Inter-School netball starts May 26 at 16 centres

NETBALL: Over 350 schools will participate at the 21st Inter School Netball Championship for the Milo Trophy from May 26 at 16 centres.

This tournament is organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Netball Association together with the Ministry of Education and sponsored by Nestles Lanka Ltd.

Matches will be conducted in Colombo, Kalutara, Gampaha, Homagama, Galle, Matara, Kandy, Matale, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Ampara, Trincomalee, Jaffna, Ratnapura and Badulla.

The teams will be divided into two groups namely 'A' and 'B' and the schools consisting more than 1,000' students will come under group 'A' and the schools with less than 1000 pupils will compete in group 'B'.

The tourney will be conducted under four age categories under-12, under-14, under-16 and under-18.

The organisers are hoping to conclude the first round matches by June and the final stages of the tournament will take place in Polonnaruwa on July 28,29 and 30.

Last year, the tournament was dominated by the schools in the Kurunegala district. In the 'A' division, Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala swept the board by winning the under 12, 16 and under 18 championships while the 'A' division under 14 title was won by Maliyadeva BV, Kurunegala.

In the 'B' division under-12, Siddhartha MMV, Eppawela were the champions. Mahakeliya MV Wariyapola won the under 14 championship while Siddhartha MMV, Eppawela won their second title becoming the under-16 champion. Ananda Sastralaya, Mathugama took the under-18 title. (RA)