Holy Family giant cut down by little Siddartha girls

by S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen

In a classic case of a David and Goliath battle, a little known school called Siddartha Vidyalaya thwarted the big favourite Kurunegala Holy Family Convent's quest to go for the kill in the all-island Milo inter school netball championships that concluded in Matale last Sunday.

Hailing from the phosphate village of Eppawela, Siddartha's humble players downed the Holy Family giants to win the under 16 'A' Division final 11-10.

Siddhartha's netballers displayed great potential in the championship and appeared hungry for more encouragement and sponsorship and showed that with the proper guidance the school could turn out to be a nursery for netball in Sri Lanka.

Outstation schools swept the boards while Holy Family Convent Kurunegala became overall champions in the meet organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Netball Association and sponsored by Milo and worked off over three days at the Bernard Aluwihara Stadium, Matale.

Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala retained their status when they won the under-18 title which was no doubt the plum of the championship.

In the under 18 'A' Division final they beat their home town rivals Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya 25-20 after leading 14-9 at the breather.

Their second title win was in the under 14 'A' Division final when they once again had to confront Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya and won 12-6.

These two wins put the Wayamba Province on top as both finalists were from Kurunegala.

The best players in both these tournaments were from Holy Family Convent - under 14 Dilusha Gallage and under 18 Nimalsha Herath.

Yatihewa MV won the under 18 'B' Division title by defeating Bandarapola MV Matale 17-3 in the final.

The under 16 'B' division title was won by Bandarapola MV.