HNB stickers stamp their class to win Triple Crown
View(s):Hatton National Bank ‘A’ dominated the 39th Annual Mercantile Hockey Association’s Seven-a-Side, League and Knock-out Sevens tournaments to win the Triple Crown at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium last Sunday. HNB ‘A’ winning the Triple Crown for the 4th year in succession proved their capabilities by remaining unbeaten throughout the tourney. Displaying a high quality hockey with fast and clean stick work the bank men won the ‘A’ Division Sevens, the Knockout and the League in fashion, giving the opposition a hard time in curtailing the fast rampaging HNB attackers away from their goal areas.
HNB retained the triple championship for the fourth year running
Superb exhibition of stick work by Nuwan Mahara and Upul Fernando paved way for the bankers to dominate the tournament thus making a clean sweep winning championships in all three segments. On their way to win the Sevens HNB defeated Singer Sri Lanka 3-0 with Nuwan Mahara (2 goals) and Damith Bandara (1 goal), held Commercial Bank to a 0-0 draw and finally beat Sampath Bank 2-1 with Upul Fernando and Nuwan Mahara scoring one goal each. Meeting Commercial Bank in the final HNB scored a thrilling 1-0 victory with again Upul Fernando sounding the board once to be crowned winners.
In the League, HNB ‘A’ went on a goal scoring spree to beat Singer 10-0, Sampath Bank 6-2 and Commercial Bank 2-1.
Upul Fernando and Nuwan Mahara of HNB ‘A’ were adjudged the Best ‘A’ Division Player and Most Valuable Player respectively for their outstanding performances throughout the tournament.
26 teams participated in five separate Divisions when the cream of Sri Lankan stickers displayed their skills to bring honour to their respective establishments. Champions HNB were represented by Sandun Attygala (Captain), Amila Perera (Goal Keeper), R.T. Wickremasinghe, Indika Hewawasam, Saman Venderland, Udesh Silva, Tilina Perera, Damith Bandara, Nuwan Mahara, Upul Danushka, Bishanth Walgama, M. Saheed, Charitha Senanayake and Charka Wickremage. -LR
Results:
Seven-a-Side
‘A’ Division – Champions: Hatton National Bank ‘A’ (awarded the Dennis De Rosayro Trophy); Runner-up: Commercial Bank ‘A’ (awarded the Mercantile HA Trophy); ‘B’ Division – Champions: AIA Insurance (awarded the Singer Trophy); ‘C’ Division – Champions: Hayleys Ltd. (awarded Lifebuoy Trophy); ‘D’ Division – Champions: Airport and Aviation Services (awarded the Edmund J. Cooray Trophy); ‘E’ Division – Champions: John Keells (awarded the Ceylon Cold Stores Trophy)
League
‘A’ Division – Champions: HNB ‘A’ (awarded the Singer Trophy); ‘B’ Division – Champions: Commercial Bank ‘B’ (awarded the Acuity Stock Brokers Trophy); ‘C’ Division – Champions: MAS (awarded the Phoenix Trophy); ‘D’ Division – Champions: Airport and Aviation Services (awarded the John Keells Trophy)
Knockout
‘A’ Division – Champions: HNB ‘A’ (awarded the Hatna Trophy); ‘B’ Division – Champions: Commercial Bank ‘B’ (awarded the MHA Trophy); ‘C’ Division – Champions: MAS (awarded the Commercial Bank Trophy)
Best Player award winners: ‘A’ Division: Upul Fernando (HNB ‘A’), ‘B’ Division: Gehan Peiris (AIA), ‘C’ Division: T. Waruna (Hayleys), ‘D’ Division: D.A.S. Dilshan (Airport and Aviation Services) ‘E’ Division: A. Shahin (John Keells)
Most Valuable Player of the Tournament: Nuwan Mahara (HNB ‘A’
Dennis De Rosayro Fair Play Trophy – Sampath Bank