Can the Royalists continue their winning streak?

Leslie Fernando

The Thomians and the Royalists have struggled for supremacy in the field of sports be it in the water or on land for over a century the battle has been continuing.

Royal College:- (Seated from left) - Aloka Prelis Coach. Yashas Abeyratne, M. T. A. Rauf Senior games Master, Bilal Hassen Capt, H. A. U. Guasekera, Principal Awnee Razack Vice Captian, Dharshana Hettiarachchi MIC Rashmika Nissanga. (Standing 1st row from left) - Yahan Samarajeeva, Shehan Dassanayke, Poorna Kankanige, Sajeewa Wickremesinghe. (Standing 2nd row from left) - Namith Madampe, Harshaka Nissanga, Binara Sakalasooriya, Sanchitha Wickremasuriya, Dushantha Kuruppu, Althaf Yakoob, Amjad Azmy, Absent - Darshana Kuruppu, Dimuth Karunaratne.

STCML:- (Standing from left) - D. A. Goonewardena, D. A. Alwis, D. C. Jayasundera, N. H. Paranawithane, S. J. Setunga. (Sitting from left) - M. A. Abeysinghe, M. A. Wanigasuriya, D. P. Wijaywardena, Harshana Perera (Master in Charge), D. C. de Silva, B. A. C. A. Perera, S. R. Warnapura.

The Dr. R. L. Hayman trophy scheduled to be played today October 13 the first leg and 18th October the 2nd leg at the Sugathadasa Stadium pool is an event that brings much enthusiasm to present and past students of both schools Royal and S. Thomas.

This is an event which is looked forward to in the sports calendar of both schools.

The Waterpolo encounter will be played this year. This encounter is not just a match but an event that portrays the remarkable traditions shared and maintained by both schools over the years.

This year the Colombo 7 lads have shown dominance in the game winning all the matches in the Ellawella league played between Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Army, Otter AC, MAS Swimming Club (last years national champions) and S. Thomas’ College.

The Royalist dominated during the tournament and were the league champions. Prior to the Ellawala Trophy few weeks before the Royalists won the under-20 tournament 2008 and Royal College lads beat the Thomians team 8 goals to 5 to win the tournament at the finals. The Royalists displayed their dominance in the game again at the Public Schools Waterpolo Championship where they beat the Thomians again at the finals 6-5.

Looking at the results during the season the game heavily tilts towards the Royal camp and the Thomians need to put up a herculean effort to make a difference.

Of the 16 encounters played so far Thomians have won 11 and Royalists have won 3 while 2 games were drawn.

The Royal College has won the contest in 2005, 2006 and 2007 will definitely defend the trophy in possession while Thomians will go all out to regain the lost pride and anything is possible on the day. It will always be contested in the best spirit with goodwill in keeping with the traditions both schools have maintained over century.

Finally whatever said and done what everybody look forward to is a game played with true spirits and camaraderie prevailing. This year too there will be two referees from Singapore at the match.

The under-15 tournament played for Mahinda Liyanage Trophy too will take place on the same day.

The lads from Reid Avenue has proved their supremacy over junior Thomians in this game where they beat them convincingly at the Public Schools and the recently concluded under-20 tournament to secure third place.