Teams from Kandy and Matale impress at schools Hockey Sevens

HOCKEY: Royal College Grounds yesterday was a riot of colour with decorative 'Sisil' buntings, music and food stalls - forming a pleasant backdrop for the All Island Schools Seven-a-Side Hockey Tournament organised by the Royal College Hockey Club and sponsored by Singer Sri Lanka, for the fourth consecutive year.

Amidst it all, much excitement and thrill prevailed amongst the highly competitive participating teams, which led to a good many matches in the preliminary league, being evenly contested.

Foremost amongst the outstations schools in the boys division were Kignswood, Dharmaraja and Vijaya, Matale while the girls from Seethadevi, Pushpadana, St. Anthony's Convent, Kandy and Vijaya Matale did well.

For Colombo teams from Royal, St. Peter's and Isipathana stood out, while in the girls category Yasodhara, Vishaka and Museaus did well. Most of the preliminary matches were completed yesterday with a few more to be worked off today.

Results of league match

BOYS: St. Peter's beat St. Thomas', Matara 1-0, Royal (Blues) beat Vidyaloka, Kandy 1-0, Isipathana beat Prince of Wales 5-0, Kignswood beat Presidents College, Maharagama 3-1, Nalanda beat Richmond 2-nil, Dharmaraja beat Zahira, Colombo 2-nil, Royal (Golds) beat Mahinda, Galle 2-nil, Zahira, Colombo beat Mahinda, Galle 1-nil, Vijaya, Matale beat St. Joseph's 2-nil, Christ Church, Matale beat Sri Sumangala, Kandy 4-nil, Dharmaraja beat Royal (Golds) 1-nil, S. Thomas', Mount Lavinia beat D.S. Senanayake 1-nil, Nalanda drew with Trinity nil all, Presidents College beat Prince of Wales 2-nil, Isipathana beat Kingswood 2-nil, St. Peter's beat Vidyartha 1-nil, Royal (Blues) drew with Ananda nil all, Christ Church, Matale beat St. Syvlester's 2-nil, Vijaya, Matale drew with St. Benedict's nil all, Joseph Vaz beat S. Thomas', Mount Lavinia 3-1.

GIRLS: Seethadevi, Kandy beat Ananda Balika 6-0, Vijaya, Matale beat Srimavo 2-0, St. Anthony's Convent, Kandy beat Bishop's 4-0, Vishaka beat Girls High School, Kandy 4-0, Pushpadana beat St. Paul's, Milagiriya 4-0, Sanghamitta, Matale drew Museaus 1-1, Mahamaya beat Ladies College 2-0, Yasodhara beat Gothami Balika 2-0, St. Anthony's, Kandy beat Girls High School, Kandy 1-0, Vishaka beat Bishops 3-0, Pushapadana, Kandy beat Sri Sumangala, Matale 1-0, Vijaya, Matale drew with Seethadevi, Kandy nil all, Museaus beat St. Paul's , Milagiriya 5-0, Yasodhara beat Ladies 3-0, Pushpadana beat Museaus 2-0.