Central Province win easily

S M Jiffrey ABDEEN -Kandy Sports Corr

Central Province trounced Western Province by 6 goals to nil to win a gold and clinch the Women's Hockey Championship for the 16th year at the National Sports Festival Women's Hockey Championship organised by the Ministry of Sports and worked off at the Nandamithra International Hockey stadium, Matale.

At half time Central Province women stricken led 3-0.

Highlights of the match was the power play exuded by Central Province right inside Madhushani Jayanetti who in a brilliant display of stick work punched holes in the opponents defence to sound the boards four times at different stages of the game. Madhushani Jayanetti a product of St Anthony's Girls College, Kandy, now plays for Navy Sports Club.

The other two goals were scored by centre forward Chathurika Wijesuriya and Buddhika Gunaratne.

Both products of Seetha Devi Balika Vidyalaya and are members of Navy Sports Club.

Ajith Godigamuwa and Senaka Wijesinghe umpired. Southern Province finished third by defeating Uva Province 1-0 in the losers finals.

In the semi-finals Central Province trounced Uva Province 14-0 and Western Province beat Southern Province 3-0.

Only five teams namely Central Province, Western Province, Uva Province, Southern Province and Northern Province (Jaffna) participated in this National hockey championship. Last year 8 teams participated.

This follows a new rule that only those born in a particular province could represent that Province.

This made some of the teams strong using their own talent while others depending on players from other provinces could not field stronger teams.