U-20 Hockey: Colombo ‘Reds’ and Kandy ‘Blues’ retain titles

Colombo ‘Reds’ and Kandy ‘Blues’ held on their titles at the Sri Lanka Combined Schools Under 20 boy’s and girl’s hockey tournaments held at the Astro Turf. 

Twelve boys’ teams and nine girls’ teams took part in this year’s competition. The Sri Lanka Schools Hockey Association (SLSHA) conducted the tournament. 

The SLSHA has planned five competitions for the year and this was the first. 

The boys’ final between Colombo ‘Reds’ and Matale ‘Golds’ ended in a two-all draw. 

In the penalty shoot-out which followed Colombo ‘Reds’ beat Matale ‘Golds’ 4-3. 

The goals for Colombo ‘Reds’ were scored by Diluka Mihiranga and Bodhika Dias during the normal run of play.
 
Colombo ‘Reds’ qualified for the finals defeating Colombo Blues 2-0. In the other semi-final Matale ‘Golds’ beat Gampaha 9-2. 

In the girls’ final Kandy ‘Blues’ beat Colombo ‘Reds’ 4-3 on penalties. 

The game ended in a one all draw at the end of full time and play had to be extended to make way for the tie-breaker. 

Gimhani Tharaka netted the goal for Kandy ‘Blues’ and Sashini Dias netted in the goal for Colombo’Reds’. 

In the semi-finals Kandy ‘Blues’ beat Kalutara 3-0 and Colombo ‘Reds’ crushed Matale ‘Golds’ 5-0. 

Jeevantha Edirisinghe (Colombo ‘Reds’) was selected as the Best Player. 

Anuradha Ranaweera (Matale ‘Golds’) was selected as the Best goalkeeper in the boy’s final. 

In the girls’ final Charuka Abeyratne (Kandy ‘Blues’) was chosen as the Best Player while Tamasha Weerasinghe (Colombo ‘Reds’) was selected as the Best goalkeeper. 

The next tournament -- the under 18 boys’ and girls’ will take place on June 29, 30, July 1 and 2 at the Mihintale Rajarata University ground. 

In the third place for the boys’ tournament Colombo ‘Blues’ beat Gampaha 1-0. For the girls’ third place Matale ‘Golds’ beat Kalutara 2-0.