Loyala College u-15 champions

CRICKET: Loyala College Negombo has emerged as a cricketing force after taking to the game just four years ago as the school came into the limelight winning the under-15 tournament conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association.

Loyala College outclassed some of the more established teams in school cricket like Maris Stella College, Negombo and Mahanama College as they won the All-Island Astra Trophy title in the Division Four category while also grabbing the prize in the Gampaha District.

Their success in this tournament is more significant considering the fact that they do not have even a ground fit for cricket and the school predicts their best days lie ahead according to the principal Rev. Fr. Trevor Martin.

In an attempt to bolster and foster the game, Loyala College has granted free education to the winning squad from next year and the school is now targeting the under-17 championships with a view to grooming what will be a maiden senior team by the year 2009.

Their success was also made possible due to the untiring efforts of Fr. Jayashantha Sovis, the sports co-ordinator, Dilhan Fernandopulle, the Master-in_Charge and Dinesh Ranatunga, the coach.

Loyala College beat St. Sebastian's College, Kandana in the final to bag the Astra Trophy and beat Bandaranayake MV in the final of the Gampaha District championship with Hansana Fernando, the skipper, scoring 108 in the decider. How Loyala College, Negombo performed to win the Under-15 Division Four Astra trophy cricket title and the Gampaha District junior championship.

Astra Trophy:

Beat Dharmaloka. Loyala College, Negombo 150 (Elvis Quyn 42, Hansana Fernando 26).

Dharmaloka 54

Beat Kaudana Maha Vidyalaya. Loyala College, Negombo 115 (Hansana Fernando 48).

Kaudana MV 99 (Janith Maduranga 5 for 20).

Beat Mahanama 'B' Loyala College, Negombo 292 (Hansana Fernando 94, Elvis Quyn 40, Ashen Fernando 36) Mahanama 'B' 192 (Janith Maduranga 5 for 42).

Beat Horana Royal College.

Loyala College, Negombo 156 (Hansana Fernando 48, Elvis Quyn 32, Ashen Fernando 32)

Horana Royal College 67 (Janith Maduranga 4 for 20).

Beat St Sebastian's Kandana in final.

Loyala Negombo 175 for 9 (Hansana Fernando 39, Lakshan Mendis 33) St. Sebastian's 41 (Vimoshitha Asiri 4 for 12).

Gampaha district championships:

Beat Maris Stella in semi-final. Maris Stella 141 (Janith Maduranga 3 for 30)

Loyala College, Negombo 142 for 1 (M. Laffir 87 n.o., Lakshan Mendis 32).

Beat Bandaranayake MV in final. Loyala College, Negombo 236 for 4 (Hansana Fernando 108, Suhanjan 56)

Bandaranayake MV 96 (Thuwan Puthra 5 for 10).