Facebook is a really hilarious place the day after the Bradby. So many people begin with the caveat ‘I’m no expert on rugby’….but they continue to spout. Classic.
People emerge – Royalists and Trinitians alike – watch one rugby match for the entire season and are dismayed when their team doesn’t play like the All Blacks. Madness.
Trinity were the much better conditioned side. They broke tackles almost every time they had any quality possession and the Royal defence was scrambling at best. The facet that won Trinity the game was their defence, which didn’t stray from their pattern very often. They proved that defence was the best form of attack and were led admirably in this area by skipper Tarindra Ratwatte who had an outstanding game. Again. He was pivotal in the no. 12 position making some big hits on forwards and backs alike and driving them backward in the contact. His mates responded, and Girahagama used his experience to pickpocket an ambitious pass from Asok and sprint 90m to dent Royal’s confidence.
Royal had only themselves to blame for this try as it was one that was conceded before the match begun. Being accused of playing one dimensional rugby Royal decided to show that they had the skill and flair to throw the ball wide. The was only one problem. They don’t have the skill and flair. So the laboured, static lateral movement invited the poaching Trinity defence which picked off interceptions more than a few times in the game. What Royal have to realise is that it doesn’t have the personnel to play the sort of rugby they did in 2001/2 or even in 2009. They just don’t have the players. And there’s no shame in that. England won a World Cup in 2003 playing ten man rugby. And they had Will Greenwood and Jason Robinson outside Jonny. If Royal don’t let their egos get in the way, they can play a much more effective game plan.
The second try exposed Royal’s embarrassing first up defence. Despite the ball rolling to Ratwatte, he managed to find space, as he did all day and unleashed his backs for Sanchana Shiek to score a great first phase try. The full back for Trinity is good enough going forward, but doesn’t have a lot laterally. In fact his injury means he can only go left as he can’t step off his right foot. That Royal didn’t exploit this is unforgivable as watching ten minutes of any game would expose this weakness. Girahagama dealt with every kick off he had to catch, showing that he has improved the most vulnerable part of his game. Nevertheless, when Asok did kick Trinity faltered. The only problem was that there were no chasers to capitalise. The Royal midfield is slow going forward, and slow moving laterally in defence as well.
Ratwatte had ample time on the ball and was finding overlaps which Trinity will be kicking themselves for not converting. In fact talking to me off air yesterday. Neil Footie described his team’s performance, jokingly, as being ‘awful’. The only thing contradicting that was that Royal were worse.
Their best effort was in the defensive line out, where the Royalists were outstanding. Their rolling maul was well defended by Trinity and although skipper Nimshan Jaywardena had a few runs, they were nothing of any significance. Royal’s only try came from a good bit of vision from scrum half Jayasinghe. He is probably the only player in the Royal line up who can spark something from nothing. His box kick was unutilised and he really must be allowed to be the play maker of this side.
Trinity’s commitment was obvious when winger Banuka chasing up a Jayasinghe punt was covered all the way by flanker Samarasekera and tackled in a last ditch try saving effort. It summed up the evening for both teams. The quality of rugby was very average, but Trinity’s commitment was greater. Coupled with the cool drop goal and puppeteering of Ratwatte, it was rarely a contest in the last 20.
Under fire referee Dimithra Gunasekara had a good game by usual school standards. Both schools must realise that as much as they would like the 30 players to, the tradition and history of the Bradby doesn’t really produce outstanding skills, of late. Most often the dour rugby is a result of the players incompetence rather than the refs. It was extremely unbecoming to see the below the line tactics adopted to heap pressure on the referee. It can even be misinterpreted as antecedent excuses for losing.
Hopefully, the second leg will give us more exciting fare, or at the very least better execution of clinical game plans. It is shocking that Trinity couldn’t win their own ball in a line out, but were still 12 point winners on the day.
