Seethadevi and Matale Thomians take under 19 hockey titles

Sanjaya Ariyaratne

Seethadevi Girls' College, Kandy retained the girls crown for the third consecutive year while St. Thomas College, Matale clinched the boys title at the All Island Schools under 19 Hockey Tournament which concluded at University grounds, Colombo, recently.

This three day event was conducted by the Department of Education. The pioneers in hockey in Sri Lanka Matale made a clean sweep in the boys tournament as they secured all top three positions.

St. Thomas College coasted to a 1-0 win over their neighbouring Vijaya College, Matale through a penalty stroke by Pushpitha Weerakkody after being deadlocked nil all at the end of the regular time in the boys final.

Christ Church College, Matale had the consolation of taking the third place when they beat Royal College by five goals to nil after taking a good three goals to nil lead at the breather.

In the girls final Seethadevi Girls' College, Kandy got the better of St. Anthony's Convent, Katugastota by two goals to nil. Harshani Kumari and Geethika Nandasena were the scorers for the winners.

At half time the scores stood at 1-0 in favour of the winners. In the girls consolation final for the third place Yasodhara Balika Vidyalaya,

Colombo defeated Pushpadana Girls' College, Kandy by one goal to nil on penalty strokes after a scoreless full time. In the quarter final fixtures- (girls) St. Anthony's Convent, Katugastota beat Visakha Vidyalaya by 2-1, Pushpadana Girls' College beat Musaeus College by 1-0, Yasodhara BV beat Vijaya College, Matale by 2-0,

Seethadevi BV beat Sangamitta BV by 1-0. (boys) St. Thomas College, Matale beat St. Benedict's College, Kotahena 1-0 penalty, Royal College beat Trinity College by 1-0, Christ Church College, Matale beat Dharmaraja College 1-0, Vijaya College beat Nalanda College 1-0 penalty.