Ladies wins 14th annual hockey encounter against Bishops
The Ladies-Bishops Hockey Shield found shelter at Flower Road after two years when the Red and White jerseyed lasses won their 14th annual encounter against Bishops College at the Astro Turf, Colombo 7 last Saturday. As the main Under-19 encounter ended a 0-0 draw but the Under-17 victory by Ladies College made them to carry away the shield as champs.
The main encounter got off with both sides looking evenly balanced. The ball moved along the turf exhibiting each other’s strength. Bishops who had the main share of possession but fail to put the finishing touches. Their vice captain and defender Sunda Azmy made several attempts at the Bishops goal without any success. The half time ended with the scoreboard showing 0-0.
In the second half too as both sides adopting a run and pass game but both sides lacked to put the finishing touches. Bishop’s were deprived in scoring by the Ladies goal-keeper Sahithri Paranamanage who made some excellent saves. Upto the last minute in the 2nd half Ladies and Bishops attackers kept on invading each others goal area failing to sound the board as the defence lines played a major role. The final whistle blew with the score standing 0-0.
The game that sealed the deal for Ladies was the Under 17 game. Ladies College snatched the game 2-0 making way for the shield to Flower Road. The first half of the game was a tight battle between Bishops and Ladies. Here too the defence lines were outstanding depriving any opportunities of scoring ending the first half 0-0.
Ladies’ College took the field in the second half with a different game plan which paid dividends when in the 25th minute star center half Sulani De Silva sounded the board to give its supporters a new life. Again she stuck in the 28th minute to give the Flower Road school a hard fought 2-0 victory.
– Lakshman Ranasinghe;
Pix by Ranjith Perera