Malays go down in Hockey encounters

Colombo Malay Cricket Club hockey team faced misfortunes at the Colombo Hockey Association’s (CHA) League Hockey tournament when they lost one and drew the other in their matches played at the Padang ground recently.

In their first match against Old Thomians Hockey Union (OTHU) Malays went down fighting 0-2 played on December 1 at the Padang.

The visitors scored first when a direct hit at goal was deflected by a Malays defender in the second quarter of the first half to give OTHU the lead.

Their second goal was scored in the dying minutes of the game to give them the 2-nil victory.

The highlight of the match was the comradeship displayed before and after the game, consisting of schoolboys, with a decent game been displayed.

Their last CHA League match was played against Old Asokians Hockey Club (OAHC) on December 3, and Malays managed to hold the visitors to a 2-all draw.

The match started off with the fine morning dew and turned out to be an interesting match between the Veteran side of CMCC taking on a fit and strong schoolboy team of Asoka Vidyalaya Colombo 10.

OAHC took an early 1-0 lead in the 20th minute of the first quarter when B. Sasindu put his stick to a rising ball in a melee with the Malays goal keeper Amirshan unable to stop it.

Malays getting their act together, equalized in the 30th minute of the game when U-21 Sri Lanka player R. Gajendran found the net with a direct hit at goal.

Thereafter it was a tussle to reign supreme when OAHC sounded the board to take a 2-1 lead thru the stick of Thivanka in the 55th minute of play.

In the final quarter CMCC got the chance to equalize through a deft shot by Nuwan Peiris which took the referees by surprise, but with the introduction of modern technology, the referees consulted the Head Referee and the goal awarded to Malays.

With the Astro Turf closed down due to the extensive damage of the turf, hockey is been played on available grass court, like in the good old days.

Interestingly, only two founder clubs of the CHA possess a ground and club house to offer good playing facilities, though the CHA boasts of many controlling clubs in their fold.

Clubs like BRC, Colombo Colts CC and CR&FC does not provide their grounds to conduct hockey encounters.

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