2017 Clifford Cup

Last updated

2017 Clifford Cup
Tournament details
Tournament format(s) Knockout
Date17 February 2017 – 26 February 2017
Tournament statistics
Teams8
Matches played7
Tries scored73 (10.43 per match)
Top point scorer(s)Thilina Wijesinghe
Top try scorer(s)Richard Dharmapala (7)
Final
Venue Nittawela Rugby Stadium
Champions Kandy SC (20th title)
Runners-up Havelock SC
←  2016 (Previous)
(Next) 2018  →

The 82nd Clifford Cup tournament was held between the 17 and 26 February 2017. [1] [2] The 2016 Clifford Cup took place after the conclusion of the regular season, with teams seeded based on their performance in the 2016-17 Dialog Rugby League season.

Contents

The top seeded team in the competition, Kandy SC (the previous cup winner and the Dialog league champion) faced the lowly ranked Colombo Hockey and Football Club in the opening quarter-final match. Kandy SC dominated the game, accumulating nineteen tries to nil, with the final score being 121 points to three. [3] Second seeded Havelock SC, were missing a number of the key play makers going into their quarter final match against Police SC [4] however easily accounted for their opponents winning 46 points to 26. In the other quarter final matches Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club (CR & FC) narrowly overcame Air Force SC 36 to 33, with a solitary penalty being the only difference between the two sides, [5] and Navy SC defeated Army SC 35 to 25.

The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union appointed Julien Castaignede, a French rugby referee, to officiate for the two semi-finals and the final. [6]

In the first semi-final encounter played at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium Kandy SC soundly defeated CR & FC 56 points to 16 points, [7] whilst Havelock SC dominated Navy SC at the Colombo Racecourse winning 39 points to 13. [8]

The final was held at Nittawela Rugby Stadium in wet conditions, following a heavy downpour before the game commenced. Havelock SC dominated the early stages of the match until a crucial injury to key playmaker, Dulaj Perera. Havelock scored first with a penalty in the 8th minute however Kandy equalised five minutes later. A few minutes later Kandy crossed the line with the first try of the day by Gayan Weeraratne, which was converted by Thilina Wijesinghe. Weeraratne followed this up soon after with a second try, also converted by Wijesinghe and minutes before half-time veteran Fazil Marija crossed the line for Kandy SC a third time, which was also converted, resulting in a 24 to 3 score. After the break Havelock SC again dominated the early stages of the second half, with Nishon Perera scoring back to back tries, although Hirantha Perera only converted one. Wijesinghe then managed to score a 30 m (98 ft) drop goal before Havelock's Dushmantha Priyadarshana scored a try bringing them to with seven points. Kandy SC however then put the game out of reach through a try by Richard Dharmapala. The final score line being 30 points to 20, securing Kandy SC's twentieth Clifford Cup.

Bracket

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
17 February 2017 - 16:15
Nittawela Rugby Stadium
 
 
 Kandy SC 121
 
22 February 2017 - 16:15
Nittawela Rugby Stadium
 
 CH & FC 3
 
 Kandy SC 56
 
17 February 2017 - 16:15
Colombo Racecourse
 
 CR & FC 16
 
 CR & FC 36
 
26 February 2017 - 16:15
Nittawela Rugby Stadium
 
 Air Force SC 33
 
 Kandy SC 32
 
18 February 2017 - 16:15
Colombo Racecourse
 
 Havelock SC 20
 
 Havelock SC 46
 
23 February 2017 - 16:15
Colombo Racecourse
 
 Police SC 26
 
 Havelock SC 39
 
19 February 2017 - 16:15
Colombo Racecourse
 
 Navy SC 13
 
 Navy SC 35
 
 
 Army SC 25
 

Matches

Quarter-finals

17 February 2017
16:15
Kandy SC 121 - 3 CH & FC
Try: Thilina Wijesinghe (1)
Vishva Mithra Jayasinghe (4)
Dhanushka Ranjan (2)
Richard Dharmapala (4)
Yakoob Ali (1)
Tharindu Chathuranga (1)
Roshan Weerarathne (1)
Buwaneka Udangamuwa (1)
Lavanga Perera (1)
Srinath Sooriyabandaara (2)
Arshad Jamaldeen (1)
Con: Thilina Wijesinghe (11)
Arshad Jamaldeen (1)
Yakob Ali (1)		 report Pen: Shamri Burah (1)
Nittawela Rugby Stadium
Referee: Aruna Krishantha Rankothge
17 February 2017
16:15
CR & FC 36 - 33 Air Force SC
Try: Kavindu Perera (2)
Sashan Mohammed (1)
Panduka Anganmana (1)
Nalin Kumara (1)
Con: Nalin Kumara (4)
Pen: Nalin Kumara (1)		 report Try: Gayantha Iddamalgoda (3)
Anjna Vinod (1)
Supun Madhushanka (1)
Con: Gayantha Iddamalgoda (4)
Colombo Racecourse
Referee: Priyantha Gunarathne
18 February 2017
16:15
Havelock SC 46 - 26 Police SC
Try: Chamika Samarathunge (2)
Sudam Suriarachchi (1)
Hirantha Perera (1)
Prashanth Madusanka (1)
Nishon Perera (2)
Sudarshana Muthuthanthri (1)
Con: Hirantha Perera (3)		 report Try: Udara Gayan (1)
Abzal Mohomad (1)
Radeesha Senevirathna (2)
Con: Rajitha Sansony (3)
Colombo Racecourse
19 February 2017
16:15
Navy SC 35 - 25 Army SC
Try: Dulanja Wijesinghe (1)
Thilina Weerasinghe (2)
Richie Dharmapala (1)
Supun Dilshan (1)
Con: Thilina Weerasinghe (5)		 report Try: Ashan Bandara (1)
Gayan Salinda (1)
Penalty Try (1)
Manoj Bandara (1)
Con: Gayan Salinda (1)
Pen: Gayan Salinda (1)
Colombo Racecourse
Referee: Dinka Peiris

