Colombo boys go ‘red’ with the Matale lasses

By L.D. Chandrasiri in Matale

School Hockey Nationals 2014

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Colombo ‘Reds’ and Matale lifted the boys and girls hockey titles respectively at the School Hockey Nationals 2014, conducted as the Inter-District Combined Schools Under-19 Boys and Girls Hockey Tournament, at the Astro turf in Matale.

Girls champions – Matale

Colombo Reds came out victorious with 1-0 win over fancied Matale Golds, the reigning champions for the last 15 years, while Matale girls got the better of Colombo Reds by 1-0.

In the closely contested boys final, after a scoreless first half, in the 39th minute of play centre forward Budaraka Edirisinghe made his way through a tight cordon of Matale defence to slam in the deciding goal to give his side 1-0 win and the title. N. Paraneetharan and D.G.J. Prakash controlled the final.

In the semi-finals Colombo Reds beat Colombo Blues 2-1 and Matale Gold beat Matale Maroons 3-2. In the decider for the boys third place played between losing finalists, Colombo Blues powered by a goal each from Ruwan Lakmal and Suraj Ranatunga beat Matale Maroons 2-0. Colombo Reds’ Budaraka Edirisinghe was adjudged the best player while his team-mate Gautham Ramdas won the best goalkeeper’s award.

In the girls finale left extreme Sachithra Ratnasiri powered Matale combined girls to wrap up the title with a thrilling 1-0 win over

Boys champions – Colombo Reds

Colombo Reds in the final after a goalless first session. Matale broke the stalemate in the closing stages of the game when Sachithra sounded the boards to give 1-0 win. Sanath Jayasinghe and Bernard Sathiskumar controlled the final.

In the semi-finals Matale beat Kandy Blues 3-2 and Colombo Red beat Kandy White 1-0 to reach the final. Kandy Blues had the consolation of winning the third place playoff defeating Kandy Whites 1-0 after Anjali Upekha netted the winning goal. Player of the final Sachithra Ratnasiri of the victorious Matale team was adjudged the best player. Lakshika Kodituwakku of the losing Colombo Reds was named the best goalkeeper.

The three-day contest conducted by Sri Lanka Schools Hockey Association together with Matale Schools Hockey Committee attracted eight boy’s team and six girls teams from Colombo, Kandy Matale, Badulla and Wennappuwa.

Girls runners-up – Colombo Reds	Girls 2nd runners-up – Kandy Blues
Boy’s final in progress	Girl’s final in progress
Matale Gold captain N. Wilwalarachchi receiving the Trophy for the Boys’ runner-up from Y.M. Kumarihamy Principal Sri Sangamitta G.N.S. Matale	Colombo Reds captain Isanka Sewwandi receiving the Girls runner-up Trophy from Chandrakanthi Karunanayake President SLSHA and Principal Seetha Devi Girls Kandy
Colombo Reds captain Budaraka Edirisinghe receiving the Boy’s Championship Trophy from the Chief Guest Sumith Edirisinghe	Matale Captain Navanjana Ekanayake receiving the Girl’s Championship Trophy from the Chief Guest Sumith Edirisinghe (President of SLHF)