Royal junior stickers win Dr. Kathab Roshan Trophy
View(s):A brilliant fight back by Royal College Under-16 team, led by its forward line, helped Royal College beat Kingswood College by 3-2 in their annual hockey encounter played for Dr. Kathab Roshan Memorial Trophy at the Peradeniya University ground. Royal won the trophy for the first time since 2019.
Host Kingswood scored the first goal through a penalty corner with R.R.D. Thisal sounding the board. That helped the Kandy school lead by 1-0 at lemons. After the half time, Risaja Mahalla levelled it for visitors to level the score at 1-1. However, T. Dananjaya of Kingswood scored a field goal to give a lead of 2-1 for the home team.
Jubilant winning team with Royal College Principal Athula Wijewardena, Kingswood College Principal Dhammika Herath, and old Royalist Vasantha de Silva (standing far left), son of late Lennie de Silva (Standing from left): Risaja Mahalla, Sithupa Rathnayaka, Kumuthula Gunathilaka, Vidu Wijesinghe, Sulaiman Shihar (Captain), Athula Wijewardena (Principal, Royal College) Savain Karunasiri (Vice Captain), Abdullah Wasim, Dineth Jayesinghe, Anslem Antonipillai, Viren Wettasinghe, and Sanuja Vidath (Squatting from left): Bingun Savidya, Daniru Rubasinghe, Seth Pathirathna, Navidu Liyanage, Hiruka Ranaweera, Gunitha Dissanayaka, Thineth Weerabahu, Hirun Lindula, and Dilsara Prabath
Royal Under-16 hockey captain Sulaiman Shihar receives Dr. Kathab Roshan Trophy from Royal College Principal Athula Wijewardena
Royal’s Seth Pathirana equalised before Vidu Wijesinghe scored another goal just before the final whistle to win the Kathab Roshan Trophy after a six year lapse. In the forward line, Royal vice captain Savain Karunasiri made some skilful dribbling to keep the steady attack against the Kandy team.
This trophy is named after Dr. Kathab Roshan, who was an instrumental of Royal College hockey team from 1990 to 1995. The skilful dribbler and prominent goal scorer was a member of all conquered Royal team in all age groups. He played for Sri Lanka Schools in the first Asian Schools Hockey Championship in India in 1994. After his medical degree in Russia, he served as the assistant coach of Royal College Under-15 hockey team until his untimely demise in 2005.