St. Joseph’s College, Colombo and Holy Family Convent, Wennappuwa emerged unbeaten Cup champions at the ESOFT Blue & Gold Hockey sevens organised by Royal College Hockey Club last weekend at Reid Avenue. 

Both teams won the title for the first time in the history of 18 Blue & Gold Hockey 7s, which has been held since 1992. The ESOFT Metro Campus was the title sponsor for this year’s tournament, which was held for the first time since 2019.  

The Darley Road boys won the ESOFT Blue & Gold Hockey 7s by beating St. Thomas College, Matale by 2-0 in the final of the 146-game tournament. At lemons SJC led by 1-0.

Both teams fought hard, but Joes’ Abner Fernando broke the STC Matale defence line in the sixth minute through a 3D airball and passed to skipper Keith Joshua to score the first goal for the winners by lofting the ball to the net. 

After the break, Adrian Fernando of SJC scored in the 12th minute of the game in a penalty corner to increase the lead to 2-0. 

STC Matale’s fight was not enough in the face of fierce attack by SJC. 

In the girls’ Cup finals, Holy Family Convent Wennappuwa beat Ladies’ College, Colombo by 2-0. The Wennappuwa team scored the goals within the minutes of the game with Ishara Fernando and Tharushika Subasinghe scoring a goal each within the first three minutes of the game. 

This year’s tournament saw a record number of 66 teams (42 boys and 24 girls) taking part in Sri Lanka’s largest hockey tournament played for two days. 

The Blue & Gold Hockey Sevens was also supported by Platinum Sponsor NDB Bank, Gold Sponsors: Minel Lanka, CIAP, Secvision Ltd., R&R Fine Gems, A.N.A. Marine Agencies Ltd., and Anchor, Broadcasting Partner ThePapare, Umpire Sponsor LTL Holdings, and Food & Beverage Sponsor Thambapanni.

Results and special awards 

Best Player: Boys – Abner Fernando (St. Joseph’s College)/Girls – Ishara Fernando (Holy Family Convent, Wennappuwa)

Best Goalkeeper: Boys – A.B. Gamagedara (St. Thomas’ College Matale)/Girls – Dehara Senaratne (Ladies’ College)

Cup Champions:

Champion: Boys – St. Joseph’s College/Girls – Holy Family Convent Wennappuwa

Runners-up: Boys - St. Thomas’ College Matale/Girls – Ladies’ College

2nd Runners-up: Boys – S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia/Girls – Swarnamali Girls College Kandy

3rd Runners-up: Boys – Kingswood College/Girls – Christ Church College

Plate Championship:

Champion: Boys – Ananda College/Girls – Seethadevi Balika Vidyalaya

Runners-up: Boys – Zahira College Matale/Girls – Visakha Vidyalaya

2nd Runners-up: Boys – Hindu College Matale/Girls – Bishop’s College

Bowl Championship:

Champion: Boys – Trinity College/Girls – Panadura Balika Maha Vidyalaya

Runners-up: Boys – Vidyartha College/Girls – Yasodara Balika Vidyalaya Colombo

2nd Runners-up: Boys – Vijaya College/Girls – St. Anthony’s Girls College Katugastota