Royal College will be aiming to end the 2023 season on a high, after losing out on the League title, as they battle it out against S. Thomas’ College for the Michael Gunaratne Trophy.
Date: 26th August, Saturday
Place: S. Thomas’ College Grounds, Mount Lavinia
Time: 4 pm onwards
Royal College ended the League securing second place while the Thomians were dumped out in the 1st round through their own mistakes, having to settle for fifth place in group 1A.
The Thomians managed to win two traditional encounters and will be wanting to make it three in a row against a formidable Royal side. Their season went south after a promising start to the campaign, leaving them languishing at a mid-table position.
S. Thomas’ won this encounter last in 2016 and it has been way too long between drinks. Winning this year will not be an easy task, however, the hosts undoubtedly have got the fire power to do so.
Skipper Vyaan De Silva, Bulathsinhalage, and Mahith Perera will need to add the finishing touches while the three-quarters will no doubt be hoping for big things from their forwards lead by Hakeem.
The Royal backroom staff will be pushing their forwards to do the hard yards upfront while the likes of Calyanaratne, Yahiya and Pathirana will be looked upon to add the finishing touches.
Royal have dominated this encounter in the past decade with STC just managing a couple of wins in 2013 and 2016.
Our take
Royal are heavily favoured to get the W — Royal to win by 12 or more — but if STC are to upset, they will have to hang in there and strike back during the dying embers of the game.
