The 2nd annual Hockey encounter between the 1st XI teams of S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia and St. Thomas’ College Matale will take place on Saturday, the 24th of September at the Reid Avenue Astro Turf at 4.00 pm. This fixture, inaugurated last year as an initiative to promote brotherhood and uplift the standards of the sport between the two schools, will be played for the ‘Eric Hulangamuwa Challenge Shield’.
A U-15 match is also scheduled to take place at 3.00 pm before the 1st XI game. The trophy for the under 15 encounter will be donated by the Old Thomians Hockey Union, Mount Lavinia.
S.Thomas’ College, Matale will be entering the field as defending champions, beating their counterparts 2-0 in the inaugural encounter last year. Over the years, the Matale Thomians have produced National players of the likes of the famous Wijekoon Family (Herbert, Ranjith, Chandra ,Manel Sujatha and Sajith), G.H.Rupasinghe, Dr. R. Mahendran M. Rajaratna, Jayampathi Perera, Ranjith Alahakoon,Indrawansa Herath, the Hulangamuwa brothers (Eric & C.K); to name a few.
On the other hand the School by the Sea have showcased the prowess of Chandra Schaffter (Double international), Corky Abeysekera,, Anura Thennakoon ,J.D. Bandaranayake, Michael Tissera, Dr.Sarath Senavirathne, Ishak Shabdeen (Double international), Orville Abeyniake and his three sons Ranil, Ajith & Amitha Abeynaike , Dinesh Wickremasinghe, Gamini Marapana and his son Navin, Tivanka Wijeratne, Pujitha Walpitagamage over the years.
The St. Thomas’ Matale first XI team is led by Nalaka Gunaratna & the Under 15 team is led by Chandula Hewawasam. Javindu Pieris leads the S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia 1st XI & their Under 15 team is led by Daniel Perumune.
The S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia 1st XI comprises of:
S.Pieris (Captain) , T.N. Dela (Vice Captain), A. Ellepola, K. Mahawansakkara, P. Jayawardene, G. Hamshavathanan, R. Nallapperuma, D. Palapathwala, B. Maathura, A. Kulathunge, S. Wanigasooriya, R. Rambukpotha, K. Karresh, D. Peramune, N. Hewawickreme, D. Udage, J. Prakash, A. Senanayake
The St. Thomas’ College Matale 1st XI comprises of:
N.R. Gunaratne (Captain), T.M.S. Kamaldeen, H.J. Hewawasam, C.S. Hewawasam, H.O. Gunaratne, T.C.S. Bandara, A.C.B. Parahitiyawa, S.C. Weerasinghe, S.L.S. Ekanayake, N.P. Gunasena, J.A. Ranatunga, C.A. de Silva, S.B. Seneviratne, W.M. Gunawardene, T.N.B. Herath, V.L. Edmond, G.C. Abeyratne, S.D. Dissanayake, R.S. Arachchi, A.T.B. Ranaweera, S.P.B. Ekanayake.
This encounter is jointly organized by the Old Thomians’ Hockey Union of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia & Matale Old Thomians’ Hockey Association. Nations Trust Bank is the main sponsor of the fixture for the second year in succession.
