Royal beat Thomians to clinch Orville Abeynaike Trophy

Front row (from left) – Senul Liyanage, Muad Mueen, Yusuf Sihar, Geesath Basitha, Aathif Faleel, Kevindu Dharmarathne, Lithum Karunasiri, Inupa Ranathunga Standing (from left) – Anuk Kaveeja, Binu Paranawitharana, Minol Dakhitha, Rivisha Marambage, Sihath Dassanayake, Lakshitha Perera, Aakash Wijeseara (Captain), Himsara Caldera (Vice-Captain), Thaviru Alahakoon, Harris Arumugam, Vinol Rashmitha.

Source : island

Underdogs Royal College stunned their arch rivals S.Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia when center forward Yusuf Shihar’s solitary penalty corner goal helped them win Orville Abeynaike Trophy in their hockey big match on Saturday at Colombo University ground.

The victory was the first win for Royal in the trophy match since 2015.

The Mount Lavinia team was the clear favourites in this year’s (22nd) edition of the game after winning their match against Trinity by 4-2 last week.

The hosts Royal led by Aakash Wijesekera were surprisingly in control of the game from the first minute, but missed close chances in repeated penalty corners.

At the 43rd minute, center forward Yusuf Shihar changed the game with his penalty corner hit. The ball got lofted in his second attempt to the goal to hit the board to give the famous victory for the Reid Avenue team.

Thomians were in the possession of the trophy for the past six year.

Royal’s Center Half Thaveeru Alahakoom was adjudged the best player of the game for his consistent and solid defence throughout the game.

Royal is coached by former Nalandian Insaka Samaranayaka with former nationals Damith Panditharathne and Shahid Kuthubdeen as his assistants.

Thomians who are known for speed found it difficult due to slow conditions at the Colombo University ground.

The game was at 0-0 at the lemons.

Thomians got some opportunities in the last quarter including a last minute penalty corner, but Royalists thwarted all the attempts to record the stunning victory.

Despite the win, S. Thomas leads the tally with 10 wins against Royal’s seven in the trophy started back in 2000. Five games have ended in draw.

Abeethe Fernando and Ishara Kulatunga controlled the game.

In the junior under 16 category, S. Thomas’ won 1-0 with Joshua Jayaweera scoring at the start of the game.

Royal won the over 35 old boys game 2-1 with Sampath Subasinghe and Manuka Pawan scoring a goal each while Tivanka Wijeratna scored at the last minute in a penalty corner for Thomians.

The under 35 old boys match for Nihal Nilaweera memorial trophy ended in a 1-1 draw with former Sri Lankan player Shahid Kuthubdeen scoring for Royal and Romesh Nallapperuma scoring for Old Thomians. Royal retained the trophy.