Royal Regains E. F. C. Pereira Challenge Trophy
In the 13th Annual Tennis encounter between traditional rivals Royal College and S. Thomas’ College, last weekend, Royal College successfully edged-out S. Thomas’ College 3-2 to clinch the title this year.
The tally thus moves to 9/4 in favour of Royal. Royal had successfully won the trophy continuously the first 7 years, before STC recorded their first win in 2012.
STC were able to retain the trophy consecutively for two more years running, until Royal claimed it back in 2015. Last year, once more, STC were able to regain some of their lost pride in a closely contested match to win 3 matches to 2,and claim victory.
Royal this year was led by Mihindu Samarasinghe and STC by Avindra Perera the current national junior champion and Davis Cup poolist.
Despite prevailing bad weather conditions, the tie got off as planned with the first singles was played between Davis Cup poolist Avindra Perera (STC) Playing Kavisha Ratnayake (RC) and the first doubles played between Avika Kelegama and Dhilvan Herath (RC) and were drawn against Rakesh Ratnasingham and Akira Perera (STC).
Avindrapulled off his singles match to push STC into a 1 nil lead at the onset, but Royal made it 1/1 withavika and Dhilvan winning their doubles match.
Both teams were by now hard set in trying to break the tie by winning the next two matches however that too ended in a deadlock with a 2/2 tie with the RC pair of Mihidu Samarasinghe & Senal Hemakumara getting the better of Dulitha Ellawala and Vihan Herath (STC) in the doubles match, while Avindra’s brother Shivendra (STC) winning a hard-fought battle over the Royal vice-captainnadil Silva in their singles encounter.
This brought the battle right to the wire where Thehan Wijemanne (RC) was to take on Akil Ismail (STC) in the decider.
Thehan pleased the large Royal gathering there who had come to support the team by pulling off this decider and winning back the trophy in favour of Royal.
Both teams showed great skill and vigor, and the Thomians fought back well and as expected to bring it right down to a tie break! However in the end it was the Reid avenue boys that triumphed and was able to bring back the glory lost last year.
The winning RC team comprised of Mihindu Samarasinghe (Captain), Nadil Silva (Vice-captain ), Kavisha Ratnayake, Avika Kelegama, Dilvan Herath, Thehan Wijemanne, Senal Hemakumara, Venushka De Silva and Januda Jayasekera.
The team was coached by Prasanna Athauda and Jaliya Yasaratne the master in charge. Former STC tennis captain Shehan Meegama was the chief guest for the event. Principal of Royal College Mr B Aabeyratne together with the former SLTA president and old Royalist D L Seneviratne, were also among the distinguished guests who graced this occasion and presented the Challenge Trophy. In the Under-15 event Royal came out victorious with a 3/0 win, while in the under 13 event STC came out on top with a 3/0 victory.