Sri Lanka Air Force win All-Island men's hockey sevens
by S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy Sports Corr.
HOCKEY: Sri Lanka Air Forces won the men's championship while Seetha
Devi Sports Club, Kandy and Sri Lanka Navy became women's joint
champions at the 11th All-Island Inter-Club hockey sevens organised by
the Matale Vijayas and worked off at the Nandamithra Hockey Stadium in
Matale.
The women's final between Seetha Devi SC and Sri Lanka Navy ended in
a scoreless draw and no extra time was given nor the penalty tie-breaker
system was introduced in keeping with the tournament rules. Thus the two
teams were declared joint champions. Seetha Devi who were the defending
champions, lost to the Navy girls in a group match but put up a gallant
display to hold their opponents to a draw. A number of Seetha Devi
'stickers' from the last year's team have found employment in the Navy
and played for them, further depleting their team was the fact that five
of their players were doing duty for the national women's team at the
Asia Cup women's hockey tournament now being played in Thailand. Another
fact which went un-noticed was that both Sri Lanka Navy and Seetha Devi
SC were coached by that master hockey coach M. A. M. Ashroff which put
him into a tight corner when the this final was played.
In the men's final, Sri Lanka Air Force scored a resounding 4-1 win
over Sri Lanka Police 'B' to clinch the men's title. At half-time, the
Airmen led 1-0. At the end of full time, the scores stood deadlocked at
one-all which resulted in confusion and delay in proceeding with the
game.
When the final whistle was sounded a jubilant Police team thought the
game had ended and the two teams would be declared joint champions. But
the tournament rules gave a different start as it had provided for five
minutes of 'extra time' of play each way to break the deadlock and there
was no 'golden goal' rule. The two umpires appeared to be non-plussed
about the 'tie-breaker.'
For some time the Police team refused to continue with the game and
remained on field. The two umpires in consultation with the Tournament
Committee ordered extra time of play during which Airmen added three
more goals to their tally to put the issue beyond doubt.
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