The 24th Annual Hockey Encounter between Royal College and S. Thomas’ College was played today at the Astro Turf, Colombo, for the prestigious Orville Abeynaike Memorial Trophy.
The last encounter at the Astro Turf took place in 2022, when S. Thomas’ College triumphed under the captaincy of Abdullah Iflal. In the following years, the fixture was shifted to the Colombo University Grounds and the Mt. Lavinia Club Grounds, where Royal College recorded back-to-back wins under Aakash Wijesekara and Sihath Dasanayake, respectively. This year’s match carried added significance as it marked the first Roy–Tho encounter on the newly laid Astro Turf.
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The weather in Colombo remained partially cloudy throughout the evening, setting the stage for a tense battle. From the first whistle, both teams went head-to-head in a scrappy yet competitive contest. Royal conceded two early penalty corners, giving the Thomians a chance to seize the momentum, but the Royalist defence stood firm. The opening two quarters were marked by missed opportunities—St. Thomas’ struggling with execution in their passing, while Royal fell short in converting chances inside the opposition’s danger zone. At halftime, the score remained 0–0.
After the break, both sides returned with renewed energy. For Royal, Kithmina Rathnayake spearheaded the attack, while Jamal Lafir, the Thomian vice-captain, inspired his side with determination. Midway through the third quarter, Rathnayake broke the deadlock with a decisive finish to put Royal ahead 1–0. Buoyed by the lead, Royal’s defence displayed their best form of the match—closing down space and swarming the Thomian attackers like bees in a hive. The quarter ended with Royal in front.
The intensity heightened in the final quarter. With just two minutes left on the clock, Rathnayake struck again, doubling Royal’s lead and all but sealing the outcome at 2–0. However, the Thomians refused to bow out quietly. In the dying seconds, Lafir led a swift counterattack, scoring a consolation goal for his team and narrowing the final scoreline to 2–1.
At the final whistle, Royal College emerged victorious, securing the Orville Abeynaike Trophy for the third consecutive year. It was a spirited encounter, defined by flashes of brilliance, resilient defending, and the enduring rivalry between the boys from Reid Avenue and Mt. Lavinia.
