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.