Colombo Schools Reds took on the Kandy Blues in a game that ended in a one all draw at the Inter School Girls Hockey Nationals organized by the Sri Lanka Schools Hockey Association which was concluded Sunday evening at The Colombo Astro Turf. The Kandy team a bigger improvement from year scored the first goal of the match after a scoreless first half.
The first half of the game was played in an exciting manner where Colombo Reds made many attempts to score but remained deprived. Nevertheless it was disappointing for the Colombo fans as the Reds were unable to give out half of what they did in last year’s tournament.
Colombo Reds kicked off the match and were in the attacking mode in the entire first half but was powerless to strike in the D top as the Kandy girls were outstanding in protecting their goalmouth. Even though the Colombo Reds’ Sandali Dilhara made so many attempts to score goals, she was unable to do so even after receiving two penalty corners one after the other. It was a close game for Kandy when they received their first and final penalty corner for the first half where they almost converted it into a goal but miscarried without using intelligent tactic.
Half Time – Colombo Reds 00 Kandy Blues 00
The second half was re-started by the Kandy Blues and played in a fashion of having understood the game plan after the 10 minute break, because Kandy composure was visible throughout the second half. The first penalty received in the second half by the Kandy Blues was not put to goal but soon after, on a mistake made by the defense line of Colombo Reds, they successfully converted to a goal. Sasenka Paranagama was the lass who made the first attempt to save the name of the team.
Next quarter of the match was a lackadaisical period for the Colombo Red and were lucky to equalize and save face under the gaze of their home fans. After their second penalty of the match, Colombo’s Sandali Dilhara went on to score a goal. Colombo in showing off their utmost power suddenly engaged in a breakout where they managed not to lose the ball from their site. .
Then was the time that both the teams performed equally well to win the title. Colombo team was the one that could be considered as the team that had so many chances and missed out.
After a devastating game of hockey, the committee decided to call it an end and made the teams become the joint champions of the day. The committee of the tournament were in two minds if to give extra minutes for the team to play or to call it a join championship. The matter was settled differently as when the Colombo Reds got back on the field to play the extra time, Kandy were refused to stepped in, an after a long destruction of wasted time, the referees blew off the whistle and made the teams joint champions of the Sri Lanka Schools Nationals 2015.
Matale Golds lifts the Schools Nationals Boys title
After a long delay to kick off the match, the referees blew the whistle for the Colombo Reds to take on the Matale Golds to start the boys category final match in dying light at the AstroTurf Reid Avenue.
The initial half of the match seemed to be played on an equal scale with both the teams showing similar prowess in both attack and defense. The boys match was a close game of speed and power in comparison to the girls final.
Few minutes after the start of the match B.D. Madushan from Matale Golds scored the first goal after missing a meek penalty corner. Colombo boys’ attempt in covering their D top was effective at the early stages as the game, but as the game progressed they couldn’t compete with the skills used by the Matale stickers. Even though the Colombo Reds team received a penalty corner, they were unable to convert it into a goal and the scoreboard read 01-00 at the breather in favor of Matale Golds.
To the astonishment of the Colombo Reds, D.L. Bandara from Matale Golds scored an easy goal just after the start of second half. With that incentive the Colombo team was also inspired to score their first and final goal for the evening by V. Udayanga.
Since the Matale Golds showed superiority, the Colombo lads had to retain a slower play with a defensive game to avoid the strong attacking lines of Matale. It is an unquestionable fact that the best stickers are from Matale and the town of Matale is the place best known for Hockey. They clearly proved their reputation when they came up with two more goals to wind up the match and carry the cup back to Matale. B.D. Madushan and J.D. Dharmasena scored goals consecutively to be the most outstanding players of the evening by totaling the scoreboard 05-01.
Last year Colombo Reds boys team and Matale Golds girls team carried top honors at the Sri Lanka Schools Nationals played over at Nandimithra Ekanayake Astro Turf, Matale.
