STC Matale and Janadhipathi BV all-island hockey champs

St. Thomas’ College, Matale and Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo lifted the Under 19 boys’ and girls’ titles at the All-Island Inter-Schools Hockey Championship, organized by the Sri Lanka Schools Hockey Association in partnership with the Jaffna District Schools Hockey Association.

The finals of both segments were played in front of a capacity crowd at the Bicknell Grounds in Jaffna College, Vaddukoddai.

In the boys’ finals, St. Thomas’ overcame St. Sylvester’s, Kandy by a nail-biting 1-0. The winning goal came during the dying moments of the game when N. K. Wilwalaarachchi, the ever-agile center forward, collected a pass from the left flank, cut across a cordon of defenders to score a peach of a goal, to the applause of the appreciative crowd. Wesley College, Colombo secured the second runners-up berth.

In the girls’ finals Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo had an easy 2-0 victory over Sri Sangamitta Balika Vidyalaya, Matale after leading them 1-0 at the breather. Sandali Dilhara and Thisari Sachinkala scored goals for the winners. Seethadevi Balika Vidyalaya clinched the second runners-up trophy.

Special awards in the boys’ category were awarded to Sanaka Sathuruwa of St. Sylvester’s College (Best Goalkeeper) and N. K. Wilwalaarachchi of St. Thomas’ College, Matale (Man of the Match). In the girls’ division Rekmini Packckiyakodiththuwakku of Sangamitta B. V (Best Goalkeeper) and Sathuri Umesha of Janadhipathi B. V (Best Player of the Match) clinched the individual trophies. The awards were presented by the Chief Guest Indu Karunathilaka, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jaffna. .- Sam Hensman, Jaffna.