Christ Church Matale bag AJ Wijesingha Trophy for third time in 4 years
Reigning champions Christ Church College Matale retained the AJ Wijesingha Memorial Challenge Trophy when they beat Maris Stella College Negombo, 2-1, in the final at the 3rd Singer-Matale Thomians Invitation Schools Hockey 7s 2017 for Boys Under (U)-19, concluded at Edward Park Hockey Ground in Matale.
Ashan Bandara, Captain of Christ Church College receiving the A. J. Wijesingha memorial challenge trophy for the champions from the chief guest Ranjith Aluvihare MP for Matale district. Others in the picture are from left - Mahinda Amunugama(VP M.O.T.H.A), P. Vasudewan (President M.O.T.H.A), Eric Hulangamuwa (Sec. M.O.T.H.A), Mahesh Rathnam (business development manager Singer Sri Lanka), K.J.A. Kulasooriya (Principal St. Thomas' Matale), Indrawansha Herath (Tournament director).
This 1-Day annual Hockey fiesta organised by the Matale Old Thomians Hockey Association (MOTHA) and sponsored by Singer Sri Lanka PLC, saw 21 teams islandwide. The closely contested final ended 1-1 at full time, with Ashen Bandara of Christ Church and Ahamed Aaquil of Maris Stella Negombo sounding the boards once, sending game into extra time, when L.M. Perera of Christ Church dribbled his way through the Maris Stella defense to slam in the winning goal to seal victory at 2-1.
The Christ Church lads have been a dominant force in the MOTHA Hockey 7s since its inception in 2014, by qualifying for the finals on all the 3 occasions and winning the title twice as joint champions with Vijaya College in 2014 and with Joseph Vas in 2016, and now champions in 2017.
In the semifinals Christ Church beat St. Aloysius Galle 2-1, while Maris Stella outplayed Dharmadutha College Badulla 4-3 on penalties.
St. Aloysius Galle won the 3rd place playoff beating Dharmadutha Badulla 2-1.
Ashen Bandara of Christ Church Matale was adjudged Best Player of the Tournament, while Randima Kurera of Maris Stella Negombo was adjudged Best Goalkeeper. S.B. Dissanayake of St. Thomas’ Matale won Best Up-and-Coming Player.
Matale MP Ranjith Aluvihare was the Chief Guest with Singer
Sri Lanka Business Development Manager- Mahesh Ratnam, as Guest of Honour.