Royal record hat-trick as Pushpadana defend title
Royal captain Shahid Kuthubdeen receives the Blue & Gold Hockey 7s trophy form Asoka Pieris (CEO of Singer).
Royal emerged unbeaten winners for the third successive year beating Vijaya College Matale in the final 2-1 while Pushpadana Girls College, Kandy beat much fancied Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya to defend their title at the 11th Blue and Gold Hockey Sevens held at the Royal College Hockey grounds last Sunday.
Royal skipper Shahid Kuthubdeen scored the goal via the first penalty corner his team got in the second minute of the first half and led by 1-0 at the lemons. However, Vijaya College came back strongly to with a spectacular under cut goal from Sajith Costa in the fifth minute of the second half to level the score. Just before the end of second half, Kuthubdeen revenged the opponents with the same under-cut style goal to win the match by 2-1. Royal, coached by Sri Lanka women’s national coach Rohan Dissanayake, has won the Blue and Gold Hockey sevens since 2010.
Royal captain Kuthubdeen was adjudged player of the tournament while Vijaya goal keeper Dharatha Tenne was adjudged the best goal keeper in the boys’ category.
On their way to final, Royal beat St. Thomas, Matale by 2-0 and defeated Maris Stella, Negombo by 3-0. The defending champions drew with Christ Church, Matale in the pre-quarterfinal before winning the match by 3-2 through penalty strokes.
Pushpadana skipper Chathurika Ekanayake receiving the trophy form Dayan Rajapakse (MD/CEO of ESoft Computer Studies)
Vijaya beat Ananda by 3-0 in the pre-quarterfinal, Trinity 4-0 in the quarterfinal and Wesley by a solitary goal in the semi final. Wesley College bagged third place in the boy’s Cup category beating St. Thomas Matale by 3-1 through penalties after a scoreless draw.
In the boy’s Plate final, Nalanda College beat Vidyartha College Kandy by a solitary goal, while Zahira College Matale won the Bowl championship, edging out their home town rivals Christ Church College through penalties after a nil-all draw.
In the girl’s category, a hat-trick by left wing Jeewanthi Jayarathne helped defending champions Pushpadana Girls College, Kandy to beat the much fancied Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya in the Cup final. Centre forward Chathurika Ekanayake drew first blood in the second minute of the one-sided first half to score the first goal for Pushpadana before Jeewanthi’s hat-trick. The Kandy team was leading by
The winning Royal team with U.D.C. Rathnakumara (teacher-in-charge), Rohan Dissanayake (coach), Nadith Kudagama (Secretary, RCHC), Upali Gunasekara (Principal, Royal College), Asoka Pieris (CEO of Singer) and Dayan Rajapakse (MD/CEO, ESoft Computer Studies).
4-0 at the half time. In the second half, Janadhipathi’s captain Anaka Borham scored from a penalty corner.
Jeewanthi was adjudged player of the tournament while Pushpadana’s Nimanthika Dikkumbura was selected as the best goalkeeper in the girl’s category. Pushpadana, playing in the second straight final, beat Viharamahadevi Vidyalaya by 4-0 in the pre-quarterfinal, Bishop’s College 4-1 in the quarterfinal and Seethadevi Balika Vidyalaya 2-1 in the semi-finals.
In the play off for the third place, Seethadevi won against Panadura Balika Vidyalaya by a solitary goal. In the girl’s Plate championship, Sri Sangamitta Girls’ School, Matale beat Gothami Balika Vidyalaya by a solitary goal. In the Bowl championship, Musaeus College won against St. Anthony’s Girls’ School 1-0.
The tournament was organised by the Royal College Hockey Club and sponsored by Singer Sri Lanka for the 10th consecutive year while Esoft Computer Studies was the co-sponsor for this year’s event.
Royal skipper Kuthubdeen dribbles to pass the ball to a forward against Mahinda College in the first match of the tournament
The victorious Pushpadana team
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