FUN AND TENSION
The Royal Thomian cricket match is said to be
even better and more Art successful than the Eton and Harrow
annual encounter. According to the compilers of the origin of
the Royal Thomian match quoting an account by C.E. Corea who
played for the Colombo Academy as Royal College was then known,
the Assistant Principal of the "Academy" Ashley Walker, a
Cambridge Blue, was responsible for initiating the series of
annual encounters between the two schools.
According to Corea, the first match was played in
18 78 on the Slave Island Green, which I presume to be the Colombo
Sports Club, which is now the site of the Hotel Taj Samudra. The
members of the team arrived either on foot or hackery (buggy cart),
or were ferried across the Beira Lake.
In 1888, the first match in
which only the boys took part was played on the Galle Face Green.
This is the starting point of the centenary series and as such score
cards commenced with this year. This year's match is the 127th
encounter between the two schools or colleges as we prefer them to
be known.
S.S. Perera, the famous local cricket histrorian
referring to the 1885 match, played at Galle Face states there has
been much argument ever since this miserable day for Royalists -
that the Royalists did not turn up on the second day of the match.
He says he had gone through the newspapers at the Government
Archives and found that these stories about the Royalists were not
correct and cites newspaper accounts as proof of happenings in far
off days, nearly 94 years ago. Accounts of events given by
individuals who took part are merely hazy recollections and not very
accurate. But there has always been a debate as to the result.
The former Thomian Warden, the famous. Cannon
R.S. De Seram, in an article titled 'The Nine-run Match-the other
side of it" cites Law Two of the laws of Cricket, that after a spell
of rain the umpire decided the ground was fit for play. ("Vide The
History of Royal College") and called "Play". And Royal College
refused to play, accordingly the match was won by S. Thomas' So the
Thomians insist they led by one match and the Royalists say the
tally is equal. Individual accounts of those who participated are
merely hazy recollections and not very accurate. But, there has
always been a debate as to the result of that controversial match.
Coming to more recent times, a controversy which
is even today the talking point among Thomians occurred in 1933. It
was a tragi-comedy of sorts. It could be even called hilarious, but
for the fact that due to this, the strong Thomian team who were
cruising to victory escaped by the skin of their teeth.
The Thomians were captained by that fine all
rounder, L.S. (Shelton) Gauder a strong, forceful character who,
however, at times was given to nerves. The Royalists batted first
and made 182 in the first innings and 146 in the second. The School
by the Sea notched an impressive 231 in the first innings and were
going great guns with the opening pair of Bartholomuesz and Alex
Wijesinghe engaged in an elegant, productive partnership without
experiencing any difficultly. The score now stood at tea, on 58
without the loss of a wicket, when suddenly, a lone figure ran into
the middle and handed the batsmen a note which to their chagrin and
great surprise was alleged to have been from their skipper which
allegedly stated "Hit out or get out", although there were stacks of
time for an easy Thomian victory.
The two technically perfect stylists at the
crease who were used to collecting their runs with quiet competence,
as against wild slogging, suddenly seemed to go off their rocker and
began swinging blindly at every ball.
The two were very soon back in the pavillion and
the Thomians far from winning the game managed to save the game
which was heading for defeat and were 91 for 9 at the close of play.
Shelton Gauder was inclined to believe that
Lassie Abeywardene who long years later coached the team was
responsible, being a well-known prankster but Lassie vehemently
denied the allegation. But, there was another suspect in Chriso
Abeywardene who later became a leading golfer. Shelton and Lassie
were firm friends until their dying days and often when the subject
came up at the Old Thomians' Club, they had a crowd round them
enjoying argument and egging the combatants.
While an estimated 20,000 spectators were in a
'convivial spirit' even when their sides were in a bad way, the
cricketers were tense, out their in the middle giving of their best
to have their schools win the match.
The most tense momements I experienced was when I
had to go in to bat with the Thomian score at 13 for 3. One run
later I was joined by my courageous and highly talented skipper P.I.
Peiris who strode to the wicket, with grim determination written all
over him. Deciding to take on the Royalists as he strode like a
colossus to the wicket, P.I. told me "Lets teach Royal a lesson".
From the word go he began blasting the daylights out of the Royal
attack, not with wild swinging, but with masterly, majestic strokes.
