25th Dr RL Hayman Trophy Royal-Thomian Encounter :

Thomians continue dominance at water polo

by Sajeewa Jayakody

S Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia goal keeper, Dilith Kumarasinghe successfully defends a Royal goal attempt at the 25th Dr RL Hayman Trophy Royal-Thomian Water Polo Encounter played at the Sugathadasa Swimming Pool Complex, yesterday.

The Most Valuable Player of the Championship, Sachitha Jayatilleke of S Thomas’ College holds aloft the trophy.

S Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia clinched the 25th Dr RL Hayman Trophy Royal-Thomian Water Polo encounter for the fourth consecutive year against Royal College Colombo while their juniors bagged the Mahinda Liyanage Challenge Trophy after a thrilling final leg concluded at the Sugathadasa Indoor Swimming Pool Complex yesterday.

The Thomians, who had already won the first Leg 9-8 on October 1 at the same venue comprehensively, won the second leg by 9 goals to 5 to win the Silver Jubilee encounter by an aggregate of 18-13 amidst huge support from both schools.

S Thomas’ College fourth year coloursman Sachitha Jayatilleke had a grand game scoring nine goals in both legs to take the prestigious Most Valuable Player Trophy.

The 19-year-old prop scored five out of nine goals scored by the Thomians yesterday. Apart from Jayatilleke’s excellent performances, goal keeper Dilith Kumarasinghe played a pivotal role at the net. Kumarasinghe was spot on when the ball came to him foiling several scoring attempts.

The goal scorers for S Thomas’ were Sachitha Jayatilleke (5), captain Ashane Francis (1), Sanaka Molligoda (1) and Shakya Gunatilleke (1). For Royal Kalindu Hettiarachchi (1), Basith Yakoob (1), Daishika Dias (1), Senith Samaranayake (1) and Shamod Edirisinghe (1) scored.

The Under-15 match of the second leg was won by Royal 6-3. But due to the Thomians remarkable 9-5 win in the first leg, the Mount Lavinia School held aloft the Mahinda Liyanage Challenge Trophy with a winning aggregate of 12-11.

The Junior Challenge Trophy has been named after Mahinda Liyanage, the current SLASU Assistant Secretary who captained Royal College.

The championship was conducted by the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) under international rules and regulations and refereed by two Malaysian officials.

The victorious S Thomas’ College team poses with Head Coach Zafar Zainudeen after completing their fourth consecutive win over Royal in the series. Pictures by Malan Karunaratne