Lalin’s Column: Red sky in the evening the Complex takes warning (with apologies)

The first leg of the Bradby at Bogambara was a wicked aberration, an abomination. There would be no escape in the second. Royal knew it. Having been led by 8 points Trinity knew they had to win gloriously in the second.

They launched an avalanche of relentless, sweeping, breath taking, rip roaring thrusts and charges to win by 40 (3 goals, 2 tries, 2 penalties and one drop goal) to 5 points(try). Royal unbeaten in all their games before, couldn’t get anything right.

It was the most emphatic Trinity victory in a Bradby but not in the series. Under AN Myanga (Ugandan) they beat Royal 46 -0 in 1925 (when a try counted for 3 points not 5).

‘And where’s the wealth I’m wondering, Could buy the cheers that roll, When the last charge goes thundering Towards the twilight goal ‘ Trinity school song- (Sir Henry Newbolt)

When Royal’s Jamaldeen missed that easy penalty conversion from 22 m out in the opening minutes, the omens were clear. Luck which had carried Royal through out the season and at Bogambara was no longer present. Jamaldeen knew it best. He missed 3 times in all before being carried off the field on a stretcher 10 minutes from the end of the first half.

When Rehaan Weerakoon, who scored 15 points in all with his kicks, with Kandyan nonchalance, dropped a goal after converting 2 penalties earlier, the writing was large all over the Royal ‘Complex’. It was seen from the Rs 2,200 seats to the ‘kollas’ stands opposite where thousands of school boys were packed as tightly as CWE kunisa in a gunny bag. They had to stand not front on which was impossible but obliquely in several receding rows both to breathe and view the game. Despite the incongruities of spectator comfort in the heart of Colombo 7, it was going to be classical Trinity all the way.

What a feast of rugby it was as Trinity’s red gold and blues strips recalling their legendry style and strengths wove delightful, thrilling fast moving and ever changing attacking moves from end to end around the desperate and fast panicking lads of the ‘Complex’. Both sides and the spectators knew it. Royal’s worst nightmare had come to pass. This rampaging Trinity team had in the years before, beaten this same lot of Royalists in the under 14, 16 and 18 age groups. At under 20 Royal could do nothing to stop them. Ten minutes from the end many of their followers even from the grand stand peeled off. Silence and gloom of doom infected the ‘Complex’.

The first half score was 21 (one goal- first year player wing three Kanishka Yatawara crashed through. Converted by Weerakoon) one try (3rd year thunder and lightning winger Mohamed Shaman), and 2 penalties and one drop goal by play maker, Vice Captain 3rd year Weerakoon).

Royal’s had 2 counters. The most frequent were incessant up and under ‘Garry Owens’. They had been very effective in Kandy in the first half with the setting sun in the eyes of the Trinitians. It failed here. The sun had set on Royal. Trinity showed safe hands and little nerves this time. They counter attacked, kicking back tactically or running the ball across the field. The swirling tri colours running riot were a spectacular feast for the Best School of all but it made the ‘sound hearts of oak’ throb irregularly on the other side.

The other ploy was made repeatedly with great expectations. It simply wasted time. The hefty Royal forwards in well rehearsed but futile and furlong rolling mauls tried to crash through with lanky Pathirana in the wings waiting to make a break. Trinity ground them every time. In the first half 3 Royal forwards almost glued together came out with the ball from a maul. They found no one in front of them and blinked. So great was their consternation and confusion that they stopped neat in their tracks not knowing how to proceed until the Trinity forwards gave them more agony.

Then Royal with time ebbing and trailing by nearly 30 points in the second half, got a penalty under the posts. They did not as at Bogambara opt for ‘short tap’ or a scrum but for a kick at goal. Double fault. No luck. These tactics served to delay the inevitable but also prevented Trinity from scoring another 10 points if nothing else.

Every time the ball came out of scrums and line outs Trinity way, their backs swung the ball across, darted through with fierce if not reckless crashing probes and breathless speed. Tackling them how ever hard made little difference. It broke Royal. The spectators watched spell bound as Royal went into shock and awe.

Weerakoon, well served by scrum half Sanjaya Somasiri, back tracking, collecting safely, executing judicious tactical kicks ahead or setting the backs in motion, set the stage. Mohamed Shesan tall, lean, hard and mean set it on fire. When he was given a yellow card for an accidental high tackle in the second half at 5.30 pm, Royal still didn’t look like they wanted to take advantage of it. They dreaded his return. Instead Shesan’s team mates made sure that 14 of them could not only man the gates but sally forth and score and did and how.

When he came back a few minutes after 5.40 pm he scorched over 45 metres of what ever was left of the said to be grass deck that remained (despite 14 days of continuous rain) to score the final try . Royal at least took cold comfort, for with Shesan out for 10 minutes no one would get another cracking hand off like he dished out at Bogambara 2 weeks before. Swathes of land suddenly uncultivated by Royalists opened out wondrously as Shasan ploughed through leaving Royal transfixed in disarray, dismay and disbelief. They had learned too many hard lessons when they tried to stop him. He would carry on running after the best of tackles, get up and keep going thrusting forward on his knees and still keep going and hard until the line was crossed. It left some Royalists clinging on to him and others seeking first aid.

The sturdy and tough Trinity pack played their hearts out in the lines out, scrums and in the loose. They had not forgotten the shame of the 2 push over tries conceded at Bogambara. They counter attacked bitterly and spiritedly with crashing tackles. They rarely if ever gave ground despite Royal’s repeated attempts to mount rolling mauls. That meant Royal’s only virtual fire had no breaching power. Their backs, incongruously with a hill man too did show some initiative, speed and some spirit at times but preferred to attempt to keep the marauding Trinitians in check than dare to contest them.

It was time for 3rd year no 8 Sean Foster to drive in the next stake with a unconverted try (26-0) followed by 2nd year Centre Kanil Seneviratne’s converted one (33-0) and the 45 metre blinder by Mohamed Shesan to cap Trinity’s scoring. Weerakoon converted. (Score 40-0). Royal captain Shehan Pathirana’s try in fast fading light brought relief and consolation to Royal before the long whistle sounded leaving Trinity with an epic victory (40-5).

For Captain 3rd year Murad Ramzeen and his team it was fulfilment of a promise they had made to Trinity. He battled remorselessly and gallantly to lead his team by example. Having started with an 8 point deficit he knew this time it was blood and guts that would make the difference and it did. He inspired his lion hearted team to play the game of their lives to bring about a magnificent and historic victory. Ramzeen joins not only Sri Lankans who have captained Trinity but Burmans (now Myanmarise?) and Ugandans who have done so, a thin red, gold and blue line that has stood steadfast for very nearly 100 years of rugby at Trinity.

Dilroy Fernando‘s skills as a referee as always was unmatched. His advice to the young players was well received even as the comments being picked up on the microphone educated very many TV and radio fans. His ability to control the game firmly contributed not only to a fascinating game of rugby but also to strengthen the true spirit of Bradby. This was the 154th encounter between the teams but the 131st Bradby match. (The Bradby shield was first awarded in 1945 by Royal Principal Bradby).Dilroy’s father Colonel Dudley and his brother the late Major Milroy who was killed in action in 1986 were Royalists. Dilroy and his other brothers were from Isipathana, the school that often emulates Trinity’s style of play.

Well played Royal. Superbly done Trinity.

- Asian Tribune -