The All-Island Round of the Dialog President’s Gold Cup Volleyball Championship was played out at the Thambuththegama Mahaweli Sports Complex in Anuradhapura.
The tournament, now in its 11th consecutive year, kicked off on the 23rd of July at the Bingiriya Public Sports Complex in Kurunegala with the finals set to be held on the 7th of December at the Maharagama Youth Centre Indoor Complex.
The first round of the tournament saw teams from all 25 districts take part with the top 4 from each district qualifying to form a top 100. These sides faces a second round of matches which were worked off in September & October.
The tournament saw Eheliyagoda Dharmapala SC and Casual Line SC enter the U22 Girls’ final while Rajasinghe SC of Ruwanwella will compete against Davisamara SC of Seeduwa in the U22 Boys’ final.
The Open category saw Katana United qualify to take on Debagama Rantharu SC in the Men’s final while the Women’s Open saw Casual Line SC qualify along with Wijaya SC of Kosvadiya.
Women’s Open
The first semi-final of the Women’s Open saw Casual Line defeat Kapila Sports Club 3-0 (25/18, 25/19, 25/16).
The second semi-final was more keenly contested with Golden Birds Sports Club, Radawana taking the Wijaya Sports Club to the edge in a keenly contested game which they lost 3-2 (25-22, 25-18, 23-25, 22-25, 15-7).
Golden Birds however did manage to secure third place, courtesy a walkover handed to them by ladies from Kapila Sports Club.
Men’s Open
Katana United marched into the final after a tough game with the Youth Services Council Sport Club, which they won 3-1 (23/25, 24/26, 25/20, 17/25).
Rantharu booked their place in the final via a win over Naththandiya United in a very tight game which they won 3:2 (33/31, 23/25, 23/25, 31/29, 11/15).
Naththandiya United did not see their luck improve however, as they lost out to the Youth Services Council in the third place play-off; 25/25, 25/23.
U22 Girls
The first semi-final of this category saw Eheliyagoda Dharmapala Sports Club take on Boyagama Siriparakum Sports Club in a game where the Eheliyagoda club emerged 3-1 winners.
The second semi-final between Golden Birds Sports Club and Casual Line Sports Club saw the latter brush aside the former with a comfortable score of 3-0 (21/25, 15/25, 12/25).
Siriparakum Sports Club did manage to add further insult to Golden Birds injuries in the third place play off, which they won 3-1 (25/16, 18/25,15/25, 21/25).
U22 Boys
A combined Chilaw side took on Ruwanwella Rajasinghe Sports Club in the first semi-final with the Ruwanwella side coming out on top after a gruelling five-setter with the scores reading 25/18, 26/28, 20/25, 25/21 & 15/12.
The second semi-final saw Hungama Vijayaba Sports Club lock horns with Seeduwa Davisamara Sports Club in a game in which the Seeduwa side dominated to win 3-0 (17/25,18/25,16/25).
In the third place play-off that followed, the Chilaw side enjoyed a comfortable game in which they came out on top 3-0 (25/13, 25/23, 25/21).
