79th Bradby Shield: Advantage Royal as Trinity face uphill task in Colombo to retain the Bradby

Royal College Colombo will take a commanding 10-point advantage when they face traditional rival Trinity College Kandy in the second leg of the 79th Bradby Shield encounter at the Royal Complex this evening (06).
 
The blockbuster encounter is scheduled to begin at 4:15 p.m.
 
Royal stunned the Pallekele crowd a fortnight ago with a 15-05 win over the Trinitians who came to the encounter as firm favourites after winning the inter-schools league tournament.
 
The Usmaan Shafraz-led team looked out of sorts at their own Trinity Rugby Stadium while Royal played to their strength in Kandy.
 
Royalists took advantage of the handling errors and the numerous penalties gifted by the Trinitians to register a morale-boosting win.
 
In Colombo, Royal will have home advantage and the luxury of several key players who have returned from injury that coach Dushanth Lewke can pick from.
 
The well drilled Royalists led by Amika Samarasinghe will however be mindful since Trinitians are known to come back strongly in the second legs of the Bradby Shield.
 
The famous win in 2011 by the Murad Ramzeen-led team will give the Trinitians confidence that they can overturn the deficit to retain the Bradby for another year.
 
Trinitians on paper look stronger but the handling errors and discipline were lacking in the opening leg. They have already defeated Royal once this season and will be determined to finish the season with a massive win and add the Bradby Shield to the trophy cabinet along with the League Trophy they won earlier in the year.
 
Despite certain concerns raised outside the park, the conditions underfoot are expected to be perfect this evening for an enthralling encounter before an expected capacity crowd at the Royal complex.
 
Meanwhile, 1986 Royal captain Manjula Peiris will be the Chief Guest at this evening’s blue-ribbon event of the school rugby calendar.
 
The match will be officiated by Referee Jaco Brouwer of South Africa.
 
79th Bradby Shield (2025)
 
Trinity College Kandy:
 
Captain – Usman Shafraz
 
Coach – Fazil Marija
 
Last win – 2024 (Thisanga Dissanayake)
 
Longest win streak – Six (1952–1957)
 
Schools League – Champions
 
President’s Trophy – Runners-up

 
Royal College Colombo:                                                                                                                           
 
Captain – Amika Samarasinghe
 
Coach – Dushanth Lewke
 
Last win – 2023 (Randul Senanayake)                                            
 
Longest win streak – Five (2017–2023)
 
Schools League – Third Place
 
President’s Trophy – Semi-finalists
 
 
Bradby Shield Tally (since 1945)
 
Trinity – 40
 
Royal – 36
 
Drawn – 2