Royal and Nawala Janadhipathy emerge Hockey champions
Colombo Royal College and Nawala Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya emerged All Island Schools Hockey champions respectively in the boys’ and girls’ competitions held at the Astro Turf in Colombo. The Ministry of Education conducted the competitions. Royal beat Nalanda 2-1 to be the boys’ champions while Janadhipathi Balika overcame Seetha Devi Balika Kandy 2-1 on penalty strokes to win the girls’ title. At full time the game was deadlocked at one all. In the boys’ semi-finals Royal beat Joseph Vaz Wennappuwa 5-4 on penalty strokes while Nalanda overcame Wijeya College Matale 4-1.
In the boys’ quarter-final round Royal edged through to a 6-5 win over St. Aloysius College Galle while Joseph Vaz gained a close 1-0 win over S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia. In the other quarter-finals Nalanda drubbed Dharmadutha Badulla 10-0 and Wijaya College Matale beat St. Thomas’ Matara 5-0. In the girls’ semi-finals Seetha Devi Balika gained a 6-2 win over Sri Summangala Balika Panadura and Janadhipathi Balika beat Jaffna College 6-0. In the quarters Sri Summangala Balika beat Kandy High School 1-0. Seetha Devi Balika beat Pandithierippu Balika Jaffna 1-0. Jaffna College received a walk-over and Janadhipathi Balika beat St. Anthony’s Kandy 1-0. - SP