21st Schools, Netball Championships 2012:

Jaffna girls enter quarter finals

Yasaratne Gamage - Reporting from Polonnaruwa

‘A’ division quarter finalists

Under 12
Vihara Maha Devi BMV, Musaues College-Colombo, Eppawala Sri Siddhartha MV, Kalutara BV, Visaka Vidyalaya-Colombo, Pannala National School, Mahanaga MMV-Ranwala, HFC Kurunegala.

Under 14
Sri Siddharta MV Eppawala, Dharmapala V- Pannipitiya, Holy Cross-Gampaha, Kalutara BV, Ananda Balika-Colombo, Vihara Mahadevi-Kiribathgoda, Ave Maria-Negambo, HFC-Kurunegala;

Under 16
Vihara Mahadevi, Musaeus College, Eppawala Sri Siddhartha MV, Kalutara BV, Visaka Vidyalaya- Colombo, Pannala National School, Mahanaga MV- Ratnapura, HFC-Kurunegala

Under 18
Musaues College, Prajapathi Gothami MV, Union College-Jaffna, Kalutara BV, Girls High School- Kandy, Newsted BV-Negambo, Sacred Heart Convent-Galle, HFC-Kurunegala.

The quarter finals, semi finals and the finals of the 21st Schools Netball Championships 2012 continues for the third day here at the Kaduruwela National Stadium, Polonnaruw with 32 teams in A division vying for supremacy in under 12, 14,16 and 18 age categories.

Yesterday highlight was that brilliant display of netball from the lasses from Union College, Jaffna who defeated Dankotuwa BMV by 25-5 in under 18 third round to enter quarterfinals.

Eppawala Sri Siddhartha MV also kept hopes alive for the final day when their under 12 and 14 teams entered the quarterfinals. They defeated more experienced Holy Family Convent B team by 11-5 in under 14 match while their under 12 lasses beat Ave Maria Convent by 6-4.

Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala entered the quarter finals in all age groups while Kalutara MV under 12,14 and 16 teams secured places for the matches today. Visaka Vidyalaya, Colombo under 12 and 16 teams are also among the quarter finalists.

The finals of B division under 14, and 18 and semi finals of under 16 also commences today.

In under 12, Mahara Primary School win the fist semi final against Polwatta MV, Ampara by 12-5. They are to battle with the winner in the second semi final between Buduruwagala MV and Bauddha MV, Gampola.

Mallehewa MV under 18 girls qualified for the finals when they defeated Erathna MV, Ratnapura by 22-9 at the first semi final yesterday.

They will meet Dehigahalanda MV who secured their place in the final by defeating Kawdulla MV by 22-10 in the second semi final.

It is note-worthy that many schools from the rural areas have been undefeated until quarter final stages in many age categories which is a good omen for the future of Sri Lankan netball. It is the responsibility of the SLSNA and the Education Ministry to provide more facilities to these upcoming schools.