Seetha Devi and Joseph Vaz hockey champions

by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Correspondent

Seetha Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Kandy(girls) and Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa (boys) became champions at the all island boys and girls hockey sevens sponsored by Singer (Pvt) Limited and concluded at the Royal College Complex in Colombo on Sunday.

In the quarter finals of the competition for girls Musaeus College beat Sangamittha College, Matale 1-0, Pushpadana Girls College beat their home town rivals 1-0, Seetha Devi Balika Vidyalaya, beat Vijaya College, Matale 3-2 on penalty strokes, and Yasodara Vidyalaya beat Visakha Vidyalaya 1-0.

In the semi-finals Seetha Devi BV trounced Yasodara Vidyalaya 3-0 and Pushpadana scraped through to a 1-0 win over Musaeus College.

The finals between Seetha Devi Balika Vidyalaya and Pushpadana Girls College both from the hill capital turned out to be a gruelling affair in which no quarter was asked nor given and both teams were pitched in a relentless battle for supremacy. When full time was blown, the scoreboard stood blank.

The game ran into extra time but still the impasse remained. With the field play of breaking this deadlock now gone to the winds, the penalty tie breaker system was introduced with the three series coming into force first. But still there was no decision. It was in the single series that Seetha Devi Balika Vidyalaya edged out the girls from Pushpadana Girls College 1-0 with centre forward Yamuna Wijesuriya scooping the ball to sound the boards. It must be recalled that last month Pushpadana girls won the hockey title at the National School Games.

The quarter finals was the boys championship saw Joseph Vaz College trouncing Vidyartha College 5-0. Christ Church College, Matale beating Dharmaraja College 2-1, St. Peter's College scoring a close 2-1 win over Isipathana College and Vijaya College, Matale defeating Ananda College 2-0.

Joseph Vaz College displayed their domination of this tournament by trouncing the strong Christ Church College from the hockey town of Matale 3-0 and Vijaya College scoring a comfortable 3-1 win over St. Peter's College, Bambalapitiya, thus setting the stage for a challenging final, between Vijaya College and Joseph Vaz College.

The finals started on a furious note and scintillating hockey was witnessed with the game see sawing from one side to another. It was Vijaya College who drew first blood but Joseph Vaz equalised soon after. The scoring went in this style and stood level at three all at the end of the regulation time.

Extra time of play was introduced but still there was no result and field play version of breaking this deadlock was abandoned in keeping with the rules and the penalty tie breaker system was introduced. The three series penalty tie breaker system saw the scores once again standing level. Then in the singles series penalty tie breaker system Joseph Vaz College edged out Vijaya College 7-6.

Damitha Ekanayake of Pushpadana Girls College was adjudged the Best Goal Keeper in the championship for girls while Dharshana Abeywickrema of Vijaya College was adjudged the Best Custodian in the tournament for boys.

Chathurika Wijesuriya of Seetha Devi Balika Vidyalaya was adjudged the Most Outstanding Player of the Finals in the Championship for girls.

The Most Outstanding player in the tournament for boys was carried away by Nimalka Siriwardene of Joseph Vaz College.