Days away from the final Royal-Thomian dual for 2018, the Hockey team of S. Thomas’ College look at finishing their season with a spotless record and with the ultimate goal of retaining the coveted Trophy that they clinched last year after a decade long yearning.
Read about the Royal College Hockey Team 2018
After its inception in 2000, the Orville Abeynaike Memorial Trophy found shelter in Mount Lavinia for the first 7 years of the encounter. Royal College broke the hoodoo in 2007 and retained the trophy for the entire decade that followed.
The silver lining for the team came in 2017, when Thilina Dela and his men put an end to the Thomian misery with a 3-goal miracle win. This year too, an experienced Thomian outfit is determined to retain the trophy that was tough to regain.
3rd year coloursman, Devmal Palapathwala has taken the reigns of the 2018 team. Palapathwala is the most senior sticker in the team and is currently on his 7th year in the 1st XI side. He represented Sri Lanka in the Under 19 Asian Schools Hockey Games 2017 and was the vice-captain of the Colombo Schools’ Team, earlier this year.
Palapathwala will be crucial in holding fort as he will lead the pack from the back. His experience from his recent tour to India for the Sri Lanka Junior Asia Cup will give the Thomian defenders the added zest.
Read More : Can Royal recommence dominance or will the Thomians have the final say?
Chandula Hewavasam, a recent transfer from St. Thomas’ Matale and Rahal Rambukpotha will be the two main knights guarding the fort for skipper Palapathwala as they have recently come into great form.
His deputy Bodh Maathura who will be playing his 5th year for the 1st XI, will be vital in transferring defense into attack with his passes that could pierce even the best defenses.
However, the most important task on game day would lie upon the shoulders of the two chief attackers, Yuvin Goonewardena and Savindu Wanigasooriya who will play in the Center forward position.
Yuvin is fresh off his tour to Bangladesh with the Sri Lanka U18 team while Savindu is packing a record number of goals this season, with his stunning hat-trick against Trinity College.
S.Thomas’ College have had a perfect record so far, this season. They’ve competed in 3 Schools’ encounters and emerged victorious in all.
Battle of the Thomians; Mount punishes Matale stickers
Competing in the TPT Hockey Carnival, S. Thomas’ College managed to defeat the Hockey team of Trinity College and St. Peter’s College to take home the title. They also clashed against their own from St. Thomas’ Matale earlier this month, where the Colombo side achieved a 1 – 0 victory in the first XI clash.
The most thrilling showdown so far for the team was their win against Trinity College in the 15th Dr. Neville De Alwis Shield.
The 1st XI Team of Royal College
- Devmal Palapathwala (C)
- Bodh Maathura (VC)
- Rahal Rambukpota
- Navinda Hewawickrama
- Devmith Udage
- Adithya Senanayake
- Savindu Wanigasooriya
- Yuvin Goonewardena
- Vihan De Alwis
- Prakash Jeevanantham
- Chandula Hewawasam
- Sandiv Ellapola
- KisaraAttygalla
- Abdullah Iflal
- Asher Dias Abeysinghe
- K. Kaviknan
- V. Abishgar
- Janidu Dela
The 19th Orville Abeynaike Hockey Encounter will come alive on the 10th of November from 2:00pm onwards, at the Astro Hockey Turf. The U16 Junior match will kick off proceedings making way for the Old Boys Match which will commence at 3:00pm. These will be followed by the main event, the 1st XI Match.
Keep it logged to ThePapare.com for Live coverage of the U19 encounter from 4:15pm onwards!
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