First leg of the 77th Bradby Shield

 Royal rugby outfit for 2023

Trinity rugby squad for 2023

• Royal favoured to draw first blood

By Shamseer Jaleel

Royal College will be coming to blaze through but Trinity is no push over as they took an unpredictable outfit when both schools battle it out at the first leg of the 77th Bradby Shield encounter which will be played at the Trinity College Rugby Stadium in Pallekele today.

The kick-off is scheduled at 4.15 p.m. The Under-16 encounter will take place at 2.30 p.m.

Trinity is led by their full back, Attaab Manzil who is also a Junior national Boxer representing the country in Sweden to win a Silver Medal. He will be well supported by Anuhas Kodituwakku. Sachindu Wanasekera and Abith Jameel stood out for Trinity this season along with Lakindu Herath. Their fly half, Shan Althaf is the youngest in the outfit at just 16 years and he has improved in each and every game this season. The linkman will be nippy scrum half, Rushen Bandaranayake, 4th generation of Bandaranayake legacy continues. Starting from his great grandfather to his brothers (Rashen and Reshan) all played and won Colours/Lion for their alma mater.

In forwards play they have delivered the goods this season. Dehan Watagoda, Harith Samaraweera, Ravin Illangaratne, Chamendra Dhanapala and Thisanga Dissanayake so far had displayed quality rugby this season. Chamendra their deputy being omnipresent and Thisanga too being top of his job in all departments.

Trinity started off their season with a shocker against Rajans losing out 15/17 but bounced back to beat Vidyartha 20/10 and in their third outing though they went down to Peterites 10/22 they played their hearts out. In their last encounter they warmed up for the Bradby in grand style when they passed the Science test beating the Mount Lavinia outfit 55/10. They have accumulated 100 points for and conceded 59 points, winning two of them and losing equal numbers.

Trinity is coached by Fazil Marija – former Kingswoodian, Kandy SC and national sevens and fifteens player and skipper. He played for Kandy SC from2004 to 2018 during the same period playing for Sri Lanka. He made his debut against Hong Kong when he was just 18 years old. He is in the Head Coaching role from 2019 at Kandy SC. He was also one of the few to represent the Asian Barbarians outfit in 2011.

Meanwhile Royal College is led by cracking three quarter player, Randul Senanayake. They have some outstanding players who could pace out the entire 70 minutes of the game. Thanvir Hassen, Philio Calyanarathna and Shimak Shafeek all could breach any defense in the school segments this year. Player in the quality of Nabeel Yehya failing to find a place in the starting lineup shows how competitive to be in the 15 at Reid Avenue outfit. The outstanding kicker for the last 2 years could add value in the later half. Royal strength being the latter half.

The two games were against Zahira (3/3) and Dharmaraja (12/12) at half time but they cut loose in the later half to score as many tries as they liked. So Trinity will be mindful of this factor and need to pace out the game for the entire 70 minutes of play. Trinity should have an answer for the rolling maul which Royal will be all out to use.

Royal too had an uneven start losing out to the Peterites 5/11 but bounced back strongly to beat Science 40/10, Vidyartha 47/3, Zahira 44/3 and Dharmaraja 36/18. This will be Royal’s last first round encounter and they have collected 172 points from their 5 games while conceding 35 points. Their line has been crossed only twice, once by St Peter’s and the other one by Science.

Royal Head Coach Dusnatha Lewke played for Royal from 2000 to 2002 ending as the Vice Captain of the outfit. He played for CH and FC, Kandy SC and CR and FC during his club career. He led the Red Shirts in 2010 and 2011 while representing the national team from 2003 to 2014. He led the national outfit in 2010. He got into Royal Under-18 coaching in 2012, Under-19 assistant coach 2013 to 2017 and Head Coach from 2018 to date. He is also the Head Coach of CR and FC since 2019.

Chief Guest will be the Trinity 1983 skipper, Rugby Lion and national player, Ashan Ratwatte. Referee will be Ishanka Abeykoon.

Trinity: Thenuk Fernando, Dehan Watagoda, Senula Alexander , Ravin Illangaratne, Venuka Kumarage, Chamendra Dhanapala, Harith Samaraweera, Thisanga Dissanayake , Rushen Bandaranayake, Shan Althaf, Sachindu Wanasekara, Anuhas Kodithuwakku, Lakindhu Herath, Abidh Jameel and Attaab Manzil (Capt).

Stand by: Senitha Karavita , Yasiru Ariyawansha, Jayageeth Basnayake, Jeywin Samarakoon, Nisith Kumarasinghe, Hamdan Faizal, Usmaan Safraz, Chamod Dehigama, Murad Raizan, Sharaynth Sathiskmar and Upek Gammudeli.

Head Coach is Fazil Marija, Forwards Coach is Buddhika Thalagampola, and trainer is Tharaka Algama. Physio is Madushanka Seneviratne. Rugby Manager/MIC is Dulanjaya Abeywickrema.

Royal: Kavinash Srikanth, Afeef Farouk, Thineth Gamage , Yehan Weerasooriya, Buwaneka Senanayaka, Ayyash Shiyam, Yovindu Ethugala , Thanvir Hassen, Shimak Safeek, Thivain Perera, Disas Pathirana, Randul Senanayaka (Capt), Duljaya Gamanayaka, Charuka Senavirathna and Philio Calyanarathna.

Stand by: Naqeeb Mohomed, Abdurrahman Ajmal, Gesandu Wijewaradana, Pabasara Samarakoon, Savistha Fernando, Amika Samarasinghe, Nabeel Yahiya, Didula Jayasuriya, Shahid Mohideen and Binuda Malalagama.

Head Coach is Dushantha Lewke. Three quarter Coach is Radhika Hettiarachchi. Trainer is Vishwamithra Jayasinghe. Physio is Kavishka de Silva. MIC is Aruna Shantha.