Reviewed by Rehan Anandakumar (Web Content Team)
In an engrossing demonstration of aptitude and commitment, Trinity College emerged as joint champions in the All-island Inter-School U16 Hockey tournament 2023. The event was held at the Royal Central College Polonnaruwa grounds from the 29th of October to the 1st of November.
The tournament kicked off with an outstanding run in the group stages, where Trinity remained unbeaten with 3-0 victory against Vijaya College Matale, followed by another pleasing win against Richmond College Galle with the same scoreline. The group stage triumph was sealed with the final score of a 2-0 victory against Nalanda College Colombo.
The most challenging and the match which built much suspense was the pre-quarterfinals where they faced last year’s cup champions, Zahira College Matale. The match was nothing but a rollercoaster ride. At the end of the first half, Zahira had led with 1- 0. However, in a sudden twist of fate in the second half when bad light interrupted the play, the match paused midway.
When the match resumed the next day, with more competition from both teams, Trinity managed to level the score at 1-1, ending the match with a one-all draw, driving both teams in a penalty shootout where TCK displayed their skills by scoring all five points, while Zahira college fell short with just four points. The match was a hard-battled victory that tossed Trinity to the quarterfinals.
In the quarter finals, TCK engaged in a fierce battle against Ananda College Colombo. The match moved with no points until the last minute where Ananda College secured a goal through a short corner, closing the screens for Trinity with a score of 1 – 0.
Despite the challenges and the setbacks, team TCK got back in the field showing remarkable resilience in the semi-finals against Prince of Wales Moratuwa, winning the match 2-1 securing their spot in the plate finals, where they faced their parallels from the seaside, S. Thomas College Mount Lavinia.
The match kicked off with a dark cloud in the blue sky and a deluge. With fate at its best, the organisers were hesitant in resuming the match, and made an astonishing decision to crown both Trinity and St. Thomas as joint plate champions.
Trinity’s journey towards this unforgettable and challenging battle was stuffed with nail biting moments to incredible displays of resilience.
Our sincere thanks go to the coachers M.Rifas and M.Ashraf for their determination to sculpt the team into the plate champions of the Inter School Hockey Tournament 2023
The Trinity College Team
Rayyan Marzookdeen, Yenuka Rathnayake, Menod Koralegedara, Menul Dissanayake, Abeesha Wickramasinghe, Dulitha Karunarathne, Ahmed Farveez , Sadew Yapa, Lakshan Jayawardane, Pinitha Manajina, B.Gogulnath, Mohomed Harun, Bilal Bin Azaad, Mihin Nawarathne, Matheesha Gamage, Thanish Umer, Salim Bin Azaad, Asama Ranwala, Minuka Bandara, Inodh Koralegedara.
