Matale retain CP hockey crown

S M Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Corr

Matale District retained the Central Province men's hockey championship title when they trounced Kandy District 5-1 in the finals of the inter-district hockey championship organized by the Sports Ministry of the Central Province and played at the Nandamithra Ekanayake International Hockey Stadium, Matale. At the breather Matale District led 2-0. The Matale District team fielded a star studded side which had a number of former and present national players.

Kandy District on the other hand fielded a young side who could not match the experience and skills of their opponents.

Matale District made their intentions clear from the start when they notched up two goals in the first half through centre forward A Welagedera. This made it difficult for the Kandy team to stage fight back.

The second half saw Matale District extend their lead to 3-0 through a fine goal by former national hockey captain Dhammika Abeyratne who dribbled past two defenders to sound the boards. Kandy District came into the game lately when they pressed hard and centre forward B M C Abeyratne scored to reduced the lead to 1-3.

But the Matale stickers did not allow their opponents to get on top and went for the kill. They scored two more goals through national plays left inside P N Cramer and right extreme D T Panditharatne to complete a comprehensive victory.

S N Jayasinghe and Roshan Hemantha umpired.