Trinity pull off thrilling win in ‘bonus Bradby’

By A Special Sports Correspondent

Trinity College Kandy produced attacking rugby to down a fighting Royal outfit 21-20 in a Division 1 Segment A Group 1 A match of the inter-school league rugby tournament worked off at Royal Sports Complex on Friday (July 8).

Trinity went through some anxious moments in this ‘bonus Bradby’ before snatching victory, virtually from the jaws of defeat, thanks to a last gasp try by reserve prop Ariyawansa a few minutes from the end. Till then Royal were leading 20-16.

Trinity’s points came off two tries, one conversion and two penalties, which came off the boot of K. Wickremesinghe. Royal, who were trailing 6-13 at the short whistle, came back guns blazing in the second half to earn two tries and two conversions.

Trinity prevailed in the first half with a smashing try by Anuhas Kodithuwakku who simply ran through the Royal defence unchallenged after Wickremesinghe had earlier put the team in the lead with a well-taken penalty.

Royal’s only scoring in the first half came through two penalties which came off the boot of Yehiya.The second half was played at a fast and furious pace and Royal did well to level scores 13 all with a try by Rahil Wijesekare. Royal’s Hikgoda stretched the home team’s lead with a try later on and it looked like Royal would run away with the game, but all that changed when substitute prop Ariyawansa breached the Royal defence for Trinity’s final try of the match.

Trinity received two yellow cards while Royal had one yellow card. The Schools Rugby Association has taken a decision to postpone all other matches of the tournament scheduled for Saturday and Sunday due to the prevailing situation in the country.