2-Try Naveen brings the trophy back home
A Thomian forward breaks away from the clutches of the Royal defence - Pix by Amila Gamage
Call it by the skin of your teeth of the close encounters of a Complex style, but, the simple truth is the Thomians as expected prevailed when it really mattered. It happened in the dying moments of the game when the Thomian winger Naveen Henakankanamge cut through thirty-metre burst off a back-line move, that had the opponents bewildered.
Yes, S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia, defeated the defending Schools League champions, Royal by 21 points to 15, in their Singer Schools League Division 1A fixture worked out at the Royal College Sports Complex yesterday. This was the 52nd annual encounter for the Michael Gunaratne trophy, and Thomians regained it after lapse of three years.
The winners accumulated their points from three tries and three conversions to Royal’s two tries, one conversion and one penalty.
At the breather, Royal had a slight lead of 10 points to 7.
Surely the difference between the two equally balanced sides, was the Thomian playmaker Naveen Henakankanamge. He had an outstanding game, as he scored two tries with his powerful runs down the flank, and the last one at the death.
The game began with a slow pace with both sides testing each other. In the battle of forwards, Royal did very well to hold the heavy Thomian ‘eight’. Royal had the edge in set pieces. But the Thomian three quarters always had their opponents guessing of their moves.
Thomians regain the trophy after three years
In the 15th minute of the game, Royal was awarded a penalty, after Thomians were penalised for collapsing the scrum. Stand off Orvin Askey missed the 35-metre penalty.
Royal, put the first points on the board in the 20th minute of the game, off a try scored by their hooker Hamza Reeza off a trade mark rolling maul, that had the Thomian ‘eight’ in disarray. Askey made the conversion.
Thomians, then scored the equaliser, with their forwards taking a short tap surged through and Prop Sachithra Jayathilake made a short pass to centre Ashvantha Herath to go over. Herath made the conversion himself.
Then minutes before the short whistle, Askey booted a 25-metre penalty to give Royal a 10-7 lead.
In the turnaround, Thomians took the lead for the first time after centre Herath made a superb 30-metre burst into the Royal 22’, then off an avalanche of back line moves, wing Henakankanamge scored his first try passing several Royal defenders, leaving them agape. Herath converted and the Mt.Lavinia School led 14-10.
But the Royal forwards never gave up, as they made several incursions into Thomian 22. Again off a rolling maul, that mesmerised the Thomian forwards, Hooker Reeza barged into score his second try of the match. Askey made the conversion and Royal took the lead back 15-14. 
Then came the killer blow off a move that was born in the Thomian 22, and ended in the hands of Henakankanamge, to score that memorable try.
Truly, Henakankanamge was the toast of all the Thomians young and old.
Referee: Irshad Cader.
In the U-18 game played for M.T. Thambapillai Trophy, Royal defeated S. Thomas’ 20 points to 5.