Royal came to the Bradby with only four coloursmen in their side and 11 freshers, the majority of whom had represented the school in the under 18 team that lost both legs of the Simithrarachchi Trophy to Trinity in 2014. But under his skillful guidance Martis shaped the team into a winning unit to outplay the much experienced Trinity unit.

Royal College coach Sanath Martis

Trinity College assistant coach Sean Wijesinghe.

“Frankly speaking after our last minute loss to S. Thomas’ by 22-15 after leading 16-15 and coming from 10-27 down to hold St. Joseph’s to a 27-all draw, a lot of people didn’t didn’t expect us to win,” Martis told the ‘Daily News’.

“But I must say that with the Royal advisory committee joining hand with me, the players and my entire coaching staff worked really hard and it really paid off for us to achieve victory in the Bradby first leg,” he said. “It was a collective effort, not forgetting all the players’ parents as well.

“Presently we are leading only by five points but we are going really hard at the Trinitians and definitely going to win the Bradby up in Pallekelle,” Martis said.

It was after Martis took over as head coach in 2013 that Royal’s fortunes began to change. They had not won the Bradby Shield since 2011 and within two years in office in 2015 he brought them the League title and the Bradby Shield. Such was his capabilities as a coach.

Trinity’s assistant coach Sean Wijesinghe said the main reason why his team lost was due to the absence of their captain and best player Rahul Karunathilaka who was serving a one-match ban.

“We were very disappointed that we lost because right throughout it was our game,” said Wijesinghe who is also the head coach of club league and knockout champions Kandy SC.

“Rahul is our captain and the best player, he gets the entire team to gel together; missing him yesterday on the field was the main reason why we lost,” he said.

“But in Kandy it will be a different ball game as Rahul will be back. We are going to win by a very big margin.”

Trinity were the more experienced team with as many as ten coloursmen in their ranks.

Trinity are coached by Irishman Eric Miller who was not available for comment.

The second leg is scheduled to be played at the Trinity Sports Complex in Pallakele on May 14. WAI

Six top rugby playing schools will battle it out for honours in the Milo President’s Trophy Knockout Rugby Tournament which will be worked off at the Royal Sports Complex from June 28 to July 12.

Unbeaten league champions Royal, league runners-up and last years knockout champions Isipathana, Trinity, Science, St.Peter’s and D.S.Senanayake are the six schools which are in the fray.

St.Joseph’s College who were placed sixth in the ‘A’ Division League, pulled out from the tournament citing injuries to their key players. Plate trophy winners Wesley College and runners up St.Anthony’s College Kandy too have indicated their inability to take part in the tournament.

D.S.Senanayake who were placed third in the Plate Tournament, will get the opportunity to take part in the President’s Trophy. Science College Mount Lavinia will confront St.Peter’s College in the curtain raiser of the tournament at the Royal Sports Complex on June 28 while on the following day, Trinity College Kandy will take on D.S.Senanayake College at the same venue.

League Champions Royal who have drawn a bye, will take on the winners of the Peterite – Science game in the first semi-final at the Royal Sports Complex on July 4.

League Runners-up Isipathana who too have drawn a bye, will meet the winners of the Trinity – D.S.Senanayake match in the second semi-final at the same venue on July 5 with the finals scheduled for July 12.

The Assistant Vice President of Nestle Lanka PLC Norman Kannangara speaking at the press briefing said that Nestle Lanka is honoured to once again sponsor the President’s Trophy, Premier Trophy and Chairman’s Trophy knockout rugby tournaments this year. The highly acclaimed President’s Trophy tournament was expanded in 2007 to include a Premier Trophy Tournament with the aim of giving more teams the opportunity to show their prowess.

One year later, in 2008, with the intention of giving a chance to lesser known schools to compete at the same level the Chairman’s Trophy was included. He said “ Milo and SLSRFA’s partnership had gone from strength to strength over a period of 23 years and hoped this year’s tournament will produce rugby of a high standard.”

The President of the SLSRFA Ranjith Chandrasekara expressed that with top schools like Royal, Isipathana, Trinity, Science and St.Peter’s competing in the tournament, a high standard of rugby could be expected.

He also thanked Nestle Lanka PLC for coming forward to sponsor this tournament for the 23rd year which has helped to uplift the standard of Schools Rugby.