Architects of stunning 1958 Royal win will meet again
The Royal-Trinity Bradby Shield encounter is one of the oldest schools rugby encounters played in Sri Lanka.
Today the game of rugby has spread far and wide, and is not confined to the elite schools. Both Trinity and Royal have maintained the spirit of rugby despite changing times creating a money culture with an attitude advocating to win at all costs. The Royal College rugby dinner held recently brought back nostalgic memories of the champion 1958 Royal team led by Dudley Fernando. After a seven-year drought, Royal broke the shackles that year to regain the coveted Bradby shield against a star-studded Trinity team led by Ken de Joodt. It was a team that boasted of several rugby legends such as the late Nimal Maralande, Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Sena Silva, Eric Roles, M. Azain all of whom went on to do proud for the country at national level. Dazzling Maralande from Mawathagama had no peer as flyhalf. An outstanding cricketer, he also played for the NCC and could have won a place in the Ceylon team, but he opted for rugby.
Royal was coached by that granite hard Royalist Geoff Weinman. He played with distinction for the CR and FC and for the national team. He was hard as oak and soft as a petal. At present domiciled in Australia, fitness was his code word to success.
Several members of the giant killing Royal team of 1958 were present at the Rugby dinner. They were Dudley Fernando, Lorensz Periera, Raja Pothuhera, Ken Balendra,
Several members of the giant killing Royal team of 1958 were present at the Rugby dinner. They were Dudley Fernando, Lorensz Periera, Raja Pothuhera, Ken Balendra, Ralph Wickremaratna, Morgan Fernando, U.A. Kaluarachchi, Nihal Mendis, H.K. Samaraweera, T. Peraraver, J.C. Fernando, Indra de Silva. Patron Saint of Royal rugby M.T. Tambapillai was there on the driving seat
Ralph Wickremaratna, Morgan Fernando, U.A. Kaluarachchi, Nihal Mendis, H.K. Samaraweera, T. Peraraver, J.C. Fernando, Indra de Silva. Patron Saint of Royal rugby M.T. Tambapillai was there on the driving seat.
In the historic Bardby shield encounter of 1958, the first leg in Kandy ended in a nil all draw. The second leg in Colombo was clinched by Royal sixnil to win the Shield. Two tries for Royal were scored by Raja Pothuhera and Lorensz Pereira. Pereira’s classic try left the Trinity defence in disarray.
Lorensz, is a Cambridge Blue and was the first Sri Lankan to lead the CH and FC in rugby.
The Golden Oldies of either institution has not forgotten their past, the motherland or the school that paved the way to go places in life. Ken Balendra who played as hooker, still continues to help the needy to go places on and off the field. Ken ended up as Chairman of John Keells.
Brian Mills refereed the match.