The 2nd out of the 4 times that Trinity and Royal meet for 2026, was worked at the Royal College Sports Complex. This time as a Cup Segment fixture of the Dialog Schools Rugby League, where the lions absolutely hammered the tuskers to win 48-15.
Trinity started the game off strong. The plan was clear, it was to play all their rugby in Royal’s half. Trinity got the ball rolling early on with a Penalty kick from skipper Shan Althaf. (Trinity 03 – 00 Royal)
Trinity got the first try of the game in quick succession. It was through a well set rolling maul. Naheel Jayah got the score, with Shan Althaf missing the extras. (Trinity 08 – 00 Royal)
Trinity scored their next three tries through an aspect of the game that they have been heads and shoulders above the rest of the teams in the league. Counter-attack. First it was Sadeesha Weerawansa. Next it was Minula Yaddehige, followed by a stroll into the try line for Abdul Malik.
But sandwiched between those tries, was Royal’s only score in the 1st half. A Penalty kick off the boot of playmaker Simak Shafeek.’
Half Time – Trinity 29 (4T, 3C, 1P) vs Royal 03 (1P)
The 2nd Half was no different. It was all Trinity. Royal were guilty of not exiting their own half, as Minula Yaddehige snapped up loose ball to score. Althaf added the extras from the difficult angle. (Trinity 36 – 03 Royal)
Royal just kept losing the plot. The Royal skipper Disas Pathirana didn’t bind correctly at a ruck, which opened the door for Trinity to steal the ball and put Akash Fernando into space to score another try. Trinity’s 6th.Althaf added the extras to extend Trinity’s lead to 40 points. (Trinity 43 – 03 Royal)
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Then came the try, which was the pick of the lot. Fantastic aerial skill from Shan Althaf on the touchline, led to a huge line break. Trinity strung together some phases, before sending Dimath Ambepitiya in for another try. Althaf missed the conversion and Trinity’s 2nd half century against Royal for 2026 at that. (Trinity 48 – 03 Royal)
Trinity were in a league of their own. On cruise mode. But Royal managed to get two tries towards the end of the game. One through replacement forward Senuth Karunawansa.
Trinity were then reduced to 13 men. Evin Jayasena was sent to the bin for a high tackle, and Kevin Weerakoon was shown a yellow card for repeated infringements of holding on to the ball at the ruck by Trinity.
With the numbers advantage, Royal managed one last score to salvage some respectability to the score, through wing-three quarter Kavan Ekanayake.
Full Time – Trinity 48 (7T, 5C, 1P) vs Royal 03 (2T, 1C, 1P)
This closes the 2nd chapter of the 4 chaptered tale between Royal and Trinity in 2026. As it stands, it is 2-0 to Trinity. The teams will meet again at the 1st Leg of the Bradby Shield, at the Royal College Sports Complex on the 11th of July, for chapter number 3.
Points Breakdown
Trinity
Naheel Jayah 1T
Sadeesha Weerawansa 1T
Minula Yaddehige 2T
Abdul Malik 1T
Dimath Ambeptiya 1T
Akash Fernando 1T
Shan Althaf 5C, 1P
Royal
Senuth Karunawansa 1T
Kavan Ekanayake 1T
Simak Shafeek 1C, 1P
