Christ Church hockey champs

S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN Kandy Sports Corr.

Christ Church College, Matale beat Royal College, Colombo 2-0 in the finals to clinch the all-island schoolboys under 17 hockey title in the tournament organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Hockey Association and played at the Nandimithra Hockey Stadium in Matale.

At half time Christ Church College led 1-0.

The first half saw a struggle with both teams making an all out effort to break the deadlock. Finally it was Christ Church College who succeeded in going into the lead when centre half Damith Bandara with some intelligent play got past two defenders to sound the board.

The bitter struggle continued into the second with Royalists trying to obtain the equaliser and then go for the kill. Christ Church College did the wise thing in not trying to adopt defensive tactics and retain their slender. They instead kept attacking and were rewarded when left extreme Mahes Hendeniya scored, to put the issue beyond doubt.

S. F. Jayasinghe and Indika Jayawardena umpired.

In the battle for the third place Ananda College beat their traditional rivals Nalanda College.

Earlier in the morning in the semi-finals Christ Church College beat Nalanda College 2-0 and Royal College defeat Ananda College 2-0.