Success in the A division tournament matches is, without doubt, important to Trinity. Yet the be all and end all of their endeavours is the winning of the prestigious Bradby Shield. In this respect, new coach Welshman Martin Jones has to satisfy the aspirations of thousands of Trintians, young and old, by showing the way to his charges.
Damith Dissanaike |
Last year Trinity lost to Royal, home and away, 2008 was happier as they managed to win the shield despite a loss on home territory.
St. Sylvester’s drubbed
Coming to the first game against Dharmaraja on the 24th at Pallekele, the Trinitians have made all the right noises by overpowering the Sylvestrians by a more than 100 point margin. It need hardly be mentioned that the crunch games (Royal, Issipathana, St. Thomas', Kingswood etc.) will provide stern and difficult tests for the Lions.
Trinity led by third year player and hooker Damith Dissanaike take the field with confidence as they have eight players from last year's side. Versatile Shenon Armstrong, the deputy skipper, is one of the more talented players. He was responsible for many tries last season and also contributed well with his accurate goal-kicking.
Winger Akila Dissanaike finished off the moves brilliantly until injury reduced him to a hobbling wreck. The hope is that he has regained full fitness as an inform Dissanaike will be a tremendous asset.
Fly half Mohamed Royal's talents are highly spoken of and it is his lot to spark the Trinity line into action. Yatawara returns to the team, this time as a centre. Rehan Weerakoon, Duminda Nayakaratne, Sandakelum Bandara, Kanchana Ramanayake and Mohamed Sheshan are the other seniors.
Trinity boasts of a long and distinguished line of rugby players. The list is too numerous but the likes of the late Denzil Kobbekaduwa and Bertie Dias, and others such as Irwin Howie, Mohan Sahayam, Tikiri Marambe, Ajith Abeyratne, Ravi Balasuriya and Byron Fernando are worthy of mention.
Rugby holds more sway than cricket at Trinity and it is every Trinitian's wish that Damith Dissanaike's team will more than hold their own in the tough season ahead.
In conclusion, the role of the Master-In-Charge Prabath Senanayake has to be mentioned. Though not an old boy, he is passionate about the success of his side and goes to great lengths to help achieve it.
The starting line up for the opening game against Dharmaraja is likely to be: Props - Mohamed Nismi, Sandakelum Bandara; Hooker - Damith Dissanaike (Capt.); Locks - Gotabhaya Mahes, S. I. Perera; Flankers - Kanishka Hulangamuwa, M. V. Suraweera; Number eight - Shenon Armstrong; Halves - Rehan Weerakoon and Mohamed Reyal; Centres - N. S. Yatawara, Mohamed Ainaf (Chaturanga Dilshan); Wingers - Mohamed Sheshan, Akila Dissanayake (Duminda Nayakaratne); Full back - Kanchana Ramanayake. |
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