Royal breaks five-year hoodoo to win Dr. R.L. Hayman water-polo encounter

Despite a defeat in the 2nd leg Royal College broke a five year hoodoo to win the 27 Dr. R.L. Hayman annual water polo encounter at the Sugathadasa Swimming Complex last Saturday. Having won the first leg 9-7 Royal though they were beaten by the Thomians in the return encounter 8-7, they went on to win the Hayman Shield with an overall aggregate of 16-15.

The final quarter saw a hectic battle as both sides matched each other in attack and defence and just 25 minutes before the final whistle Akindu Handunpathirana seal the fate of the shield to move to Reid Avenue with a well timed goal.

Royal went ahead in the first few minutes of play with two quick goals in the 1st quarter. Savindu Dissanayake added another goal for Royal while the Thomians through Anaam Sourjah and Sheraan Ebenezar beat the Royal goalie on two occasion to end the 1st quarter in favour of Royal 3-2.

In the 2nd quarter Thomian skipper equalized and Ebenezar coming into action with a goal while Royal captain Dulanjan Fernando’s goal bringing the end of the 2ndquarter with scores leveled 4-4.

The 3rd quarter saw Royal toiled hard in the middle to counter the Thomian wing attacks. Manula Wickremaratne burst into the attack with two goals. Ebenezar joined the party with a goal made the school by the sea to occupy the driving seat. With Royal’s play maker Isiwarana de Silva’s goal the 3rd quarter came to an end in Thomians favour 7-5.

Early in the 4th quarter Ebenezer put the Thomians ahead with a masterly goal. Akila Handunpathirana went through to score just few seconds away from the final whistle to put Royal ahead in the aggregate and the game came to a close with the scores standing 8-7 in favour of the Thomians.

The quality of the game that exhibited by both S. Thomas’s and Royal right through the game will linger in the memory of thousands who were present at the venue.

Goal scorers (S. Thomas’): Shanon Ebanezer (4), Anaam Sourjah, Sanka Molligoga, Manula Wickremaratne and Shevaan Ebanezar

(Royal): Shamod Edirisinghe (2), Shavinda Dissanayake, Dulanjan Fernando, Akthar Jaffar, Isiriwarna de Silva, and Akindu Hadunpathirana

Most Valuable Player of the match: Isiwarana de Silva (Royal)

– Lakshman Ranasinghe;

Pix by Ranjith Perera