After some scintillating Hockey action, Holy Family Girls’ School (HFC), Wennappuwa and St. Thomas’ College, Matale were crowned champions of the 19th ESOFT Blue and Gold Hockey 7s, which was organised by Royal College and Royal College Hockey Union (RCHU). It was a 2-day tournament held at Royal College Main Grounds.
HFC, Wennappuwa beat Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya (JBV), Nawala 1-0 in the Girls’ Final. Hailing from the Hockey-crazy city of Matale, the Thomians beat Kingswood College, Kandy 3-0, showing their sheer brilliance.
A record 68 (25 Girls’ and 43 Boys’) teams from across all parts of the island took part in this year’s edition, where 150 games were played on 3 courts at Reid Avenue. The tournament, which started in 1992 as a 1-day event with only 16 top Hockey-playing Boys’ schools, has today become the most sought-after Hockey tourney in Sri Lanka, where many unheard schools have been given splendid opportunities to showcase their talent to the whole country and the world, with ThePapare partnering with this annual event as official Broadcast Partner.
Here are some interesting stats and trivia:
- STC Matale beat Kingswood 1-0 in the Central Province Hockey finals held recently.
- Last year, Kingswood were National Schools Champions.
- The Matale Thomians were finalists last year as well, and lost to St. Joseph’s College, Colombo.
- HFC Wennappuwa made history as they won back-to-back titles (Girls’) for the first time in their history at the Blue & Gold 7s.
- Thomas’ College, Matale last won the (Blue & Gold) title in 2016.
- JBV, Nawala last won the Blue & Gold crown in 2013.
- Kingswood won their maiden title in 2006 (18 years ago) and finished third in 2009.
- HFC beat Ladies’ College last year in the Finals, and beat them again in this year’s Semis.
- Joseph’s College, champions from 2023, finished in 4thplace.
Road to the Grand Final:
Holy Family Girls’ School, Wennappuwa had a thumping 3-0 victory against Ladies’ College in the Semi Final, with their Skipper Ishara Fernando scoring a hat-trick. Ishara is also a Sri Lanka National Hockey Prodigy.
STC Matale beat St. Aloysius’ College, Galle 3-0 in the Semi Final.
Results (Finals) – 19th ESOFT Blue & Gold Hockey 7s
Cup Girls’ – HFC, Wennappuwa 1-0 beat Janadhipathi Balika, Nawala
Cup Boys’ – St. Thomas’ College, Matale 3-0 beat Kingswood College
Cup 3rd Girls’ – Ladies’ College beat 1-0 Girls’ High School, Kandy
Cup 3rd Boys’ – St. Aloysius’ College, Galle beat 1-0 St. Joseph’s College, Colombo
Plate Final Girls’ – Musaeus College beat 1-0 Southlands College, Galle (penalties)
Plate 3rd – Christ Church College, Matale beat 1-0 St. Anthony’s Girls’ College, Kandy
Plate Final Boys’ – Vidyartha College, Kandy beat 2-0 Royal College (Golds)
Plate 3rd – Vijaya College, Matale beat 3-2 Jaffna College, Vaddukoddai
Bowl Final Girls’ – Swarnamali Girls’ College, Kandy beat 1-0 Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya, Galle
Bowl 3rd – Seethadevi Girls’ College , Kandy beat 3-0 Viharamadevi Balika Vidyalaya, Badulla
Bowl Final Boys’ – Prince of Wales’ College beat 2-1 Moratuwa beat St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy
Bowl 3rd – S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia beat 2-1 Dharmaraja College, Kandy
Here are the top individual performers of the 19th ESOFT Blue & Gold Hockey 7s.
🛑 Girls’ Category:
Best Player
Nipuni Ishara Fernando – Holy Family Girls School – Wennappuwa
Best Goalkeeper
Chamodi Sathsarani – Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya Nawala
🛑 Boys’ Category:
Best Player
Nethmina Dharmakeerthi – St. Thomas’ College, Matale
Best Goalkeeper
Abhisheka Gamagedara – St. Thomas’ College, Matale
Final Standings – 19th Blue & Gold Hockey 7s 2024
Girls:
Cup Champions: Holy Family Girls’ School, Wennappuwa
1st Runner-up: Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya, Nawala
2nd Runner-up: Ladies’ College, Colombo
4th Place: Girls’ High School, Kandy
Plate Champions: Musaeus College, Colombo
1st Runner-up: Southlands College, Galle
2nd Runner-up: Christchurch College, Matale
Bowl Champions: Swarnamali Girls’ College, Kandy
1st Runner-up: Seethadevi Girls’ College, Kandy
2nd Runner-up: Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya, Galle
Boys:
Cup Champions: St. Thomas’ College, Matale
1st Runner-up: Kingswood College, Kandy
2nd Runner-up: St. Aloysius’ College, Galle
4th Place: St. Joseph’s College, Colombo
Plate Champions: Vidyartha College, Kandy
1st Runner-up: Royal College, Colombo – Golds
2nd Runner-up: Vijaya College, Matale
Bowl Champions: Prince of Wales’ College, Moratuwa
1st Runner-up: St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy
2nd Runner-up: S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia