Matale and Kandy Districts clinch under 19 hockey titles

Sanjaya Ariyaratne

Matale `Golds' scored a narrow one goal to nil victory over Colombo District `Reds' while Kandy District `Blues' beat Colombo School `Reds' by one goal to nil to bag the boys and girls titles respectively of the Sri Lanka Schools National under 19 Hockey Championships worked off at the Astro turf, Reid Avenue Colombo, recently. The tournament was organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Hockey Association.

In the boys final both teams were unable to score goals before full time and the score read nil all at the end of full time. P.K. Heendeniya converted a penalty corner during extra time to make the final score one goal to nil in favour of Matale District `Golds' at the final whistle.

In the girls final Kandy `Blues' registered their victory when Gayani Shanika scored a goal through a penalty corner in the second half of the match to seal victory by one goal to nil.

The scores stood at nil all at half time. Matale `Golds' breezed into the final when they beat Kandy `Blues' by a convincing margin of four goals to nil after taking a two goals to nil lead at the breather.

For the winners M.V. Marapana top scored with two goals and Milina Bandaranayake and Pushpitha scored one goal each. In the other semi final Colombo `Reds' defeated Matara district team by two goals to nil after taking a one goal to nil lead at the short whistle.

Sameera Perera (1) and Michael Fernando (1) found the net for the winners. In the battle of the blues Kandy 'Blues' comfortably overcame Colombo `Blues' by six goals to nil to secure their place in the girls final. The former were ahead three goals to nil at the breather.

Sisters Chathurika and Yamuna Wijesooriya did well for Kandy team with two goals apiece. They were ably supported by Maneesha Dissanayake and Pradeepa Nandasena scoring one goal each.

In the other semi final Colombo `Reds' beat Kandy `Whites' by three goals to one after grabbing a two goals to one lead at half time.

In the boys consolation final for the third place Kandy `Blues' beat Matara district by two goals to nil.

There were no scoring by both teams at half time. Colombo `Blues' carried away the girls third place title when they beat Kandy `Whites' by four goals to one by penalty strokes.

The scores were nil all at the end of the regular time.