After an eventful evening at the Sugathadasa Swimming Pool Complex on the 28th of September, there is all to be battled out in the waters in the coming week, as the most anticipated boy’s water polo match in the nation between Royal College and S. Thomas’ College completed its thrilling first leg for the Dr. R. L Hayman Trophy 2024.
The U-15 match was an exciting afternoon affair, with a closely fought contest ending with S. Thomas’ College pulling ahead for a victory, with 16 goals with a 48.4% shooting percentage, against 12 goals and 30.7% put up by Royal College. While the former school conceded 3 penalties and 2 exclusions, the latter did the inverse: conceding 2 penalties and 3 exclusions.
This junior match played for the Mahinda Liyanage Challenge Trophy is also one that holds much excitement as the second leg comes around, for the final result is just as unpredictable as the senior match is bound to be.
U15 Match – 1st Leg – Final Scores – Royal College 12: S. Thomas’ College 16
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Consequently, the rain beating down as the evening match began did nothing to quench the players’ spirits, as both teams took to the water to put up a thrilling game.
In the first quarter, there were only a few goals to separate the two teams as goals were exchanged. However, in the latter half of the U-19 match, Royal College started pulling ahead by three goals, and the final scoreline at the end of this match for this school was 13, whereas S. Thomas’ College had 9 goals. 29 shots were taken by the former, with 45% shooting accuracy, whereas the latter put up a strong fight with 28 goals with 32%.
Royal College also had one exclusion, while S. Thomas’ College had two. Yet, the former school conceded one penalty too. Thus, S. Thomas’ College will no doubt be fighting to retain the trophy from 2023.
U19 Match – 1st Leg – Final Scores – Royal College 13: S. Thomas’ College 09
Led by Mihin Wanigasekara for Royal College, and Talib Mansoor for S. Thomas’ College, these two sides have all to play for as they fight for the coveted trophy for this 31st edition of the Royal-Thomian Dr. R. L. Hayman Trophy.
The second leg, set for October 5th at 3:30 PM, promises to be unforgettable, with excited crowds filling the stands and cheering for their teams.
Catch all the exclusive action of the 2nd leg on Sri Lanka’s top sports channel, ThePapare, available on Dialog Television (Ch. 126), the Dialog Viu App, and ThePapare.com.
