Vijaya College, Matale and Seethadevi Girls’ School, Kandy clinched the boys’ and girls’ titles respectively at the second under-14 boys’ and girls’ hockey tournament 2023 for schools in the Central Province, which concluded at the Edward Park hockey ground in Matale recently.

The two-day tournament, which was organised and conducted by the Matale Hockey Club to mark the “World Children’s Day” saw the participation of 22 boys’ and 18 girls’ teams. In the boys’ final, Vijaya College, Matale outplayed Zahira College, Matale 4-3 on penalties after a nil-all draw at full time.

In the boys’ semifinals, Vijaya College beat St. Thomas’ College, Matale 3-2 on penalties while Zahira College beat Sirimavo Bandaranayake MV, Matale by 2-1.

In the play off for the third place, St. Thomas’ College, Matale beat Sirimavo Bandaranayke MV, Matale by 1-0.

Seethadevi Girls’ School, Kandy overcame Christ Church College, Matale by 2-1 in the girls’ final. The two teams made their way into the finals with wins over Sri Sangamitta Girls’ NS, Matale (1-0) and St. Anthony’s Girls’ School, Katugastota (2-0) in their respective semifinals. In the girls’ consolation final, Sri Sangamitta Girls, Matale outplayed St. Anthony’s Girls’ School, Katugastota by 1-0.   

Individual honours

Boys’ segment

Best player – Udeepa Herath (Vijaya College, Matale)

Best goalkeeper – Mohamed Risam (Zahira College, Matale)

Upcoming player – Jesmith Wijetunga (St. Thomas’ College, Matale)

Girls’ segment

Best player – Nehara Dewmini (Christ Church College, Matale)

Best goalkeeper – Ridmi de Silva (Seethadevi Girls’ School, Kandy)

Upcoming player – Chamodi Bandara (Sri Sangamitta Girls’ NS, Matale)