Bradby Second Leg in Pallekelle
It continues to amaze me, with every passing year, and the advent of social media and unedited media publications, how much bad blood exists between Royal and Trinity at this so-called ‘prestigious’ encounter, namely the 70th Bradby Shield. Now don’t get me wrong. There are plenty of people who want to have a good time, support their schools, shake hands and get back to work on Monday. But there seems to be an increasing number of people who are seeing a game between some 19 year olds as their very identity.
And that is a bit sad.
The bad behaviour is okay. Well it’s not, but it is actually a little more palatable than the justifications for it. For instance, several good friends of mine – who, despite being Royalists, are fine chaps – tried to tell me that what happened at the ‘haka’ was acceptable. It wasn’t. In any game, in any circumstance. A year’s reflection has made them realise the error of their judgment, but the fact is that it happened, and despite not being from either school, I was embarrassed by a ‘prestigious’ encounter being reduced to a bar room scuffle. Even before the whistle blew.
Then take the Trinity Scrummage, which physically had a game stopped and the referee spoken to. I have never, in the history of rugby football, heard of a situation where someone can get a game stopped because they think the ref is pulling. Certainly not in a ‘prestigious’ encounter. It was ugly, and unnecessary.
And this is all just in the last couple of years. Maybe my memory is waning, but I don’t remember things getting this tense, this ugly or this unsporting a few years ago.
As I write this, the day before the 70th Bradby, the Royal team of the 50th Bradby – which I watched at the Sugathadasa Stadium – are en route to Kandy reminiscing their playing days through arrack coloured prisms. That’s what camaraderie is about. It’s about being their for your mates, doing everything you can together, and winning or losing, but being able to laugh about it.
I understand that it’s never ‘just a game’. But don’t let misguided notions of passion turn you into ‘just an asshole’.
I was reading a papare article written by a Trinitian, and just two of the comments went like this:
“For me the HAKA act added more glamour to the Bradby. The boys did it in therir teritory in a very sporty way where the Royalist couldnt stomach. The sad part was the roylists phisically attacking their opponent in front of the President and over 15,000 spectators. I wonder what Royal heart has got to say about it. Is he justifying the assault. Had they done this to pathana boys the story would have been different. Further, we saw how Royal tried to fix the 2011 and the 2012 Bradby’s by appointing referees at the choice of the referees society president Jamaldeen who’s son was playing and captaining Royal. Are you justifying that fact as well.
No, don’t cry brother. We won’t hit you this time.. 😀 I think your Dancing Team would be able to do the “Break Dance act” on an empty grounds tomorrow. One more suggestion to you. Why not sing “Ireland’s Call” instead of your college Anthem? Hopefully you people are educated enough to fill in with some words to represent Trinity so that you won’t need to send it to Ireland to get the words from Irish. lol. You people just can’t imagine what a laughing stock you have become.. 😀 The sad part is that you people are making “The Bradby” also a laughing matter by your foolish wannabe Gigs ! “Learn or Depart” from the Bradby borthers. I am damn sure that the so called H(u)akas are not supported by the Trinitians whom we consider as Classic and Elite, whom we played with for Decades.
You guys were actually hitting us or just bitch slapping:p!just keep calm mate!you gonna go down hard tomorrow,believe that 🙂
I’ve seen and engaged in enough banter in my life to know what is gamesmanship and what is just bad – blood. It seems like all the tension, frustration and disappointment of whatever else is going on erupts volcanically at this time with the other school being the scapegoat. It’s not cool.
This year there have been unproven allegations of biased refereeing and such that has left a bad taste in the mouth. The conduct is ungentlemanly, and not exemplary as the Bradby should be. Imagine a little kid turning on the television to watch his first Brabdy and thinking that walking up to your opponent and shoving him is the way to play the game? It’s not. And these are the lessons kids will take with them out of school and into society, and we shouldn’t really be teaching them that this is the way to do it.
This Bradby could still be a fascinating tactical battle, if everyone just focuses on the game, and plays to their strengths. Cader is a ref who likes to blow his whistle. The resulting penalties should give Royal an upper hand. If they don’t commit lateral suicide, They can easily claw back eight or ten points in the first half. After that it’s anyone’s game. It really could be close.
However, if focus shifts to everything else, Trinity may run away with it.
I would love to talk about the game when the final whistle blows. Sans any comment on the referee being biased because he got a cramp. Or silly excuses like that. If you keep looking for excuses you won’t fix the problem. And it would be great if an encounter with so much tradition came back to being the exemplary rugby match between good teams.
ballhandling101 
Shanaka
This is called selective amnesia. How would you forget that the Royal apologized for their stupid reaction to an equally foolish provocation and things have moved forward.I challenge you to give me one ( just one would do) instance where any Sri Lankan institution has owned up to their mistakes and tried not to repeat the same mistake again in the recent past.
Also, don’t try to form your opinions on some random comments by anonymous people on a public site.
Guys I believe the post must be understood in the context it is written. I think its not the writers intent to discredit either school. He is talking of the degeneration in our society which manifests itself at these events and not only at the Bradby. Among the players ( At least in the past) the Bradby used to be the cleanest of games and when we played there was not one fist clenched in anger or a foot in the back of a player on the ground in a ruck. The friends we made then still remain friends.
The comments posted in response also demonstrate the bias towards the opposite camp. This then is how society thinks today. An eye for an eye. No forgiveness nor Karuna /metta . You hit us last year so there’s nothing wrong if we do it this time round huh?? I believe the standards have eroded to such an extent the peace loving individual has no place as his plea for decency is lost in the avalanche of abuse.
This is the same be it at a Bradby or any club match or when Sri Lanka play Cricket internationally at home. The behaviour however is definitely different at venues abroad. Must be because they are then in the minority. Wonder why such behaviour cannot be emulated at home.
Did I read that the writer would not attend the Bradby in future until such time he sees an improvement in the overall demeanour of the spectator ?? Well sir you will have a long wait . May I however suggest sir that you do attend the Bradby as otherwise we would lose the litmus that alerts the normal man of the goings on at these events. We may not be able to right it. But to give up is accept defeat.