2016 May 16
The 72nd Bradby Shield Encounter between Royal College and Trinity College ended in a Draw as Royal went on to win the First Leg 22-17, but Trinity College proved they were stronger on home soil with 18-13.
However, the fiasco went down at the presentation ceremony where the Trinity College captain along with the team tried to grab the coveted Bradby Shield from the Royal Captain after it was awarded to Royal as per the rule book. However, the royal captain was heavily bashed on Social Media stating that he should have shared it.
Let’s take a look back at the only other time where the Bradby was drawn, in 1992. In 1992 Royal was led by Harindu Wijesinghe and Trinity, by Himesh Gunathilake. “The previous year, Brady had been won by Trinity. Harindu and the Royal Team watched the presentation ceremony from downstairs and applauded the Trinitians for “retaining the Shield” and quietly went in the dressing room.” (courtesy memoirs of those who were old enough at that time to remember)
In addition Dr. Harindu Wijesinghe, the Royal College Rugby Captain (1992) has mentioned, “I was there in 1992 when a simillar situation occurred. Match was drawn, infact both legs were draws. After the game holders TCK celebrated as if they had won the shield and they were actualy awarded the shield on the podium. I took the boys to the pavillion, didnt touch the shield.”
And looking at it from the general perspective, the general norm of a challenge shield is that you need to do ‘better’ to regain it or else it’s retained by those who already hold on to it.
However, it has been reported that both team captains shook hands on stage and openly discussed and agreed that the Royal Captain would raise the shield on the podium. However, according to video footage received and spectators present at the venue the Trinity College captain was pulled on to the podium by the TCK Principal at the last minute. However, there has been no statement issued as to why the Principal of Trinity College went on to act in such a stubborn manner when 2 past captains Rajiv Malalasekera and Zulker Hamid had repeatedly questioned him as to the Trinity Principals basis for such a decision. It seems that the situation could have been avoided if the TCK organising committee was around.
We are no by no means justifying violence but it seems that both teams were forced in to the situation, whereafter 30 seconds into the brawl both teams were escorted back to the dressing rooms while the drunk old boys fought it out. Both teams only retaliated to punches thrown by spectators.
Nevertheless later that night at the Bradby Dinner the boys from Trinity assigned a ‘Guard of Honour’ for the Royal Rugby team. Going on to show us that both parties involved in the ‘issue’ have moved on and are working on resolving the matters seen in the picture above.
Cover Photo credits: Omalka Erandeera at ThePapare.com
Disclaimer: This article has been put together by the editorial by compiling various opinions of people present at the match to give our audience a more holistic view to the incident. This story by no means holds the view of pulse.lk or the editorial.
