Hockey: Good fare expected at MOTHA

Twenty seven teams representing leading hockey playing schools across the island will vie for honours at the 4th edition of 'Thomians Sevens 2018' - Invitation Schools 7-a-side Hockey Tournament for boys U/20 which is scheduled to be held on  June 3rd at Edward Park hockey ground in Matale.
 
This much look forward to hockey fiesta in the city of Matale - cradle of hockey - organised and conducted by Matale Old Thomians Hockey Association (MOTHA) with Singer Sri Lanka PLC and Peoples Bank as the main sponsors will be played for A.J. Wijesinghe memorial challenge trophy. 

Diana Biscuits Company Matale is the co-sponsor while Siyatha TV and Siyatha FM are the media partners. 

The secretary of MOTHA, Eric Hulangamuwa said that the one day tournament is intended to achieve a new level of participation by leading hockey playing schools in the island and also to give tremendous boost to domestic hockey what it was in Matale. 

The tournament will be worked off on a league cum knock out format with a high standard of hockey on show. 

In addition to the coveted A.J. Wijesinghe memorial challenge trophy for the champions, the first runner-up is entitled to receive A.P.B. Harasgama Memorial Challenge Trophy while the second runner-up will take away the C.K. Hulangamuwa Memorial Challenge Trophy. 

The following trophies are on offer for the best individual performances 

Player of the Tournament - Ranjith Wijekoon Challenge Trophy 

Best Goalkeeper - M. Maheshrathnam Challenge Trophy 

Up and coming player - Dampiya Wanasinghe Challenge Trophy 

The teams that are participating in the tournament are (from Colombo) - Royal , S. Thomas' Mt. Lavinia, Ananda, Nalanda , Wesley, D.S. Senanayake MV, St. Benedicts, St. Peter's and Prince of Wales Moratuwa; (from Matale) St. Thomas, Vijaya, Zahira, Christ Church and Sirimavo Bandaranayake MV; (from Kandy) Trinity, Dharmaraja, Kingswood and St. Sylvester's (from Jaffna) Jaffna Central and St. John's;  (from Galle) St. Aloysius and Mahinda.
 
Maris Stella Negombo, St. Joseph Vaz Wennappuwa, Dharmadutha Badulla, Bandaranayake MV Gampaha and St. Thomas' boys from Matara. Reigning champions Christ Church College Matale leads the Thomian 7s series 3-0 since its inception in 2014 by qualifying for the finals on all three occasions and winning the title twice as joint champions with Vijaya in 2014 and with Joseph Vaz in 2016 and then as champions last year, Christ Church beat Maris Stella Negombo 1-0 in the final. 

St. Aloysius Galle secured the third place.