It would not be an exaggeration to claim that when the greatest sporting rivalries in the world are recorded in the annals of history, the rivalry between S. Thomas’ College and Royal College would definitely find a place in its hallowed pages.
Any sporting encounter between these two premier educational institutions has always been observed, recorded and played with an aura of reverence. Simply put, whenever Royal College plays S. Thomas’ College, we witness a clash of Titans. And it’s that time of the year referred to as ‘Roy-Tho Season’, featuring a series of clashes ranging from Water Polo to Badminton, from Tennis to Basketball.
The 11th Annual Royal Thomian Basketball Encounter will be played on Saturday, the 14th of September 2013 from 3:00pm onwards. This years encounter will be hosted by STC and accordingly, will be played at the STC Basketball Courts. The match will be played for the D.S. Senanayake Trophy. Even though the series is (comparatively) young, the series has always been interesting to watch as it reveals a certain trend. In the first 7 years since its inception in 2002, the Thomians were dominant to say the least, winning the first 7 years consecutively. In 2010, Royal College clinched the trophy for the first time and have won consecutively since. This year, Royal College will be hoping to retain the trophy, whereas S. Thomas’ College will be fiercely competing to bring the trophy back home.
Apart from the Under 19 Encounter (which is played for the Trophy), the Royal Thomian Basketball match also features a match between the Under 15 sides of the two schools (which was inaugurated last year, the encounter been won by Royal College) and also a match between the Old Boys of the schools. The Old Boys Encounter is a unique feature of the Basketball Royal Thomian, and is played for the Late Janaka De Fonseka Challenge Cup.
Royal College
Seated from left to right :- Mr Lal Indrakumara (MIC), Mr M.T.A Rauf (SGM), Sandeepa Ratnayake (Captain), Mr. Upali Gunasekara (Principal) Ashen Menuka (Vice Captain) Mr. Sarath Keerthisena (Vice Principal) Mr. Prasanna Jayasinghe
Standing Left to right : first Row Charitha Wijeratne, Chathura Perera, Rishitha Wedasinghe, Sameera Chanaka, Shamaaz Shiraz, Dilshan Menuka, Ranmith Nanayakkara, Standing Left to right Second Row;Gevindu Gunathilake, Raju Rakavan, Sadeesha Perera, Raidh Ramizi, Julyan Gunasinghe, Mohomed Zahir, Visal Pinto
S. Thomas’ College
Crouching From Left To Right:- Maithri Pathirana, Maheshan Serasinghe, Adrian Gunawardena, Thrausha Allewela.
Standing Left to right:- Uwin Gunaratna, Dion Ferdinands, Ashan Goonesinha, Michael Alphonsus (Captain), Ashvindh Wilson(Vice Captian), Kumika Kasturiarachi, Wirendra Perera, Ramal Hettiarachchi
