A spirited performance from Trinity college saw them winning the second leg of 75Th Bradby 24 points to 13 but Royal edged past on aggregate as they took home the coveted Bradby Shield with a tally of 47 points 41 in nail-biting game played at the Royal Complex this evening.
Royal lived up to expectation at Pallekelle with a superlative performance and set it up for a grandstand finish taking an impressive 17 points lead to the 2nd leg as Kalindu Nandila kick started the blue ribbon game’s second leg.
Royal got their first chance of the game when they were awarded a penalty 22 meters away from the Trinity goal line as the kick from Dulan Gunawardena went through with a deflection from right upright. (RC 03 – 00 TCK)
Trinity lost their speedy winger Amith Kulatunga as he was sent to the bin for an offside infringement as the uphill task for the Kandy lads got even harder.
Referee Ishanka Abeykoon was very strict with the offside offences as he showed another yellow card as Kalindu Nandila was deemed offside and Trinity opened up their account with Direndra Ratwatte finding the white from a pick and drive. Minindu Jayasundara quickly slotted in the conversion to keep this Bradby alive. (RC 03 – 07 TCK)
Trinity played patiently working phases after phases and quick hands from the line managed to send the ball to the playmaker Minindu Jayasundara as he powered himself over two Royal defenders to score a crucial try just before the half time.
Half Time – Royal College 03 (1P) – Trinity College 12 (2T,1C)
The Royalists were guilty of being complacent with the 17-point lead on the aggregate that they had, as the Trinitians looked like a totally revamped outfit playing with hunger as they gave Royal a dose of their own medicine with Lenox Calyaneratne scoring from the back of maul to cut the aggregate to three points. (RC 03 – 17 TCK)
Photo Album – Royal College vs Trinity College – 75th Bradby Shield | 2nd Leg
Trinity lost Koojana Kulatunga as he was yellow carded and Royal finally woke up from the slump as they went back to their tried and tested rolling maul. Rajindu Jayasooriya scored an important try to settle the nerves for the home camp. (RC 08 – 17 TCK)
Royal continued on their merry way with the rolling maul kicking the penalties they received to the corner and using their bulky forwards. Trinity managed to stop it once but not the second as Rajindu Jayasooriya scored his second try to extend the lead for the Royal. (RC 13 – 17 TCK)
Trinity didn’t give up as they kept knocking on the door at Royal with hit after hit and quick hands from the backs ensured that Koojana Kulatunga went over the line keeping Trinity’s Bradby hopes alive. Miranaga Subasinghe converted this try as the game came down to an exciting finish.
>> Stats – TRINITY COLLEGE V ROYAL COLLEGE (BRADBY 2ND LEG) <<
Trinity had one last opportunity but a solid turnover from Royal ensured that the Bradby stayed at Reid Avenue for another Year.
Full Time – Royal College 13 (2T,1P) – Trinity College 24 (4T,2C)
EWD