Royal favourites for polo title in water

Leslie FERNANDO

Royal College waterpolo team with four major titles to their credit this year is strongly favoured to come out victorious when they take on S. Thomas' College in the final of the men's National Waterpolo Championships at the Sugathadasa Stadium pool under lights at 7 p.m. tomorrow.

The Reid Avenue lads performances for this year has been remarkable winning the SLASU 'A' Division Challenge Trophy for the Ellawala League Championships, Under-20 Tournament, Sri Lanka Schools Waterpolo Championships and the Dr. R.L. Hayman Trophy 2008.

The question asked is whether the Thomians can stop the deadly Royal side going for their fifth title in a row?

Thomians put up a strong fight back in the second leg of the R.L. Hayman Trophy waterpolo match on October 18 despite Royal winning on the goal aggregate 21-12 (10-4 and 11-8).

Royal entered the final defeating Otter AC 16-2 and S. Thomas' beat the holders MAS Sports Club 6-4 in the semi-finals.

Royal side will be led by Bilal Hassan one of the best centre forwards ever produced by Sri Lanka. He is also a superb ruggerite. Bilal was selected as the most valuable player of the R.L. Hayman Trophy waterpolo championships for the second successive year. Awnee Rasak Sri Lanka's dependable goals keeper, Shehan Dassanayake, Yahan Samarajeewa, Rashmika Nissanga, Yashas Abeyrathne and Poorna Kankanige are expected to perform well for Royal.

Thomians captained by D.P. Wijewardhana will solely depend on their most experienced players in D.C. de Silva, B.A.C.A. Perera and S.R. Warnapura to feature prominently and achieve success. Royal team is coached by Mahinda Liyanage Aloka Prelis, the Thomians are handled by Shashi Vedamanictam and Roshan Ranasinghe. Visakha Vidyalaya v Air Force.

In the women's National Waterpolo Championships the holders Visakha Vidyalaya will battle it out with Sri Lanka Air Force team in the finals to be played at Sugathadasa Stadium pool starting at 7 p.m. today.

In the semi-finals Visakha beat MAS Sports Club 6-4 while Air Force defeated Bishops College 6-3.

Air Force led by M.P.A. Pathirana will be playing in a final after a lapse of four years. Ravindri Dharmadasa will captain Visakha Vidyalaya.

The outcome of the final cannot be predicted but the team with better technical and methodical play is favoured to win.

The men's champions will be presented the David Vast Challenge Trophy while women's champions the SLASU challenge Trophy.

The teams

Royal: Bilal Hassan, Awnee Razak, Rashmika Nissanga, Yahan Samarajeewa, Yashas Abeyrathne, Shehan Dassanayake, Pooran Kankanige, Sajeewa Wickremasinghe, Althaf Yakoob, Amjad Asmy, Harshaka Nissanga, Sanchitha Wickramasooriya, Darshana Kuruppu.

S. Thomas' - D.P. Wijewardhana, A de Alwis, D.C. de Silva, M. Wanigasuriya, M.A. Abeysekera, S.R. Warnapura, B.A.C.A. Perera, D. Gunawardana, S.J. Sethunga, N.H. Paranavithana, E.M.K. Fernando, Devin Jayasundara.

Visakha Vidyalaya: Ravindri Dharmadasa, Senaka Abeywickrema, Deethri Samarajeewa, Charya Dharmadasa, Lukshani Rathnayake, Charindhee Weerasinghe, Yoshini Liyanage, Elisha Gomes, Shivani Gunewardena, Waruni Ekanayake, Limashi Kosgodage.

Sri Lanka Air Force: M.P.A. Pathirana, S.N.L. Gunaratne, M.G.I. Sulari, J.A.D.R. Jayakody, K. Kadinappulige, M.G.A.S Galappaththi, W.A.H.R. Weerasinghe C.A.M. Perera, M.L. Dayarathne, L.M.S. Rohini, N. Mihiripanna, R.L. Malwawge, S.K.W.M.D.N. Kumarasena.