Thursday, February 13, 2025

Ladies flowers bloom a hundred years

by malinga
February 2, 2025 1:10 am 0 comment 1.6K views

BY SAJEEWA JAYAKODY
Even after a hard game the Ladies lasses were as fit as fiddles. From left: Adhithi Gunasekera, Sithaarah Zuhair, Tasara Fernando, Thinuri Vithanage, Mahiroo Balasooriya, Kayela Mendis, Minnelle de Fonseka, Anindhiya Welagedara, Nashaya Silva, Amna Samad and Tyra Jayaratne

In a thrilling centenary encounter that lived up to the occasion, Ladies’ College ended victorious over their traditional rivals Girls’ High School Kandy with a 32-26 win in their Gwen Opie Memorial Challenge Shield netball match on their home ground at Flower Road in Colombo, yesterday.

The match marked a historic milestone as both schools that pioneered netball in the country 100 years ago in 1924, renewed their long-standing rivalry in style honouring the sport’s rich legacy in Sri Lanka.

After winning the toss, Ladies’ College captain Adhithi Gunasekara made the first move, leading her team to a narrow 9-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. It was clear from the start that both teams would be fighting tooth and nail for every point, with the home side slightly ahead but under pressure from the determined Kandy girls.

The second quarter made both teams engage in a tactical tug-of-war, with the scoring coming at a slow pace as Girls’ High School led by their captain Thenali Hewage, showed grit and determination, trying to close the gap.

Nashaya Silva representing Ladies College (right) and Amavi Amaranayake from Girls' Hgh School in Kandy tussle for the ball in their 100th netball encounter yesterday in Colombo (Pix: Chintaka Kumarasinghe)

Nashaya Silva representing Ladies College (right) and Amavi Amaranayake from Girls’ Hgh School in Kandy tussle for the ball in their 100th netball encounter yesterday in Colombo (Pix: Chintaka Kumarasinghe)

However, Ladies’ College maintained a slim advantage always holding a two-goal lead and the quarter ended with the Flower Road school in the driving seat 16-15 but with Kandy not far behind.

The third quarter made Ladies’ College hit the gas pedal, extending their lead for the first time to four points midway through the quarter. With a 21-17 advantage, it seemed as though they were finally breaking away from the fierce competition.

However, Girls’ High School with Hewage powering fought back to reduce the gap to 20-22.

Ladies’ College held strong and ended the third quarter leading 23-20.

The fourth quarter was a high-octane affair, much faster than the previous three, as Ladies’ College displayed their superior fitness and game sense. With a burst of energy, they netted nine points to seal the match 32-26, clinching the victory in the highly anticipated centenary encounter.

What made Ladies’ College’s win even more remarkable was the fact that only two senior players were on the team. Goalkeeper Sitharaah Zuhair, the captain of last year’s squad, was joined by a team predominantly consisting of Under-17 and Under-18 players, showcasing the depth of talent at the school and the bright future ahead for the team.

The match also honoured the legacy of netball in Sri Lanka, with Thamara Dharmakeerthi Hearath, a prominent old girl of Ladies’ College and a dual national level athlete in both hockey and netball, gracing the event as the Guest of Honour.

In the special awards, Ladies’ College’s Tyra Jayaratne was recognized as the Best Shooter for scoring the highest number of goals in the match, a fitting tribute to her precision and skill. Vice-captain Tasara Fernando was awarded the Best Defensive Player for her impeccable work in keeping the Kandy attackers at bay.

For Girls’ High School Kandy, captain Thenali Hewage was named the Best Center Court Player for her tireless contributions across the court. Despite the loss, her leadership and performance were key to Kandy’s strong challenge throughout the match.

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