Is Bradby losing its traditions?

By Shamseer Jaleel reporting from Kandy

What a game it turned out to be. As expected by all, it was a major comeback by Trinity rugby outfit with the return of their skipper Rahul Karunathilake. Trinity not only beat Royal but also ended the points in both legs tied at 35 points each. This was only the second instance of a tie in the 72-year-old history of the Bradby. The first one occurred in 1992. The first leg 3-3 and the latter 0-0. Royal won the first leg of the 72nd Bradby 22-17 and Trinity won the second leg at Pallekelle last weekend 18-13.

The game kicked off 20 minutes earlier due to poor light and heavy rain in Kandy in the last few days. Rahul Karunathilake came back into the side but the Trinity Coach opted to keep young Bandaranyake as the scrum half giving preference over experienced Anuk Boyagoda. The fly half position was taken over by Lashan Wijesuriya which pushed the first leg skipper Thusila Perera to centre. Trinity played well in the first half but once again failed to add points on the board earlier in the game when opportunities came their way. They got a penalty within kicking range in the first 10 minutes of the game but opted to work the three quarter line trying to find gaping holes in the Royal defence but they failed. Sixteen year old Ovin Askey was in peak form. He started the points for Royal with a penalty. Trinity looked much more organised as a unit and the lads broke free under their Coach Sean Wijesinghe and Saliya Kumara. They almost breached the Royal defence if not for the forward pass to their lightning fast winger, Geeshan Pethiyagoda. An Ayesha Maduranga try and Askey conversion took Royal to 10-0. Royal skipper Nikila Gunadheera was inspirational leading the outfit from the front. Trinity centre Sangasinghe found the gap in the Royal defence but Lashan failed with the conversion to take Lemons at 10-5 favouring the Reid Avenue outfit.

After the turn around, Trinity looked a completely different outfit. Lashan Wijesuriya put over two unanswered penalties to take the lead 11-10. Trinity not only spread out the ball wide and ran but also defended the Royal rolling maul very well. Their young scrum half Rashane Bandaranayake (son of 1987 centre Rajiv Bandaranayake) slipped through the Royal defence to score. Wijesuriya added the extra two points to take it to 18-10.

Royal, who kept on attacking the Trinity line, almost scored. But Trinity defence was rock solid. Once, it was referred to TMO Tony Amit but a decision could not be made as the replays were inconclusive.

Then came the final minute of injury time with Royal getting a penalty and opting to kick to touch. Meanwhile, the reserve player had brought the kicking tee which was spotted by the assistant referee. This resulted in referee Rankothge reversing his decision to go for the penalty kick. Rankothge who had a firm grip of the game lost it in the last 10 minutes of the game. It was the 16 year old Askey who put over the corner flag kick 30 metres away to reduce the gap to five points. Askey is going to create more pain for the Trinitians in the next 2-3 years and for sure will grow up with maturity to be a class act. Series is at Trinity (39), Royal (31) and with this encounter there will be two tied games.

Before leaving the Grandstand for the presentation, both Principals agreed that, in keeping with the sporting traditions of the Bradby, both captains should be called up to receive the trophy together. This message was given to the two skippers Nikila Gunadheera and Rahul Karunathilake. But Nikila with a rush of blood and overjoyed by the moment got carried away by snatching the shield away from the Trinitian Captain which resulted in a free for all after the presentation. But all was forgotten when both teams participated at the dinner hosted by Trinity on the same day, shaking hands, and becoming friends for life afterwards.

Youngsters should keep the following in mind playing at future Bradby encounters. Bradby is an event which is looked forward to not only by the old boys of both schools but the rugby-loving public of the country. Bradby is not about winning the shield. It’s about two schools that have built a reputation and tradition that, even if unenvied is yet admired by schools that play rugby. This is why old boys of Trinity and Royal flock not only from Sri Lanka but all parts of the globe for these two matches annually. The friendship and camaraderie between the players last a lifetime. Did they live up to the expected standard is the big question asked by the entire country who followed the oval shaped ball game at the ground plus on TV.

Trinity Principal Andrew Fowler-Watt said: “I hope all enjoyed the game, if not the aftermath. I felt that over two legs, a draw was probably a fair result. I was very proud of the Trinity players, especially for the way they defended so resolutely in the final minutes and hats off to the Royal place kicker for controlling his nerves for that last penalty.

However, I was appalled and saddened by the behaviour of some people afterwards. It seems to me both fair and proper that after a draw in rugby there should either be extra time or (preferably) it should be declared a tie and the trophy should be shared. There is surely no need for an outright winner and after a game like this, the boys from both teams deserve to be winners.

However, clearly some people disagree; hence the unedifying scenes afterwards. It should be stressed that these had nothing to do with the match itself, throughout which both teams played in the correct spirit and with good sportsmanship. So ultimately, I hope that the 2016 Bradby will be remembered for being a wonderful game of schoolboy rugby.”