Matale Gold and Colombo Red joint champions

Sanjaya Ariyaratne

HOCKEY: Defending champions Matale Gold Hockey Club and Colombo Red Hockey Club were declared joint champs when their match ended in a draw yesterday at the Astro Turf, Reid Avenue. The Inter District Schools under 19 Hockey Championship is organised by the Schools Hockey Association of Sri Lanka in association with Colombo Schools Hockey Committee.

The first half of the match ended in a goal less draw and the second half of the match could not be played due to the heavy rains.

Meanwhile, Kandy Whites emerged Girls champions when they overcame Matale Girls one goal to nil. The first half of the match ended in a nil all draw and the winning goal for Kandy came from Chathurika Wijesooriya in the 40th minute of the match.

Before reaching final Matale Gold defeated Kandy 1 goal to 0 while Colombo Red beat Chilaw HC 1 goal to 0 in the semi finals.

In the Girls semi finals Matale Hockey Club beat Colombo Red 1 goal to 0 while Kandy Whites overcame their neighbours Kandy Blues 2 goals to 1.

In the battle for Boys second runner up place, Chilaw Hockey Club had the better of Kandy HC three goals to one while Colombo Reds Hockey Club beat Kandy Blues HC by 2 goals to 0 to take the Girls runner up position. The Boys final was umpired by Indrawansa Herath and M.A.M. Asraff while Maithree Withana and Mangala Karunaratne umpired the Girl's final.