Battle of the Blues in waterpolo...

Royalists to give Thomians a good run

By Leslie Fernando

WATERPOLO: Royal College who put up a great performance at the National Waterpolo Championships, going down fighting to the defending champions MAS SC by 8 goals to 7 last week-end, will offer stiff challenge to the traditional rivals S. Thomas' College in the Dr. R. L. Hayman Trophy Waterpolo Tournament to be played 14th November and on 18th November at the Sugathadasa Stadium pool.

Royal team's morale is very high, but the Thomians, who have won the title 12 times to Royal two victories is expected to give the Royalists a tough game. The Thomians did well to reach the final round of men's National Waterpolo Championships. Two games have ended in 'ties'.

Royal with four Sri Lanka players in their ranks - Zaman Ali Yakoob, Bilal Hassan the top goal getter at the National Waterpolo Tournament, Awnee Razzak and Yahan Samarajeewa have a well balanced side.

Thomians with D.C.A. Perera and Shivan Wijeratnam two national players will have to display better team work if they are to give the Royalists a close game. During the last encounters the tournament has been played at the Royal and S. Thomas's College swimming pools. But the organising committee decided to hold this prestigious tournament at a neutral venue to avoid any unruly behaviour by the supporters of the two schools.

It should be noted that Royal and S. Thomas' the two main schools have produced most of the national waterpolo players.

This tournament was first played in 1991 and the trophy was named after Dr. R.L. Hayman who was the Sub-Warden at S. Thomas College, Gurutalawa. The tally stands S. Thomas 12, Royal 2 and 2 were drawn.