Netball: Seylan pip HNB to win Inter-Company title

In a scintillating game of netball Seylan Bank scored a narrow 28-27 win over Hatton National Bank to emerge champions at the SriLankaSports.com Inter Company Netball Championship worked-off at the St. Joseph’s College Courts on Saturday (17).   The game got-off to speedy start as both side stood neck to neck right through the match. HNB made the first move in scoring in the second minute of play and they managed to maintain the lead with the first quarter HNB led 6-4.   In the second quarter Seylan Bank made a dramatic turn to take the lead 13-11.   HNB gave no chance to the Seylan Bank as their centers Dharshaki Bandara and Gayanajali Amerawansa wing attacks Jaliya Kumari and Pabasara Gunasekera kept on feeding the Goal Attack Tharjini Sivalingam and the Shooter in scoring.   But defence and attack of the Seylan Bank too stood strong and the third quarter was taken with a one point lead by Seylan Bank 18-17.   The game gathered momentum in the last quarter with star studded both sides engaged in a do-or-die battle with both sides playing quality netball to give the spectators a rare opportunity to witness a match of this standard.   Fortunes swung from side to side as players of both sides making good moves and passes where the goal attackers and shooters were fed to keep the score board moving.   At one stage of the final quarter HNB led 27-24 but Seylan Bank came strongly to take the lead as final whistle was blown when Seylan Bank leading 18-17 thus giving them a hard fought win to clinch the  championship to walk away with the glittering trophy.   HNB and Seylan on their way to the finals defeated Commercial Bank 34-8 while Seylan Bank too didn’t find things difficult to beat CDB 25-16 in the semis.   In the final for the Bowl Kanrich defeated Sri Lanka Telecom 22-4.   Expo Lanka had an easy passage through to beat DPMC 23-6 and in the Mixed Finals Seylan Bank over came Nations Trust Bank to a close 14-11 win.   This well organised tournament was sponsored and conducted by SriLankaSports.com and Sportsline Marketing (Pvt) Ltd.