Hockey: Colombo Red and Kandy Blue win 49th Inter-District Combined Schools title

Colombo Red and Kandy Blue won the 49th Inter-District Combined Schools Boys and Girls Hockey Championship respectively in the finals worked off at the Racecourse Astro Turf on Friday (1). 

Colombo Red came back strongly in the second half to defeat the defending champions Matale Gold 2-1 after Matale team led 1-0 at the short breather. 

Abudul Rahaman (42nd minute) and G Fabian (32nd minute) scored for the winner with Dhananjaya Bandara, who was adjudged the player of the tournament scored for the Matale team in the 17th minute. 

Charuka Madushanka was named the best goal keeper of the championships. 

In the semi-final Colombo Red beat Puttalam by 2-1 while Matale thrashed Gall team 4-0. 

Puttlam won the third place play off beating Galle 4-3 on penalty after both teams failed to score at full time. 

In the girls final Sandunika Devagiri (17th minute), Sohani Madurangi (27th minute) and Wathsala Nilmani (37th minute) scored a goal each to help Kandy Blue win the title 3-1 against Colombo Red. 

Anishka Gunasekera scored for the loser in the 21st minute. 

In the first semi-finals Colombo Red beat Kalutara 1-0 while Kandy beat Matale Gold 3-0 before Matale Gold beat Kalutara by 4-2 win the third place play-off. 

Wathsala Nilmini was named the player of the tournamnet while Tharushi Himani was adjudged best goal keeper of the tournament. 

A total of 11 boys teams and nine girls team competed.