Hockey: St. Aloysius Galle and St. Anthony’s Katugastota win Rajans 7s

St. Aloysius College Galle and St. Anthony's Girls School Katugastota lifted the boys and girls hockey titles at the 'Rajans Hockey 7s 2017' Invitation Schools 7s Hockey Tournament for boys and girls Under-19 played on a high note at the Bogambara Stadium in Kandy on November 11 and 12.
 
The two-day hockey fiesta in the hill capital organised and conducted by old Rajans Hockey Association of Dharmaraja College Kandy to mark the school's 130th anniversary (1887 - 2017) saw 48 teams (30 boys and 18 girls) representing leading hockey playing schools across the island taking part. 

For the first time in the history of schools hockey decision review system was introduced incorporating the latest video and ICT technology and also there was a live telecast. 

The tournament was played on three categories cup, plate and bowl with glittering trophies and medals donated by old Rajan Upul Singha Bandara, on offer for the winners. 

The tournament organising committee headed by Rasitha Abayakoon president of ORHA included Dinuka Samarasinghe Secretary ORHA, P.S. Weerasooriya, Aitha Herath, S.U. Bandara, Anushanga Ranaweera, Sampath Welagedra with Indrawansa Herath (senior hockey coach at Dharmaraja college) officiating as the tournament judge. 

Sri Lanka Telecom was the main sponsor of this tournament with Ritzbury CBL, Nestle Pvt and Champa Stores Pvt Kandy as co-sponsors Chinthaka Wijesooriya chief regional officer Sri Lanka Telecom graced the presentation ceremony as the chief guest. 

In the boy's closely contested final St. Aloysius college Galle beat Christ Church NS Matale 4 - 3 on penalties after the game ended one all draw at full time with Thiran Sashintha of St. Aloysius and Samapath Dissanayake of Christ Church sounding the boards once. 

On the way to the finals St. Aloysius beat Nalanda college Colombo 3 - 2 on penalties while Christ Church outplayed St. Thomas' Matale 3 - 2 in the respective semi finals. 

Sampath Dissanayake of Christ Church was named the boys best player while Pasindu Dismitha of St. Aloysius was the best goalkeeper. 

A solitary goal by Sandunika Dewagiri gave St. Anthony Girls Katugastota a thrilling 1 - 0 win over Panadura Balika college to annex the girls title.

St. Anthony's Girls and Panadura Balika made their way in to the finals with wins over Janadhipathi Balika Nawala 1 - 0 and Pushpadana girls Kandy 3 - 2 on penalties in the respective semi-finals St. Anthony's girls bagged both awards for the girls best player as well as goalkeeper. 

Best player Sandunika Dewagiri, Best goalkeeper Hansani Ellawala. 

Plate Championship 

Boys 
Champions: St. Joseph Vas College Wennappuwa 
Runners-up: Dharmadutha College Badulla 
Joseph Vas beat Dharmadutha 1 - 0 in the final 

Semi-finals: St. Joseph Vas beat Dharmaraja Kandy 1-0 and Dharmadutha beat Kingswood Kandy 3-2 on penalties. 

Girls 
Champions: Seetha Devi Girls Kandy 
Runners-up: Sri Sangamitta Girls NS Matale 
Seetha Devi beat Sangamitta NS 3-2 on penalties in the final 

Semi-finals: Seetha Devi beat Holy Family Convent Wennappuwa 3-0 and Sri Sangamitta Matale beat Mahamaya Kandy 3-2 on penalties.
 
Bowl Championship 

Boys 
Champions: Zahira College Matale 
Runners-up: Zahira College Mawanella 
Zahira Matale beat Zahira Mawanella 2-0 in the final 

Semi-finals 
Zahira Mawanella beat Ashoka Vidyalaya Colombo 4-0 and Zahira Matale beat Richmond Galle 2-0 

Girls 
Champions: Swarnamali Balika Kandy 
Runners-up: Vihara Mahadevi Balika Kandy 
Swarnamali Balika beat Vihara Mahadevi Balika 1-0 in the final 

Semi-finals: Swarnamali beat Gothami Girls 1-0 and Vihara Mahadevi Balika outplayed Rathnawali Balika Gampaha 1-0.