Trinity-Thomian clash for R. S. de Saram Shield today

The Trinitians will be in Mt. Lavania today to scrum down with Thomians in their Canon R S de Saram shield rugby match. This eagerly awaited confrontation should provide entertaining rugby with both teams evenly matched. S. Thomas College led by Viyaan de Silva are sure to give a good run for the Trinity College led by Attab Manzil, both teams are blessed with talented players and are sure to play a good game of run and pass rugby.

This time ten-a-side under 12 A and B, under 14 – 15 a side and under 16 ten a side games will be also played. Last year the game was played at Pallekele grounds and Trinitians won by 20 points to 17 after a spirited second half rally. Trinity College and S. Thomas College first met at rugby way back in 1955 and it had been a regular fixture and two decades ago the Canon R S de Saram Shield was introduced.

Trinity took to rugbyin 1906 under Rev. A. G. Frazer; S. Thomas College rugby began with Justice Noel Gratiean urging Warden de Saram to include rugby in the sports list. The Thomians were first coached by Mahesh Rodrigo and assisted by Ashroff ‘Ashe’ Cader both from Royal College. It was in 1960 for the first time the Thomians under the leadership of Nihal ‘Baila’ Samarasinghe beat Eric Roles’ Trinity XV by 5 points to nil.

Today this game is one of the most looked forward by the two schools. The Trinitians are called the ‘Lions’ and the Thomians, . So this encounter will decide who will beat whom. Today in their traditional game. In 1978 a shield was presented for he game that is the Canon R S de Saram Shield. In the inaugural game for the shield played at the Peradeniya university grounds, went in favour of the Thomians.

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