Defence Services continue winning streak

S M Jiffry Abdeen Kandy Sports Corr

Defence Services continued their amazing run of unbeaten streak in the Men's Senior Hockey Nationals when they beat Matale Hockey Association by two goals to nil to annexe the title for the 16th successive year in the championship organized by the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation and played at the Maliyadeva College grounds, Kurunegala. At half time Defence Services led 1-0.

Defence Services Hockey Association in winning the championship title for 16 years have also shared four of them with the other teams.

This was also the first time that the senior Hockey Nationals for men had been held in Kurunegala which drew a lot of spectator interest.

The opening ceremony was graced by the Minister of Environment Anura Priyadharshana Yapa.

A total of 12 teams participated in this hockey nationals and Kegalle Hockey with hardly any hockey in the area made a surprise entry into the semi finals and they lost Matale HA 2-0. But they did not go home without a trophy as they won the consolation finals by defeating the strong Colombo Hockey Association 3-2 in a creditable performance.

This was also the first time the stickers from Kegalle had won medals in a hockey tournament.

This augurs well for the future of the game in the Kegalle District.

The finals turned out to be a well contested battle but the Defence Services HA displayed better stick work to rattle the Matale teams.

Defence Services scored their goals through left inside Shanaka Nandalochana and Centre forward M N Mulaffer.

Anuruddha Herath Bandara and M J N Nowshad umpired.

In the semi-finals, Matale HA beat Kegalle HA 2-0 and Defence Services HA beat Colombo HA 2-0.

Susantha de Silva of SS Shipping Lines was the Chief Guest at the Awards ceremony.