The Annual Royal College vs Nalanda College Water polo encounter is set to bring a capacity crowd to Reid Avenue on Wednesday the 18th of September this year with an anticipation of Nalanda College looking to take back home the bulk of the silverware!
Nalanda College has dominated the Junior age groups this year under their head coach Chathura Perera, first by winning the RCUAC Challenge Shield, then the Novices Championship and the STC Cup. The initial signs from Nalanda College are very positive, but a resurgent Royal College junior Water polo team have been closing the gap with every game through the year with a nail biting 1 goal difference in their last meeting making this a fitting showdown to crown the Junior Champions of Water polo in Sri Lanka.
The senior Categories have been Blue Gold and Blue all the way with Royal College taking honours in the 5 tournaments played hitherto. The U15 and U19 teams will use this encounter to test the bench under high pressure situations with a talented Nalada College team lead by Pasan Nivisara. His counterpart from Royal College, Mihin Wanigasekara and his squad will look for a clinical performance in their own back yard looking to control the game through the 4 quarters.
The initiative premiered by the Old Nalanda Aquatic Sports and Life Saving Club (ONAS & LSC), Old Nalandians’ Sports Club (ONSC) & Royal College Union Aquatic Club (RCUAC) supported unreservedly by both schools’ administration has blazed new trails in the history of Water polo for Sri Lanka. It is the only school encounter in the island to have U9, U11, U13, U15 and U19 trophy matches. The encounter has taken on a big match like competition especially amongst the U9 and U11 teams with the Juniors motivating each other and hard at work for this all important game!
The game is perfectly placed in between the 19th edition of the M.N. Edirisuriya Trophy played between Ladies College and Visakha Vidyalaya on the 13th of September and the 31st edition of the Dr. R.L. Hayman Trophy between Royal College and S. Thomas’ College on the 28th of September for the 1st leg and the 5th of October for the 2nd leg encounter. The Reid Avenue pool will feature Live DJ with stadium music and the papare bands playing in tandem stereophonic effect to the cheers of both schools’ Prefects and Stewards in attendance to provide an atmosphere like no other for players and spectators at the venue.
The tournament is sanctioned by the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) and will be refereed by the elite panel of officials with a view of improving the game for players, spectators and key stake holders alike. The 2024 Calander is set to feature 7 Water polo tournaments to keep all 14 Water polo playing schools in top condition before the all important Nationals tournament in October 2024. This game raises the level of competition even further showing good signs for Sri Lanka Water polo.
The month of September and October promises much action packed games in the Aquatic arena and beckons us to witness the excitement at the pool to live those unforgettable moments in sporting life!
Match Schedule
- U9 – B Team – 12.30p.m
- U11- B Team – 12.50 p.m
- U13 – 1.20p.m
- Exhibition Game – 2.00p.m
- U9- A Team – 2.30p.m
- U15 – 3.00p.m
- U11 – A Team – 3.45p.m
- Diving Display – 4.15p.m
- U19 – 4.30 p.m
Nalanda College Water polo Team
Pasan Nivisara (Captain), , Hiran Adithya (Vice Captain), Sithula Mathangaweera, Thulnith Thisal, Yasiru Ransana Kalindu Rugeeth, Nethma Jayamanna, Dulina Sathyuga, Sanithu Gunathilaka, Thesanda Perera, Kavishka Dakshina, Pansilu Jayamanna
