Royal strikers look to keep winning streak against rivals S. Thomas’ in 16th encounter

Seated from left: S.S. Ratnam (Coach), S. De Silva (Director of Sports), P.R. Wanigasooriya (Captain), Rev. Marc Billimoria (Warden), K. Kumaratheesan (Vice Captain), B.L. Perera (Coach) and H.H.S.R. De Silva (Secretary). Standing first row from left: T.R. Sridaran, B.G.M. Dharmatilleke and S.G. Illamanathan. Standing second row from left: Y.M. Goonewardena, K.D. Mahawansakkara, A.L. Kulathunga, P.S. Jayawardena, H.V.K.J. Peiris and K. Karresh. Standing third row from left: B. Maathura, D. Palapathwala, S.W. Wanigasooriya, A.U.B. Ellepola, G. Sashitharan and T.N. Dela

Seated from left: Shaheer Bari, Badra Shyamali (teacher in charge), Sudath Liyanagunawardena (Senior Games Master), Malith Rasanga (Captain), Upali Gunasekara (Principal), Imaadh Dole (Vice Captain), Priyantha Wijesiri (Master in Charge) and Rohan Dissanayake (Coach). Standing first row from left: Hasanga Liyanagunawardena, Ranchana Abeyrathna, Nelaka Wedagama, Adheesha Perera, Vindula Jayalath and Thineth Karunarathne. Standing second row from left: Pasindu Charuka, Sachin Dissanayake, Furqaan Irfan, Sajana De Soyza, Sharunthan Balenthiran, Anojan Ganesharaja, Manjitha de Silva, Gowtham Kirupakaranand Sajad Irshad

The Royal College 1st XI hockey team looks to keep the winning momentum against the rivals S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, in the 16th annual encounter for Orville Abeynaike Memorial trophy played on Friday at 4 p.m. in the Astro Turf synthetic hockey ground. 

S. Thomas’ won all the seven encounters since the start of the big match until 2006, but since then Royal has won five games while three matches have ended in a draw. Royal won the last year encounter, hosted by S. Thomas’, by 3-0.

Royal, this year’s hosts, are favourite to outclass the rivals with 13 coloursmen including skipper Malith Rasanga who has represented Sri Lanka at under 18 level. Trained by former Sri Lankan Coach Rohan Dissanayake, the host Royal has outclassed both Wesley College and Trinity College 9-1 each at their respective big matches last week at the same venue.

The Thomian team led by Pasindu Wanigasuriya will look to turn the encounter to win the first game in the last nine years. The Mount Lavinia team has lost to S. Thomas’ Matale in their big match between the two teams this season. 

Past College Prefect and Royal First XI Captain D. Gunawardena will be the Chief Guest.