Royal-Ananda joint champions

U-15 Schools Hockey C'ships

Sanjaya Ariyaratne

HOCKEY: Royal College and Ananda College were declared joint champions in the boys' under 15 All Island Schools Hockey championships, while Seethadevi Balika Vidyalaya emerged girls' champions at Bernard Aluvihare Stadium, Matale yesterday.

The Matale hockey fans were given a great chance to experience a tough battle in both finals. Royalists were let down by the Anandians in the first half itself with Asitha Lakruwan sounding the board. Royal College equalise with a goal when Chirantha Wijesinghe shot the goal with only two minutes remaining.

In the girls' final, Seethadevi Balika Vidyalaya beat Visakha Vidyalaya 1-0 after a great battle in the second half. Both teams gave no chance to each other in the first half until the solitary goal came from Geethika Nandasena in favour of Seethadevi Balika Vidyalaya.

The battle between Vijaya College, Matale and Nalanda College for the Boys bronze medal ended with Vijaya stickers taking the bronze when they beat Nalandians on penalty strokes 3-2 in a close contest while the Girls bronze medal was won by Pushpadana Girls' College, Kandy when they had the better of Yasodara Vidyalaya, Gampaha three goals to nil.

Before reaching final Royal College crushed Nalanada College in the semi finals penalty shoot out 4-3 when both teams failed to score during the extra time while in the other semi final match Ananda College in a gruelling battle defeated Vijaya College, Matale one nil.

In the Girls semi-finals Visakha College had a convincing win over Pushpadana College, Kandy 2-0, while Seethadevi Balika Vidyalaya made a clean sweep in the other match against Yasodara College with one goal to nil.

In the Boys quarter final matches Vijaya College beat Kingswood College 1-0, Royal College beat St. Sylvester's College 6-0, Ananda College beat St. Joseph's College 1-0 and Nalanda College beat Mahinda College, Galle 5-4.

In the Girls quarter final matches Visakha College overcame their neighbour Musaeus College 5 goals to 0. Pushpadana College beat Vijaya College 2 goals to 1 in a close contest. Yasodara College beat St.Anthony's Girls' Convent, Katugastota by 4-2 while Seethadevi Balika Vidyalaya, Kandy had the better of Christ Church College, Matale.

The championship was conducted by the Schools Hockey Association and Matale Hockey Committee.