Bishops sound the board to emerge winners
A Bishopian player advances forward
Bishops College emerged overall champions with a 1-0 victory over Ladies College at the 13th Ladies-Bishops Annual Hockey encounter played at the Astro Turf, Torrington Square yesterday.
Weather gods were kind enough to making way for this clash between two powerhouses in the schools’ hockey arena senior teams to show their prowess. Ladies College has been able to grab the championship on seven occasions, whereas Bishop’s College took their tally for four wins with this year’s victory. In 2010 and 2014 both schools were declared joint winners.
Bishops College occupied most of the first half in the Ladies D area making the Ladies defenders and goal keeper busy. Their forwards failed to make the opportunities due to lack of good positioning. On the other hand Ladies stickers failed to match the Bishops speed which resulted Ladies lasses failing to make any moves towards the Bishops goal area. Bishops received four short penalties within the first ten minutes of play but failed to sound the board. First half ended without scoring.
In the second half too Bishops kept on invading the Ladies D area without any success. Midway in the second half Ladies College broke through on two occasions but lost their way in front of the goal for injudicious passing. Bishops players exhibiting their desire to win this all important event engaged to a fast pass and play tactics.
In the dying stages of the game Bishops were awarded a short corner and a well positioned forward Shamindri Perera with a full blooded drive beat the Ladies custodian to seal their victory.
Ayindhie Alles (Bishops) was adjudged the Best Attacker while Nihinsa Vidanapathirana (Ladies) and Tenuki Samaranayake (Bishops) were selected the Best Defender and Best Goal-keeper respectively.
D. Jayasena and M.J.M. Naushad controlled the game.
In the under 17 clash, Bishops juniors scored a 1-0 win to emerge winners. The winning goal was scored by Devthilini Fernando.
In this game; Anjali Mahinkanda (Bishops) -Best Attacker, Kiandra Benjamin (Ladies)-Best Defender and Tenuki Samaranayake (Bishops)-Best Goal-keeper were recognised.
The victorious Bishops stickers - Pix by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi