Royal fight hard to retain RCUAC Challenge Shields in water polo
View(s):Royal College water polo teams, across most age groups, retained the trophies in RCUAC Challenge Shield held at Royal College Swimming pool. The tournament, organised by the Royal College Union Aquatic Club (RCUAC), aimed at providing opportunity to uncover young talent in an upcoming sport nationally and keep pushing boundaries.
The Under-17 boys’ final, played in a packed stadium, was a close encounter between arch rivals S. Thomas’ College and Royal College which went into overtime. The extra time was decided by an only goal, making it a thrilling 12-11 goals contest finally claimed by the Royal water polo team.
U-11 Boys Champions - Royal College
However, Thomians Michael Goonaratne and Dinuk Wickramasighe changed the tide in the Mount Lavinia boys, who looked a superior outfit in comparison to their efforts last year. Thomians have clearly signaled their intentions on putting up a tough game with Royal at the all important Dr. R.L. Hayman Trophy later in the year.
In the Under-15, Royal won the trophy on higher goal difference basis though the game with the S. Thomas’ ended in a 3-3 draw. S. Thomas’ emerged champions in the Under-13 boys category after winning all the round robin matches including against Royal, while the Reid Avenue boys won both Under-11 and Under-9 age categories against Nalanda College.
U-13 Girls Champions - Bishop's College
In the Under-17 girls’ final between Ladies’ College and Vishaka Vidyalaya, the Colombo 7 lasses won the game with the two goals in the final quarter of the game. The two water polo power houses in Sri Lanka fought from their hearts throughout the day showing plenty of skills.
Bishop’s College won both Under-15 and Under-13 in the girls categories against Vishaka Vidyalaya and Ladies’ College respectively. Ladies’ College won Under-11 title and Vishaka Vidyalaya emerged champions in the Under-9 girls category.
U-15 Boys Champions - Royal College
The tournament was held for the fourth year and has made significant strides by expanding the number of teams playing the game, which is still being played mostly by Colombo schools because of resource constraints in the other schools. With an aim of popularising the game to other schools, the RCUAC had been conducting the tournament with the help of generous sponsors.
Norfolk Foods, Royal College Batch of 2003, John Keels Office Automation, Fonterra, LOLC Finance, Hemas, Jetwing Hotels, George Stewart, Baraka, SLIC, Unilever, Bubbleatte, Red FM, Quadrangle, thePapare, MURC Live, Royal College Photographic Society, Royal College Doctor Association (RCDA) and Chocolatte supported as sponsors for the event.
U-15 Girls Champions - Bishop's College
Sri Lanka water polo has seen an improvement in number with this tournament brining in 450 plus athletes represented in 34 teams. The tournament format is designed to give opportunity to all teams and for the best two teams to enter into a final under a full capacity crowd creating that big match feeling for every player, coach, parent and spectator at the venue.
The Under-9 awards were given out by Sri Lanka’s celebrity singers Bathiya and Santhush while the Under-1 awards were given out by Sri Lanka Swimming Olympians, Matthew and Kyle Abeysinghe. This year’s tournament was under a social theme and partnered with the Rotaract Club Colombo Uptown (RCCU) to bring awareness to their project ‘Spectra’ to support Down Syndrome and Autism.
U-17 Boys Champions - Royal College
U-17 Girls Champions - Ladies' College
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