Kingswood-Dharmaraja joint champs

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Corr.

Kingswood College and Dharmaraja College became joint champions at the Kandy District Schools boys under 19 hockey championship after the final ended in a thrilling two all draw in the final of the hockey tournament organized by the Kandy Schools Hockey Association and played at the University grounds, Peradeniya on Thursday. At half time Dharmaraja College led 1-0.

This match between the two traditional rivals turned out to be a bitterly fought out battle in which no quarter was asked no given. Arising out of this top fear was dished out for the hockey fens.

It was Rajans who set the score board moving midway in the first half when right extreme Pasan Ranaweera sounded the boards. They maintained this lead till the short break.

But early in the second half the Kingswoodians obtained the equalizer through right extreme Madhushika Lakshan which put the two teams on level.

But in the 21st minute of the second half the Rajans once again took the lead when Pasan Ranaweera scooped the ball to right inside, Harsha Egodage who beat two defenders before sounding the beards.

Being led 1-2, the Kingswoodians put up a brave fight by putting more aggression into their play. They kept attacking the Rajans defence and with play trickling into the final minute, they in a do or die effort scored through Shashie Ranaweera to equalize.

With the match ending in a draw, ten minutes of extra time was given to break the dead lock. But the final scores remained the same and teams were declares joint champions.

Mangala Karunaratne and D.R.B. Dissanayake umpired.