HFC Wennappuwa & STC Matale crowned Blue & Gold Hockey champs

After some scintillating Hockey action, Holy Family Girls’ School (HFC), Wennappuwa and St. Thomas’ College, Matale were crowned champions of the 19th ESOFT Blue and Gold Hockey 7s, which was organised by Royal College and Royal College Hockey Union (RCHU). It was a 2-day tournament held at Royal College Main Grounds.

HFC, Wennappuwa beat Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya (JBV), Nawala 1-0 in the Girls’ Final. Hailing from the Hockey-crazy city of Matale, the Thomians beat Kingswood College, Kandy 3-0, showing their sheer brilliance.

A record 68 (25 Girls’ and 43 Boys’) teams from across all parts of the island took part in this year’s edition, where 150 games were played on 3 courts at Reid Avenue. The tournament, which started in 1992 as a 1-day event with only 16 top Hockey-playing Boys’ schools, has today become the most sought-after Hockey tourney in Sri Lanka, where many unheard schools have been given splendid opportunities to showcase their talent to the whole country and the world, with ThePapare partnering with this annual event as official Broadcast Partner.

Here are some interesting stats and trivia:

• STC Matale beat Kingswood 1-0 in the Central Province Hockey finals held recently.
• Last year, Kingswood were National Schools Champions.
• The Matale Thomians were finalists last year as well, and lost to St. Joseph’s College, Colombo.
• HFC Wennappuwa made history as they won back-to-back titles (Girls’) for the first time in their history at the Blue & Gold 7s.
• Thomas’ College, Matale last won the (Blue & Gold) title in 2016.
• JBV, Nawala last won the Blue & Gold crown in 2013.
• Kingswood won their maiden title in 2006 (18 years ago) and finished third in 2009.
• HFC beat Ladies’ College last year in the Finals, and beat them again in this year’s Semis.
• Joseph’s College, champions from 2023, finished in 4^thplace.

Road to the Grand Final:

Holy Family Girls’ School, Wennappuwa had a thumping 3-0 victory against Ladies’ College in the Semi Final, with their Skipper Ishara Fernando scoring a hat-trick. Ishara is also a Sri Lanka National Hockey Prodigy.

STC Matale beat St. Aloysius’ College, Galle 3-0 in the Semi Final.

Results (Finals) – 19th ESOFT Blue & Gold Hockey 7s

Cup Girls’ – HFC, Wennappuwa 1-0 beat Janadhipathi Balika, Nawala

Cup Boys’ – St. Thomas’ College, Matale 3-0 beat Kingswood College

Cup 3rd Girls’ – Ladies’ College beat 1-0 Girls’ High School, Kandy

Cup 3rd Boys’ – St. Aloysius’ College, Galle beat 1-0 St. Joseph’s College, Colombo

Plate Final Girls’ – Musaeus College beat 1-0 Southlands College, Galle (penalties)

Plate 3rd – Christ Church College, Matale beat 1-0 St. Anthony’s Girls’ College, Kandy

Plate Final Boys’ – Vidyartha College, Kandy beat 2-0 Royal College (Golds)

Plate 3rd – Vijaya College, Matale beat 3-2 Jaffna College, Vaddukoddai

Bowl Final Girls’ – Swarnamali Girls’ College, Kandy beat 1-0 Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya, Galle

Bowl  3rd  – Seethadevi Girls’ College , Kandy beat 3-0 Viharamadevi Balika Vidyalaya, Badulla

Bowl Final Boys’ – Prince of Wales’ College beat 2-1 Moratuwa beat St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy

Bowl  3rd  – S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia beat 2-1 Dharmaraja College, Kandy

Here are the top individual performers of the 19th ESOFT Blue & Gold Hockey 7s.

🛑 Girls’ Category:

Best Player

Nipuni Ishara Fernando – Holy Family Girls School – Wennappuwa

Best Goalkeeper

Chamodi Sathsarani – Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya Nawala

🛑 Boys’ Category:

Best Player

Nethmina Dharmakeerthi – St. Thomas’ College, Matale

Best Goalkeeper

Abhisheka Gamagedara – St. Thomas’ College, Matale 

Final Standings – 19th Blue & Gold Hockey 7s 2024

Girls:

Cup Champions: Holy Family Girls’ School, Wennappuwa

1^st Runner-up: Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya, Nawala

2^nd Runner-up: Ladies’ College, Colombo

4^th Place: Girls’ High School, Kandy

Plate Champions: Musaeus College, Colombo

1^st Runner-up: Southlands College, Galle

2^nd Runner-up: Christchurch College, Matale

Bowl Champions: Swarnamali Girls’ College, Kandy

1^st Runner-up: Seethadevi Girls’ College, Kandy

2^nd Runner-up: Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya, Galle

Boys:

Cup Champions: St. Thomas’ College, Matale

1^st Runner-up:  Kingswood College, Kandy

2^nd Runner-up: St. Aloysius’ College, Galle

4^th Place: St. Joseph’s College, Colombo

Plate Champions: Vidyartha College, Kandy

1^st Runner-up: Royal College, Colombo – Golds

2^nd Runner-up: Vijaya College, Matale

Bowl Champions: Prince of Wales’ College, Moratuwa

1^st Runner-up: St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy

2^nd Runner-up: S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia

Photos – Blue & Gold Hockey Sevens 2024 – Day 02