Panadura Balika MV and Holy Family Convent Wennappuwa under-18 hockey teams were declared joint Plate champions at the Girls All Island Hockey Championship tournament held at the Albert Peiris Stadium in Wennappuwa recently.
The final could not be completed as bad weather interrupted any play in the tournament organized and conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Hockey Association.
Panadura Balika MV was guided by Randika Prasad, a famous hockey player turned reputed coach produced by Prince of Wales College Moratuwa. In their league matches played, Panadura Balika MV beat President’s College Nawala 1-nil, beat Ratnaveli Balika Vidyalaya Gampaha 7-nil, drew with Southlands College Galle nil-all and St. Anthony’s Balika Kandy nil-all.
Emerged as the leaders in their group and qualified to the quarter-final, beat Christ Church College Matale on penalty strokes (1/0) after the game ended in a thrilling draw. Panadura Balika custodian, Gihansa Nimthaki was the architect saving all the 5 strokes taken by their opponents whilst Naduni Deshani scored the winning stroke for Panadura Balika. Qualifying for the semi-final, lost to Sangamitta Balika Vidyalaya Matale by 2 goals to nil.
