Thomians win both legs to secure famous win
S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia were too hot for Royal College to handle at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium Swimming Pool Complex in Colombo yesterday. The Thomians pulled off another sensational win by 9 goals to 8 in the second leg of the 23rd Annual Water Polo encounter and thus retained the R.L. Hayman Trophy with an overall aggregate of 16 goals to 13.
The Thomians who secured a win in the first leg too by 7 goals to 5, never allowed the Royalist to dictate terms in this encounter. For most part of the first three quarters played the Thomians matched the Royalists goal for goal. The last quarter was one that was never to have been missed as a total of 9 goals were scored in a game contested brilliantly by both colleges.
With a minute and a half into the second leg Royal netted the first goal through No.12 V. Wasalage. Thomian No.10 A. Francis who had a superb game in the pool equalised soon after. Wasalage kept the Royalists hopes alive and gave the Reid Avenue boys a slender 2 goals to 1 lead at the end of the first quarter when he scored his second goal.
The next two quarters were evenly contested with the Thomians holding the upper hand and never relinquishing their lead. Goals were scored in tandem and at end of the third quarter the scores read four goals apiece.
Only an all out assault in the last quarter could have ensured the Royalists of victory as on aggregate they were still lagging behind by 2 goals.
The all important last quarter saw Royalist No.5 C. Fernando hitting the back of the net with 36 seconds into play to infuse the ultimate suspense and drama that prevailed at the pool thronged by supporters from both colleges flanked on either side. The Thomian skipper not to be undone drew level by cutting the angle beautifully and scoring a peach of a goal to the ultimate dismay of the Royalists. Royalist Fernando scored twice more in a remarkable solo effort but the lads’ from Mount had other ideas. Sporting their ever famous “Thomian Grit”, the boys from Mount Lavinia scored three successive goals in less than two minutes one a piece by captain Weeraratne, A.Francis and K.Munasinghe to dash any hopes of Royal ever coming back and retained the all important R.L. Hayman Trophy for yet another year.
A beaming Thomian skipper Deelaka Weeraratne speaking after his side’s remarkable win went on to say, “We had a small squad from the inception and we got on extremely well as a team by being supportive of each other. But the most important aspect is that we all shared a common goal of wanting to pull off this encounter. The coaches and the college administrators were extremely encouraging and helpful throughout . This win belongs to everyone who worked behind the scenes too”.
The series tally now stands with 14 wins for S.Thomas’ College, seven wins for Royal College and two encounters have ended up in draws.
- Pic by Indika Handuwala
S. Thomas’ College Under-15 juniors beat the Royalists by 8 goals to 6 in the second leg and won the Mahinda Liyanage Challenge Trophy with an overall aggregate of 16 goals to 15. Royal won the first leg played earlier by 9 goals to 8.