Commercial Bank beats HNB to win Mercantile Hockey crown

Commercial Bank “A” retained the  Dennis De Rosayro  ChallengeTrophy for the  second successive  year, beating their arch- rivals,  HNB “A” by  three goals to in a repeat final of  last year, at the 35th Mercantile Hockey Sevens 2011,  concluded at the  P. Sara  Oval on Sunday,  21 teams played in five divisions. The tournament conducted by the Mercantile Hockey Association was sponsored by Brown and Co. PLC. for the  fifth successive year.

The final played in the fading light ended in a controversial manner, with HNB making a huge hue and cry over their second goal, which was disallowed  by the umpires.

HNB opened scoring mid way in the first half and Commercial Bank equalised through their skipper, Navin Padmasiri. The score stood 1-all at half time.

Commercial Bank went ahead, mid way in the second half when diving, Milan Ariyawansa sounded the boards (2–1)

With just one minute left, HNB got the equaliser, which was disallowed by Umpire, Naushad after blowing his whistle, acknowledging it as a goal.

Pandemonium broke lose on the ground with a huge crowd invasion and the match was spotted for some minutes.

After the restart HNB played half heartedly and their goal-keeper left an open goal for their opponents to get their third goal. (3-1)

Commercial Bank’s play-maker, Milan Ariyawansa was picked as the player of the final.

The results of the other finals:

“B” division for the Singer Challenge Trophy.

Unilever beat Commercial Bank “B” on penalties (1/0), as the  score was  dead locked,  0-0  at full time.

Man of the Match: A. Alles from Unilever.

 “C” division for the Lifeboy  Challenge Trophy.

Brown  & Co. beat AWD Group 1-Nil.

Man-of –the-Match :  A.S. Senerath from Brown & Co.

 “D” division for  Edmund  J. Cooray Challenge Trophy.

Aviva NDB  beat Hayleys Group 3- 1

Man-of-the-Match : C.K. Gunapala from Aviva NDB

 “E” division for “Ceylon Cold Stores” Challenge Trophy.

Standard Chartered Bank beat Glaxo SmithKline on penalties (3-2), as the scores were dead-locked, 0-0 at full time.

Man-of-the-Match:  Vino Lakshan from SCB.

Other Special Awards:

The “Dennis De Rosayro” Challenge Trophy (2004) for Fair Play for “A” division teams was awarded to Singer Sri Lanka PLC. The “Hemaka DS Amarasuriya” Challenge Trophy (2005) awarded to the “Most Outstanding Young Player” of the year went to Commercial Bank’s ,  Janith Witharanage.

The Awards Presentation for the 2011 League, Knock-out and the “Sevens” was held at an impressive ceremony, where Panduka Weerasinghe, GM, Agriculture, Battery, Porcelain and New Business, Brown and Co.  PLC (Chief Guest), A.P. Lasantha Fernando, AGM Recoveries / Credit and Quality Management, HNB  (Guest of  Honour),  Dennis De Rosayro  (President, MHA from 1978 to 2008)  and Ratnasiri Mahagalaella President /MHA participated.

Winer -Commercial Bank

Runner up- HNB