His was one of the most inspired innings 1 have witnessed. The two
of us, both close pals as well, put on 187 for the 5th wicket. A
record of 53 years which has as yet withstood the test of time-in
fact
it is the oldest partnership on record in the
history of the Royal Thomian. We won that by an innings. After the
Royal-Thomian was over, we were hosted to dinner ^ at Pagoda, downed
quite a few celebratory drinks at the Tamil Union. In those '^ days,
the team was hosted to dinner by Warden de Saram. It was held at the
Pagoda in Fort, owned by Mahes Rudrigo and family... Cold sober as
some of my team mates wanting to have a good laugh at us seated as
we were to the immediate left of the warden from whom 1 had in
earlier days had several canings.
But, the Warden was a fine sportsman, having
played in the Royal Thomian himself. I am sure a he knew my
predicament. I did not speak during the whole meal. At the end of it
all he turn to me with a smile and inquired "Wijesinghe, did you
enjoy your dinner"? to which I said "yes, very much".
In 1953, after a tiring, tension filled first
day's play I was sipping an invigorating beer at the Tepin' opposite
the Bambalapitiya Police Station when much to my consternation in
walked a very officious Secretary of the Old Boys Association. I
found the next day, that he had reported me to the Warden for being
found drinking at a pub........... The practice, then was for the
team to be taken to be a film at the New Olympia owned by the Family
of my dorm and team mate Zackroff Cader, after that to the Galle
Face Green, where we danced the baila until the wee hours of the
mom. Next, we went to College and rang the school bell which is like
one of those church bells and pulled it for all its worth. In 1953,
I was entrusted with this task. I had finished ringing the bell....
uncontrollable urge to .... myself. The watcher than turned up in
high dugeon and wanted to take me to the boarding head. However, my
job done and feeling highly relieved, my brain began ticking and a
few palmed bucks had me let off the hook.
Now, Mr. Gauder had an aluminium roof at the
front of his house at Hotel Road, adjoining College and that was the
next target. Shouting "takarang Gauder, takarang Gauder" we hurled a
few stones on to the roof. Mr. Gauder was a tine sport and gentleman
to his fingertip. Shelton and Lassie were inseparables. May their
souls rest in peace.
A very interesting incident took place in 1952,
my first year. S. Thomas" were around 70 for 6 when I went in to bat
and cover drove the Royal skipper Lalith Hewawitharne a leggie, for
four sizzling cover drives consecutively, more possible from
excitement than anything else. Seated in the Royal tent was a
lissome damsel. Alongside her was a her father an old Royalist. The
girl, although a student at our sister school Bishops' was an ardent
Royal supporter. But, this 'teenage girl, now a senior woman
journalist had been so enamoured by my batting that she had not only
cheered me, but also the Thomians.
According to her, her father was so angry with
his daughter that she was not allowed to attend the match on the
second day. The thing is on record in a Thomian Souvenir, under the
name of the journalist concerned. What a life!
In the mid 1940s I could not attend school or
even the Thomian Tent as I was under quarantine from the
Municipality health Department The chap who had it at home was
cured, but the quarantine period was not over. Hence, I managed to
get a friend to buy me a Royal tent ticket.
The match was going on gloriously, spectators
were cheering like mad and all was going well, when a gang of
toughies, then a regular feature at the Big Match walked past
carrying the a Thomian flag. Incidentally, inquiries revealed these
so called toughies were drop cuts from other schools. Duggie
Senaratane who later became a well known journalist was standing on
a chair in the front row of the Royal Tent, when one of the bullyies
slashed his cheek with a knife causing a huge gash on his face.
Blood flowed freely as Duggie who is one leg short, was sent off
balance and crashed to the ground. But, he was full of guts. He some
how righted the chair and stood. Cleaning his bloodied face with his
Royal flag, he waved it crying out 'Royal Blood, Royal Blood'. That
put the thugs to shame. They were bundled out by Police, amongst the
jeers of the spectators.
Douglas Senaratne returned to the match after
having his wound dressed at the nearby General Hospital. To me,
Douglas Senaratne epitomized the indomitable spirit of the Royal
Thomian.
By Geoff Wijesinghe
