Royal College HC win Bacon Cup in Colombo knockout
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Squatting from left: Sachithra Malshan, Senith Gajanayake, Manuja Gunawardana, Thisura Daksina, Shazin Ahamed Standing from left: Chirayu Wijekoon, Ashen Peiris, Shihar Aneez, Punsara Aravinda (Vice Captain), Sampath Subasinghe, Chamara Samarakoon (Captain), Sandun Gajanayaka, Sadique M. Hanas, Vimukthi Rajapaksha.
Royal College Hockey Club (RCHC) defeated Old Zahira Sports Club to win the Bacon Cup after a thrilling final in the knockout tournament played at Colombo Astro Turf and organised by the Colombo Hockey Association.
Old Zahira dominated the game from the first minute, but RCHC scored the first goal through a penalty corner with Sandun Gajanayaka intelligently pushed the ball into sound the board at the 15th minute. RCHC led by 1-0 at the lemons.
In the second half, Sampath Subasinghe scored another goal through penalty corner in the 36th minute of the game off Gajanayaka’s pass despite Old Zahira dominating the second half. Later, the Zahirians aggressively attached to score two goals in four minutes to level the score at 2-2 with Mufthi and Ifras scoring for them.
RCHC won the final by penalties after the game ended in a deadlock of 2-2. At one point Old Zahirians led in penalties by 2-1 in the first two attempt. But RCHC managed to win the game by making no mistakes with the last two penalties.
Sadik Hanas, Manuja Gunawardena, Vimikthi Rajapakshe, and Chirayu Wijekoon contributed in defence against mighty OZHC team.
The RCHC team was led by Chamara Samarakoon with Punsara Aravinda as his deputy. The team also comprised former Sri Lankan players Sandun Gajanayaka, Shihar Aneez, and Manuja Gunawardena as well as Masters Hockey World Cup team member Sampath Subasinghe The RCHC has won the title previously in 2012, 2016, and 2018.