Thomians take first leg 8-4
S. Thomas’ College beat Royal College 8-4 in the first leg of the 26th edition of the Dr. R.L. Hayman Trophy water polo clash at the Sugathadasa Swimming Complex yesterday.
Royal came into the game as favourites but were outplayed by the Thomians who played the game to a set plan. It was not Royal’s day as they missed four opportunities in scoring with the ball hitting the post in all four occasions.
Royalist Savindu Dissanayake was well marked with two Thomians defending to unsettle the Reid Avenue school’s plans.
The play-maker of the match was Thomian Isuru Kahandawala who scored four goals for the winners in all four quarters of the game. In the 5th minute Isura Kahandawala beat the Royal keeper to score the first goal, followed by Sakya Gunatilleke to put the Thomians in front while Senith Senanayake scored for Royal. S. Thomas’ led 2-1 in the first quarter.
Thomians took the game away from the Royalists in the second quarter scoring four more goals to take the lead to 6-1 with Isura Kahandawala scoring twice.
Royal came back to the game to add two more goals for their tally through skipper Basith Yakoob and Savindu Dissanayake while Kahandawala scored his fourth goal to help Thomians ends the third quarter 7-3.
The final quarter saw both S. Thomas’ and Royal’ scoring a goal each through Shanon Ebanezor (STC) and Isiwara de Silva (RC). The final whistle was blown giving the Thomians a 8-4 win in the first leg.