Online edition of Sunday Observer

S. Thomas’ skipper Thanura Abeywardena receives the Dr. R. L. Hayman Trophy from the chief guest Wilfred Wickremasinghe after the Thomians beat the Royalists 6 goals to 5 in the ‘second leg’ of the Waterpolo tournament played at the Royal College swimming pool. S. Thomas’ won the ‘first leg’ 3-1 and the total tally 9-6 in favour of the Thomians.

S. Thomas' College waterpolo team proved their superiority when they retained the Dr. R. L. Hayman Trophy for the 12th successive year with a win over their traditional rivals Royal by 6 goals to 5 in the 'second leg' played at the Royal College swimming pool on Tuesday. S. Thomas' took the 'first leg' 3-1 played on October 17 at Mt. Lavinia. The aggregate score 9 goals to 6 in favour of the Thomians.

It was a game played at a hectic pace and Royal scored first through Madhuranga Kulathilaka taking a fine seven-metre shot. Thomian skipper Thanura Abeywardena scored a strong prop goal to level the score 1-all.

At the closing stages of the first quarter, Dhanushka Saram swam intelligently through the Royal defence and struck a quick goal off a fine pass from Rajiv Nagaraja to give Thomians 2-1 lead.

In the second quarter Royal skipper Damith Rozairo scored in the early stage to make 2-2 all but the Thomians with perfect passing and good co-ordination, scored two quick goals through skipper Abeywardena and Dakshitha Thamanegama to make 4-2 for S. Thomas' but S. Thilakaratne scored for Royal to reduce the lead to 4-3.

Third quarter saw the two teams fighting-it-out to establish a clear lead but weak shooting prevented goals being scored. However Thamanegama scored the solitary goal to put Thomians in the lead 5-3.

The final quarter saw the Royalists applying pressure and came back strongly and scored two goals through Supun Kulathilaka and S. Thilakaratne to equal scores 5-5. Thomian skipper Thanura Abeywardena was able to find the net for the third time and scored a top 'prop goal' and seal victory for Thomians 6-5.

In the junior match played for RCUAC Challenge Shield, S. Thomas' were held to a 3-all draw by Royal in the 'second leg' but by virtue of Thomians 6-0 win in the 'first leg' over Royal, the challenge trophy went to the Thomians with total tally of 9 goals to 3.

Thomian skipper Thanura Abeywardena was selected as the most outstanding player and he was awarded a special trophy. (L.F.)