by Revata S. Silva

Another Royal - Thomian encounter or yet another “Battle of the Blues,” this time for the supremacy in the game of tennis, will be inaugurated at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts in Colombo on Saturday, July 5.

The matches will be in three age-groups: Under-19, 15 and 13. Play will start at 8 a.m.

Following is the format of matches and the points system -

There will be five matches in each age-group; three singles and two doubles. Points will be awarded in the following manner: 1st, 2nd and 3rd singles- 8, 7 and 5 points respectively; 1st and 2nd doubles- 7 and 5 points respectively.

Each age-group will have 7 players from each school and a player may play only in one match.

In memory of E.F.C. -

The winner of the encounter will receive the E.F.C. Pereira Memorial Challenge Trophy. Evelyn Felix C. Pereira (1912-1989) has had a long association with the two colleges, first as a student and then as a teacher during the period 1922-1987. Pereira was educated at Royal for eight years since 1922 and then guided the Thomian Tennis Club after he joined the College as a teacher in 1933. When he was on the staff of Royal College during 1949-1972, he was the Vice President of the College’s Lawn Tennis Club.

The Referee of the tie will be Walter Diaz and the Guest of Honour will be Rienzie Pereira, son of E.F.C. Pereira. Old Royalist and former President of the Sri Lanka Tennis Association, D.L. Seneviratne will present the E.F.C. Challenge Trophy to the winner. Royal College will be the host of this inaugural tie and S. Thomas’, Mount Lavinia, will host the event next year.