Royal college squash team captained by Ruweesha Jayawardena emerged victorious at the inaugural Royal- Thomian squash encounter held the SSC Squash complex.
The Royal College ‘A’ team beat the S Thomas College’ A’ team 4-1 in the grand finale. Royal College started well with the Captain leading the way winning the first match in straight sets.N S Jayasekara from S Thomas College was brought down by Ruweesh Jayawardena after a hard fought 3 setter.
Royal College Vice Captin Rashendra Rajaratne too continued on the winning path by registering another hard fought win with Chithesh Rambukpotha. The young Thomian battled really hard to turn things around and provided stiff opposition before losing in a tough four setter.
With a 2-0 lead it was upto Udantha Hewage to battle out with the top Thomian player Kavinda Hurulle. This match was also contested fiercely and Udantha finally put the icing on the cake to grab the match in another tightly contested four setter and with it gave the much needed victory for the Royalists to cheer about for one year.
Royal College having already sealed the victory the other two matches were played best of three games.
In the fourth match T U Jayasekara from S Thomas College beat Senindu Induwara in straight sets before Hareen Weerasuriya from Royal College beat Thenuka Indraumara from S Thomas College to wrap up things.
The Royal College ‘B’ team and the U 15 team too followed the footsteps of their seniors registering victories 4-1 in both the categories.
The Champion Royal College ‘B’ tTeam comprised of Lakshan Daabare,Rahul De Silva,Kusal Gamage,Sachin Jayasinghe,Deelaka Alawathugoda and Haarin Samaratunge while S Thomas College B team comprised of Disura Fernando,Janik Fernando,Hirushka De Silva,Abishek Raambukptha ,Chenuka Jayathilaka and Devin Gunasena.
The Royal College U-15 Team comprised of Druwinka Perera,Heshan Balasuriya,Ashan Atapattu ,Senura Rathnasekara,Harinda Kirihena and Yukthi Napagoda while the S Thomas College u-15 team comprised of Prashanth Uneshka,Yehan Dias,Minath Wijerthne,Mishara Sapukotage,Oshan Kasturiarachchi and Ashwinda De Silva
However the Old Thomians struck hard in the old boys match where the Old Royalists were beaten 3-0.The Old Thomians team who shared four Junior National titles,two South Asian Games bronze medals and participation at two Asian Games and six Asian Senior Squash championships among them was too much for the Old Royalists to compete with.
Gayath Sumanarathna started the proceedings beating Devin Ediriweera in straight sets after trailing behind in the first set. The second match saw Eranga Alwis doing his homework winning in straight sets after narrowly escaping the chance of being dragged into a three setter by Nilruk Soysa bringing back the memories of the five setter Junior National final in 2007 between the two.
Gihan Suwaris finished things in grand style overcoing his old time rival in many inter schools and junior open finals ,Dilshan Senarathne in straigh sets.Shamin Kannangara and Lochana De Alwis were the other team members of the Old Thomian team while Kasun Abeysekara and Dasith Senanayake were a part of the Old Royalist team.
Commodore Palitha Weerasinghe, the President of the Sri Lanka Squash Federation graced the occasion as the chief guest while Warden of S Thomas College Professor Indra De Soysa ,Sub Warden of S Thomas College Rev Mark Bilimoria ,Principal of Royal College Upali Gunasekara and several other teachers and officials from both schools were present at the occasion.
