Galle Schools in two major upsets

S M Jiffrey ABDEEN, Kandy Sports Correspondent reporting from Matale

Galle Schools created two major upsets when they held to draws the hosts and defending champions Matale Schools ‘Golds’ and Colombo Schools ‘Blues’ at the Boys Schools Hockey Nationals organized by the Sri Lanka Schools Hockey Association and the Matale Schools Hockey Association which began at the Nandimithra International Hockey Stadium and Edward Park in Matale yesterday.

Matale Schools ‘Golds’ from the hockey town of Matale and were also the defending champions in this segment though they ran up an early lead of 1-0 at the breather, Galle Schools hit back in the second half to equalize.

Galle Schools showed that their display in the earlier match was ‘no flash in the pan’ when they held Kandy Blues also to a one-all draw. Last year Kandy Blues finished second runner-up.

But Matale Schools ‘Golds’ made amends later in the day to trounce Kandy Schools ‘Blues’ 5-1 after leading 2-0 at lemons at the Nandimithra Ekanayake Hockey Stadium.

Goal scorers for Matale ‘Golds’ were centre forward N K Willawarachchi (2), centre forward Tharindu Wijeratne (1), centre half A D Ratnasiri (1), left extreme D P Paravitagama (1). For Kandy ‘Blues’ centre forward N K Mallikarachchi scored.

The results of other matches played were Colombo Schools ‘Blues’ beat Jaffna Schools 6-0, Colombo Schools ‘Reds’ beat Matale Schools ‘Maroons’ 4-0, Kandy Schools ‘Whites’ beat Wennappuwa Schools 1-0, Colombo Schools ‘Blues’ beat Gampaha Schools 1-0.

Championship for girls

Kandy Schools ‘Blues’ scored a comfortable 4-0 win over Badulla Schools in the championship for girls schools played at Edward Park. At half time, Kandy led 2-0.

Sounding the boards for Kandy were centre forward Thushara Wijeratne (2), centre half Keshani Herath (1) and left extreme Lakmini Wijeratne.

Colombo Schools ‘Blues’ scored the biggest win of the day when they trounced Jaffna Schools 11-0 after leading 6-0 at half time.

The results of other matches played were Kandy Schools ‘Whites’ beat Jaffna Schools 2-1, Matale Schools ‘Golds’ beat Colombo Schools ‘Blues’ 1-0.