Royal hits hat-trick win in Blue and Gold Hockey Sevens

Royal became the champions in the 11th Blue and Gold Hockey Sevens for the third successive year beating Vijaya College Matale in the final by 2-1 at the Royal College Hockey grounds on Sunday.

Royal skipper Shahid Kuthubdeed scored the goal via the first penalty corner his team got in the second minute of the first half and led by 1-0 at the lemons.

Despite Sajith Costha’s equaliser at the fifth minute of the second half, Kuthubdeen’s last minute spectacular under-cut goal helped his team to win unbeaten champions for the third year in the tournament.  

Royal, coached by Sri Lanka women’s national coach Rohan Dissanayake, has won all three Blue and Gold Hockey sevens since 2010.

Royal captain Shahid Kuthubdeed was adjudged player of the tournament while Vijaya goal keeper Dharatha Tenne was awarded best goal keeper in the boys’ category.

On its way to final, Royal beat St. Thomas, Matale by two goals to nil in the semi-final and defeated Maris Stella, Negambo by three goals to nil in the quarter final. The defending champions drew with Christ Church, Matale in the pre-quarter final before winning the match by 3-2 through penalty strokes.

Vijaya beat Ananda by 3-0 in the pre-quarter final, Trinity by 4-0 in the quarter final and Wesley by a solitary goal in the semi final.

Wesley College won the third place in the boys cup category beating St. Thomas Matale by 3-1 through penalties after a scoreless draw.

In the boys’ plate final, Nalanda College beat Vidyartha Kandy by a solitary goal, while Zahira Matale won the bowl champions, edging out their home town rivals Chirst Church through penalties after a nill-all draw.

In the girls’ category, a hat-trick by left wing Jeewanthi Jayarathne helped defending champions Pushpadana Girls College, Kandy to beat much fancied Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya in the cup final.

The centre forward Chathurika Ekanayake drew the blood in the second minute of the one-sided first half to score the first goal for Pushpadana before Jeewanthi Jayarathne’s hat-trick. The Kandy team were leading by 4-0 at the half time.

In the second half, Janadhipathi’s captain Anaka Borham scored via a penalty corner.  

Jeewanthi was adjudged player of the tournament while Pushpadana’s Nimanthika Dikkumbura was awarded best goal keeper in the girls’ category.

Pushpadana, playing in the second straight final, beat Viharamahadevi Vidyalaya (4-0) in the pre-quarter final, Bishop’s (4-1) in the quarter final and Seethadevi (2-1) in the semi-finals.

In the third place match, Seethadevi won against Panadura Balika by a solitary goal.

In the girls’ Plate championship, Sri Sangamitta, Matale beat Gothami Balika by a solitary goal, while in the bowl championship, Musaeus won against St. Anthony’s by one goal to nil.

The tournament is sponsored by SINGER Sri Lanka for the 10th consecutive year and Esoft Computer Studies (Pvt.) Ltd is the co-sponsor for this year’s event, organised by Royal College Hockey Club.

Results

Pre quarter finals boys:

Royal vs Christ Church, Matale (0-0) (3-2), Trinity vs St. Sylvester’s (1-0), Vijaya vs Ananda (3-0), St. Thomas, Matale vs St. Benedict’s (2-0), Vidyartha vs Dharmaraja (1-1) (3-1), Nalanda vs Joseph Vaz (2-0), Wesley vs Zahira, Matale (0-0) (2-1), Maris Stella vs St. Thomas, Matara (1-0)

Boys quarter finals

Royal vs Maris Stella (3-0), St. Thomas, Matale vs Vidyartha (1-0), Trinity vs Vijaya (0-4), Wesley vs Nalanda (1-0)

Boys semi finals

Royal vs St. Thomas, Matale (2-0), Vijaya vs Wesley (1-0)

Boys final

Royal vs Vijaya (2-1)

Pre quarter finals girls:

Christ Church vs Bishop’s (0-0), (2-3), Janadhipathi Balika vs Sirimavo Bandaranayake (4-0), Pushpadana vs Viharamahadevi (4-0), Panadura Balika vs Vishaka (0-0), (3-1), Seethadevi vs Kalutara Balika (4-0), Musaeus vs Gothami Balika (0-0), (0-1), St. Anthony’s Girls vs Girls High School (1-2), Sri Sangamitta, Matale received a bye.

 Girls quarter finals:

 Panadura Balika vs Girls High School (2-1), Gothami Balika vs Seethadevi (0-2), Pushpadana vs Bishop’s (4-1), Janadhipathi Balika vs Sri Sangamitta, Matale (1-1), (4-3)

Girls semi finals:

Pushpadana vs Seethadevi (2-1), Panadura Balika vs Janadhipathi Balika (0-1)

Girls final

Pushpadana vs Janadhipathi Balika (4-1)