Presidents Balika and Royal shine on day one

Kandy Sports Corr.

HOCKEY: Brilliant stick work by Royal College stickers helped them to score a stunning 4-0 win over St. Thomas College, Matale on the first day of their all island schools under-13 boys hockey tournament organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Hockey Association which began at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy yesterday.

Centre forward Susanga Jayawardena scored a hat-trick to rattle the Thomians from the hockey town of Matale. The other goal was scored by centre half D. Gunasekera.

The Royalists did not stop at that as they scored another 4-1 resounding win over the Kandy district defending champions Kingswood College. At half-time Royal led 2-1.

Goal scorer for Royal were K. Kapil Dev (1), D. Gunasekera (1), M. Abeysundera (1) and M. N. Jeewaratna (1). For Kingswood, D. Ekanayake scored the solitary goal.

In the other matches St. Benedict's College, Kotahena struggled before scoring a close 2-1 win over debutants Menikdiwela MV.

Isipathana MV held Vijaya College, Matale to a scoreless draw.

Trinity College trounced Richmond College 5-0 with centre forward Kasun Jayasinghe slamming four goals including a hat-trick. The other goal was scored by G. S. Suddharshan.

Dharmaraja College beat St. Thomas College, Matara 1-0, Nalanda Vidyalaya beat Dharmaloka, Kelaniya 5-0, St. Thomas Matale beat Trinity 1-0, Menikdiwela MV beat Kalutara Vidyalaya 3-0 (S. K. Godigamuwa 2, T. B. Samarakoon 1), Nalanda Vidyalaya beat Dharmaraja College 1-0, St. Aloysius College beat Vidyaloka Vidyalaya 2-0, St. Benedict's College drew with Issipathana Vidyalaya 1-1.

Girls results

Newcomers Presidents Balika Vidyalaya in a major upset beat the more fancied Vijaya College from Matale 1-0 on the opening day of their all island schools girls under-13 hockey tournament match. At half time there was no scoring.

Centre forward Sanduni Imesha scored the winning goal for the winners.

In another match Visakha Vidyalaya trounced Hemamali BV Kandy 6-0. Left inside Maneesha Welaratne scored a hat-trick of goals with left extreme Lakma Wijeratne (2) and centre forward Yelani Perera (1) scoring the other goals.

Pushpadana Girls College also turned in a fine performance to defeat Yasodara Vidyalaya 2-0 in a thriller. Centre half Chathurika Ekanayake scored both goals.

Sri Rahula Vidyalaya, Katugastota whipped Hemamali BV Kandy 5-0, Pushpadana Girls College were held to a scoreless draw by Sanghamitta Balika Vidyalaya, Matale.