• Unbeaten Kandy Sports Club reaffirmed their dominance in Sri Lankan rugby by completing a sensational double for the season, clinching the century-plus-years-old Clifford Cup for a record 23rd time after edging out CR & FC by 41 points (5 tries, 5 conversions, 2 penalties) to 33 points (5 tries, 4 conversions) in a thrilling final in front of a packed house at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium last evening. Kandy ended the season undefeated this season.​

At the short breather, Kandy led 17-14. 

In a game played under challenging wet conditions, including a heavy downpour in the second half, both teams showed immense grit and determination, with the lead changing hands multiple times.

Kandy played their hearts out, settling early, and scored two tries. They were without their star centre, Tarinda Ratwatte. Soori led the outfit with a lot of guts. Kenula Hettiarachchi, Thilina Bandara and Dahan Wickramarachchi were in top form in forwards, while in three-quarter play, Dinal, Nigel Ratwatte, Ranjan, Shaahid Zumri and Kavindu and scrumhalf Heshan Jensen were on top.

Meanwhile for the Reds, Mursheed Doray, Omalka Gunaratne, Sayuru Anthony, Lasindu Karunathilake and Imanka Ariyapala were in peak form.

Kandy got off to a strong start with a sweeping three-quarter move that ended in Diluksha Dange scoring a try in the 3rd minute of the game, with Nigel adding the extra 2 points. Nigel slotted in a penalty under the posts in the 7th minute to go up 10-0.

CR & FC responded swiftly through Chamod Muthunayake, who foxed more than three Kandy defenders to touch down. Doray added the extra two points, closing the gap to 10-7. The visitors then took the lead for the first time when Omalka powered over from a forward’s rush, with Doray adding the extras to make it 14-10 in favour of CR.

However, Nigel, playing his last club rugby game for Kandy, turned the tide once more for his side with a crucial try just before the break, which he also converted, helping Kandy take a slender 17-14 lead into halftime.

After the short breather, Kenula crossed the whitewash to extend Kandy’s lead to 24-14. But CR & FC refused to back down, as Omalka bagged his second try to narrow the margin to 24-19. Nigel again proved reliable with the boot, slotting in a penalty to stretch the lead to 27-19.

The see-saw battle continued with Doray touching down in the right corner and converting to bring CR & FC within a point at 27-26. Kandy once again fought their way into CR & FC territory with replacement hooker Dilshard Fareed scoring through a forward’s rush. Zumri did a beautiful corner flag conversion to take Kandy into an 8-point lead at 34-26.

The Kandy crowd went into pin-drop silence as the Reds made their way back through a try from Manilka Ruberu which Doray converted to come close at 34-33. But it was Kandy who had the final say with Jensen’s try and Nigel’s conversion to take the tense battle 41-33.

Two legends, Nigel (Kandy) and Suhiru Anthony (CR & FC), both retired from club rugby. Nigel also won the Player of the Tournament award as well.

Referee: Gihan Yatawara

By Shamseer Jaleel at Nittawela