Matale and Defence Services joint hockey champions

Asoka BANDARA HINDAGODA, Matale district special corr

Matale and Defence Services emerged joint champions after a two-all Draw in the finals of the 52nd Sri Lanka Senior Hockey Nationals (Men's) held at Nandimithra Ekanayake Astro Turf, Matale.

Fifteen Hockey teams including Jaffna and Galle participated in this Tournament. The Chief Minister of Central Province Sarath Ekanayake was the chief guest at the opening ceremony and Minister of Urban Development Rohana Dissanayake was the chief guest at the finals. The president of SLHA Sumith Edirisinghe and Secretary Gamini Jayasinghe were also present.

In the finals between Matale and Defence Services, Matale scored two goals in the first half. Scorers were Prasanna Abeyratne and Tharanga Gunawardhana. In the first half Matale led by two goals to nil - Defence Services were able to equal the score by scoring two goals ten minutes before the long whistle through N.D.B. Dissanayake and D.T. Panditharatne.

Duminda Fernando and Mohomed Maushad umpired the game.

Wennappuwa finished third by beating Galle 1-0. Nimanka Fernando scored the winning goal for Wennappuwa.