Royal take 10-point lead against Trinity to Colombo

Monday, 25 August 2025 01:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Shamseer Jaleel

The first leg of the 79th Bradby Shield lived up to its billing at Pallekele last weekend, where Royal College stunned this year’s League winners Trinity College 15/5, breaking their five-year drought at the venue and taking a priceless 10-point cushion into the return leg.

Against all odds, Royal played 30 minutes of the game with 14 men due to yellow offences, but still defended like warriors to tame the reigning Dialog Schools League champions 2025 in their own den. Trinity 1986 skipper Senani Gunaratne was the Chief Guest.

At the short breather, Royal led 15/5.

The match began with Trinity holding the early initiative, but fly-half Shan Althaf missed a sitter in front of the posts—a moment that set the tone for a frustrating afternoon for the hosts in their own den. Royal, meanwhile, wasted no time in asserting themselves, with skipper Amika Samarasinghe drawing first blood in the seventh minute of the game with a superb try.

Moments later, Royal’s pack bulldozed forward, and Disas Pathirana powered through the midfield to score their second try. A Shimak Shadwell conversion extended the lead to 12/0 within 11 minutes, sending a strong statement of intent.

However, discipline soon tested the visitors, who lost three of their players for yellow offences. Dinuka Perera was sin-binned first for foul play, leaving Royal down to 14 men. Trinity capitalised in the 28th minute through a sweeping three-quarter move, which saw their young 16-year-old fullback Abdul Malik dummying his way for a right corner flag try. Yet another Shafeek penalty in the 31st minute restored Royal’s double-digit advantage at 15/5. The scoreboard did not move either way after this point.

The second half became a story of defence and resilience. Royal faced more adversity with yellow cards to Ishan Hiran and Yuwan Pathirana, playing long spells with a numerical disadvantage. But their defensive line, marshalled by the forwards, refused to yield.

Trinity enjoyed territory and possession but lacked the cutting edge that had carried them to the League title. Handling errors, poor finishing, and wayward kicking blunted their attack. Every time they inched close, Royal’s tackles came low and hard, driving them back. The last two games in the season against St. Peter’s and this first leg game, they looked a lethargic team not able to finish their moves, which raises the question whether they have peaked and ended the season after the League win.

Royal’s replacements added steel in the closing stages, carrying strongly and slowing down Trinity’s momentum. Even when pinned inside their own 22, Royal held firm, denying Trinity a single second-half point.

South African referee Jaco Bouwer controlled the game.

Trinity won the Under-12 and 14 games, and took an early lead in the Under-16 Simithrarachchi Trophy for a 20/5 win.

(Pix courtesy thepapare.com).com)