’s (32/19). They suffered defeat at the hands of DS Senanayake (10/14), Isipathana (13/15), St. Peter’s (28/37), and Royal (19/22), with Royal and St. Peter’s being Super Round encounters.

Trinity College improved in their forwards play with Senula Alexander, Dehan Watagoda, Ravin Illangaratne, and Thisanga Dissanayake being on top, while it was Safraz Usman, Udeesha Rathnayake, and fullback Yevan Hulangamuwa being lightning fast in the three-quarter play. The linkman Udan Wijekoon, skipper of the Under-16 outfit last year, was in top form linking the forwards and three-quarters really well and reading the game brilliantly. Rushen Bandaranayake too came in handy with his nippy play as the linkman later on in the game. Their place kicker being Shan Althaf, Trinity is coached by Rugby legend Fazil Marija who is also the Head Coach of the Kandy Sports Club.

For Royal, their mobile forwards are the ones who could dominate proceedings on the loose. Thineth Gamage, Mohamed Naqeeb, and Buvaneka Senanayake are the players to be looked forward to. Their pack leader, Ayyas Shiyam, is powerful both in attack and defence and could split the Trinity defence. However, Royal has not played to its true potential despite having talented players among the forwards.

The Reid Avenue boys’ linkman Shimak Shafeek and fly-half Idris Farook have formed a very good combination. Skipper Thivain and fullback Nabeel Yehiya, with a wealth of experience, could turn things their way in this first leg encounter. The Royal outfit is coached by Dushanth Lewke who is also the Head Coach of defending champions, CR and FC.

This is a friendly encounter which will see an overseas referee from the UAE handling the whistle. 

Referee will be Jaco de Vitt (UAE).

Royal (probable): Thineth Gamage, Mohamed Naqeeb, Akira Yatawara, Yehan Weerasuriya, Buvanaka Senanayake, Yovun Ethugala, Senuja Ranasinghe, Ayyas Shiyam, Shimak Shafeek, Idris Farook, Amika Samarasinghe, Thivain Perera (captain), Disas Pathirana, Fahad Nazar, and Nabeel Yehiya

Trinity (probable): Yasiru Ariyawansa, Dehan Watagoda, Senula Alexander, Dinusha Peiris, Ravin Illangaratne, Nisith Kumarasinghe, Hamza Abdeen, Thisanga Dissanayake (captain), Udan Wijekoon, Shan Althaf, Safraz Usman, Murad Raizan, Udeesha Ratnayake, Minula Yaddehige, and Yevan Hulangamuwa