76th Bradby Shield 2nd leg: Royal looks for clean sweep

By Shamseer Jaleel

Royal College Captain Kaveen Sasanga

Trinity College Captain Lithmal Moragoda

Byron Fernando 82 Trinity skipper to be chief guest

Royal College rugby outfit will be in the Central Hills full of confidence with a clear lead of 29 points when they battle it out with Trinity College in their Second leg of the 76th Bradby Shield encounter will be worked off at the Trinity College Rugby Stadium in Pallekele today.

Kick-off is scheduled at 4 p.m. There will be an Under-16 encounter between the two schools, and the commencement time is scheduled, for 2:45 p.m.

Royal had a good league season losing only to Trinity by a solitary point but took sweet revenge two weeks later at the first leg at the same venue by handing them off 29/0, which gives them a major edge to keep the Shield safe at Reid Avenue for yet another year. Meanwhile, Trinity lost out only to Joes in the League. 

Trinity last won the Bradby Shield in 2014 under Tharinda Ratwatte, while the 2020 and 2021 encounters were not played, the 2015 encounter ended in a tie.

Royal will be led by their Centre Kaveen Sasanga, as their regular skipper Harsith Peiris still nursing with an injury, will keep him out of today’s game as well. Their star player this year is their full-back Nabeel Yehya. Hooker Danuja Samaratane, and flanker Abdullah Yusuf are two players who could walk into any side. Hasanka Higgoda is also a nippy player who could fit into many positions for the Reid Avenue outfit.

The Royal outfit is coached by former CR and FC, Kandy SC and National player Dushantha Lewke, while former Dharmaraja and national player Radhika Hettiarachchi is their assistant coach, with Paul Thomas being their Team Manager.

Trinity is led by Centre Lithmal Moragoda, a fantastic athlete, but he is nursing with an injury and might take part in the game for one half. Much will be expected from Harith Samaraweera, Anuhas Kodituwakku, Jayageeth Basnayake, Sheshan Zakir, Kovida Wickremasinghe and Aathab Manzil. 

A few positional changes are on the card for the Lions outfit, who are all out to play for pride plus a win at home as they have missed the Shield for the last seven years, which is a long wait. But regaining the Bradby looks like a tough task, but impossible is nothing for them as their approach in the last four days at the training camp, regrouping well as a unit.

Trinity is coached by former Havies and national XV-a-side player, Kavinda Jayasena, with Thusitha de Silva being his deputy. Hard-working old boy of the school Rajindra Gamage is their Team Manager.

Trinity lead the series with 39 wins to Royal’s 34 while two games ended in Tie. The 1992 and 2015 ones. Trinity 1982 skipper and Rugby Lion, Byron Fernando will be the Chief Guest at today’s event.

Squads

• Trinity: Loshika Wijekoon, Kaveesha Edema, Thenuk Fernando, Jayageeth Basnayake, Thisanga Dissanayake, Bihindu Pananwala, Shamendra Dissanayake, Chamendra Dhanapala, Sheveen Premaratne, Kovida Wickremasinghe, Bashana Wijesighe, Anuhas Kodituwakku, Abdul Kaleel, Lithmal Moragoda (Captain), and Aathab Manzil. Stand by: Sheshan Zakir, Senula Alexander, Yasiru Ariyawansa, Venuka Kumarage, Ravin Ilangaratne, Harith Samaraweera, Lakindu Herath, Ashen Wijesooriya, Upek Gammudali, Sachindu Wanasekera, Rushen Bandaranayake and Amdan Faizal

• Royal: Kavinash Srikanth, Dhanuja Samararatne, Shenal Adikaram, Yehan Weerasooriya, Rahil Wijesekera, Abdullah Yoosuf, Yovinda Ethulgala, Randul Bandara, Hasanka Higgoda, Thivan Perera, Pasindu Heshan, Thevinu Saparamadu, Philio Calyanaratne, Kaveen Sasanga, Nabeel Yehya, Thineth Gamage, Hafeez Akram, Supun Gamlath, Binuda Malalgama, Thavir Hassen, Idrak Farook, Navin Perera, Idris Farook, Harsith Peiris and Duljaya Gamanayake

Referee will be Gihan Yatawara.