Royal strikers continue with their dominance

Defending champions Royal remained undefeated in the 11th Blue and Gold Hockey 7s defeating all the opponents in its group matches held at Royal College grounds in Reid Avenue yesterday.They won against Richmond College Galle by 4 goals to one in the opening game of the two-day annual event, with the centre forward Imadh Dole opening the score at the second minute of the match. Right half Malith Rasanga added another goal just before the half time.

Richmond fought back to score a goal in the eighth minute of the game through Janaka Lakmal, but Royal’s Imadh and left inside Shaheer Bari scored a goal each within a minute gap to win the game in favour of the host.

Royal, in search of their fourth successive champions title in the tournament, went on to win in group A against St. Joseph College Colombo by 2-0 (Imadh-1, Shaheer-1), Sri Sumangala College Panadura by 1-0 (Imadh-1) and much fancied Kingswood College, Kandy by 3-0 (Shali-

PRE-QUARTERFINAL

SCHEDULE:

Sirimavo vs Southlands Galle, Sangamitta Matale vs Sri Sumangala Panadura, Pushpadana Kandy vs St. Anthony’s Kandy, Ladies College vs Christ Church Matale, Musaeus vs Sangamitta Galle, Janadhipathi Nawala vs Girls High School Kandy, Seethadevi Kandy vs Gothami Balika Colombo, Bishops vs Visakha.

Ananda vs Sri Sumangala Panadura, Christ Church Matale vs D.S. Senanayake Colombo, Royal vs Prince of Wales Moratuwa, Wesley vs St. Aloysious Galle, Vijaya College Matale, vs St. Peters College Colombo, Zahira Matale vs St. Benedicts, St. Thomas College Matale vs St. Sylvester’s Kandy, Nalanda vs Joseph Vaz Wennappuwa. tha Jayawardene 1, Shaheer 1, Malith 1). Royal will play against Price of Wales’, Moratuwa in the pre-quarter final today.

In the girl’s category, defending champions Pushpadana Girls College Kandy, which drew its only group match against Southlands College Galle, edged up to become the group champions through winning penalty strokes by 3-1. They will play against their fellow school from Kandy, St. Anthony’s College in their pre-quarter finals.

The event, sponsored by Singer Sri Lanka for the 11th year, saw the participation of 54 teams in both boys and girls categories from all the main hockey playing schools across the country. Losers in the pre-quarterfinals in the both boys and girls categories will proceed to bowl championship and the losers in the quarterfinals will vie for plate championship. Semi-finalists will proceed for cup championship.

The cup winners from both girls and boys categories will get a sponsorship package from the main sponsors Singer Sri Lanka and the top players will be rewarded with scholarships by the co-sponsor E-SOFT Metro Campus to pursue their academic career. The second day games will be telecasted live in Carlton Sports Network.