Kandy Schools 'Blues' hockey champions

S.M. Jffrey Aldeen Kandy Sports Correspondent

Kandy Schools 'Blues' came up with a fine performance in the first half to defeat Colombo Schools 'Reds' by 4 goals to nil to become champions at the Girls Schools Hockey Nationals organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Hockey Association and played at the Nandimithra International Hockey Stadium in Matale yesterday. At half time Kandy Blues led 4-0.

Two girls from Pushpadana Girls College namely centre forward Ishara Sandamali and left inside Chathurika Ekanayake were outstanding for Kandy Schools Blues in their quest for championship honours. The game started with Kandy's Ishara Sandamiali sounding the boards early.

This goal was followed by her school mate left inside Chathurika Ekanayake foxing the opponents defence and scoring.

Kandy Blues kept their momentum going when Ishara Sandamali followed a long hit and took the ball on top of the circle to score her side's third goal.

Kandy Schools Blues put the issue beyond doubt through another goal scored by Chathurika Ekanayake just before the short blast.

Having built up a commanding 4-0 lead at the end of first session, Kandy Schools Blues gave their opponents no chance to come back after the turn around.

In the second half the Colombo Schools 'Reds' trying to come back into game but the Kandy schools hung to their big lead so that their opponents will not have a chance.

D.R. Dissanayake and S.P. Jayasinghe umpired.

In the Semi finals Kandy Schools 'Blues' edged out Kandy Schools Whites 2-1.

In the second Semi final Colombo Schools 'Reds' beat the defending champions Matale Schools 2-1 after extra time.

At the and of full time the scores stood deadlocked at one all. It was during extra time that Colombo Schools 'Reds' obtained the deciding goal.

In the fight for third place, Matale Schools beat Kandy Schools 'Whites' 5-4 on penalty strokes.

The scores stood at one all and extra time too did not break the deadlock and the single series penalty strokes was implemented which provided the result.