Semi-finals

22 February 2017
Kandy SC 56 - 16 CR & FC
Try: Dhanuska Ranjan (3)
Visva Mithra Jayasinghe (1)
Danush Dayan (1)
Buwaneka Udangamuwa (1)
Yakoob Ali (1)
Richard Dharmapala (1)
Suhiru Anthony (1)
Con: Thilina Wijesinghe (3)
Nigel Rattwatte (1)
Pen: Thilina Wijesinghe (1)		 report Try: Omalka Gunaratne (1)
Con: Ashan de Costa (1)
Pen: Nalin Kumara (3)
Nittawela Rugby Stadium
Referee: Julian Castaignede Flag of France.svg
23 February 2017
Havelock SC 39 - 13 Navy SC
Try: Sudam Suriyarachi (2)
Nishon Perera (2)
Vimukthi Rahula (1)
Niroshan Fernando (1)
Con: Hirantha Perera (3)
Pen: Hirantha Perera (1)		 report Try: Roshan Ranasinghe (1)
Con: Thilina Weerasinghe (1)
Pen: Thilina Weerasinghe (2)
Colombo Racecourse
Referee: Julian Castaignede Flag of France.svg

Final

26 February 2017
Kandy SC 32 -20 Havelock SC
Try: Gayan Weeraratne (2)
Richard Dharmapala (1)
Fazil Marija (1)
Con: Thilina Wijesinghe (3)
Pen: Thilina Wijesinghe (1)
Drop: Thilina Wijesinghe (1)		 report Try: Nishon Perera (2)
Dushmantha Priyadarshana (1)
Con: Hirantha Perera (1)
Pen: Hirantha Perera (1)
Nittawela Rugby Stadium
Referee: Julian Castaignede Flag of France.svg
FB15Thilina Wijesinghe
RW14Richard Dharmapala
OC13Dhanushka Ranjan
IC12Gayan Weerarathna
LW11Vishwammithra Jayasinghe
FH10Fazil Marijan
SH9Roshan Weerarathna
N816Buwaneka Udangamuwa
OF18Tharindu Chathuranga
BF6Shehan Pathirana
RL5Dimitri Wijethunga
LL7Sohiru Anthony
TP19Ali Mohamed
HK2Damith Dissanayake
LP1Ganuka Dissanayake
Replacements:
3Piyumal Manchanayake
30Lasitha Attanagoda
8Heshan Silva
4Gayan Rathnayaka
22Srinath Sooriyabandara
17Dashna Dayan
20Naijel Rathwatte
25Lawanga Perera
FB15Kevin Dixon
RW30Vimukthi Rahula
OC13Nishon Perera
IC12Hirantha Perera
LW11Chamara Dabare
FH10Niroshan Fernando
SH9Sudam Sooriyarachchi
N87Sudarshana Muthuthanthri
OF6Senal Deelaka
BF33Sithum Peiris
RL22Umesh Madushan
LL19Janik Jayasuriya
TP3Dushmantha Priyadarshana
HK2Prasath Madhusankha
LP1Ashan Darling
Replacements:
16Liston Flatney
28Udana Anjana
34Jason Melder
17Sharo Fernando
20Shehan Dias
4Ganidu Lakshan
32Rahul de Silva
23Chamika Samarathunga

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rugby union in Sri Lanka</span>

Rugby union in Sri Lanka is mainly played at a semi-professional and recreational level. It is a popular team sport with a history dating back to 1879. In 2012, according to International Rugby Board figures, there were over 160,000 registered rugby union players in Sri Lanka, making it the second largest rugby-playing nation in Asia, behind Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kandy Sports Club (rugby)</span> Rugby team

Kandy Sports Club is a Division 'A' rugby union team, based in Kandy, Sri Lanka, competing in the Dialog Rugby League. The club has been the most successful Sri Lankan club in the Sri Lanka Rugby Championship, winning 18 league titles in the last twenty years, which is the most wins by any club since the expanded competition commenced in 1950. The club has also won twenty Clifford Cups and in the period between 1995 and 2012 the club did not lose a Clifford Cup title, although in 1998 there was no tournament and in 2006 the club withdrew from the tournament. Kandy SC had won the league title for a record nine consecutive years between 2000 and 2009.

Colombo Hockey and Football Club is a Division 'A' rugby union team based in Colombo, Sri Lanka, that competes in the Dialog Rugby League in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club is a Division 'A' rugby union team based in Sri Lanka. It is the rugby union team of the Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club. In 2014 they won the Clifford Cup, for the first time, defeating Havelock Sports Club, 27–22 in the final. Navy SC also completed the 'Grand Double' by winning the Dialog Rugby League Championship with an undefeated season that same year.

Sri Lanka Police Sports Club is a Division 'A' rugby union team based in Sri Lanka, competing in the Dialog Rugby League. It is the rugby union team of the Sri Lanka Police Sports Club.

Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club are a Division 'A' rugby union team, based in Sri Lanka. It is the rugby union team of the Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sri Lanka Rugby Championship</span> National rugby union club competition

The Sri Lanka Rugby Championship, known as the Nippon Paint Inter-Club Rugby League for sponsorship reasons, is the major national rugby union club competition, held between the top Division 'A' rugby sides, in Sri Lanka. The annual home and away competition, featuring eight Division 'A' teams, has been held since 1950. The competition has been held between November and February for the last three seasons. The first round of the tournament runs for seven weekends with the final match of the first round in early January, no games are played over the Christmas holiday period. The second round also runs for seven weekends, with the final match in the beginning of March.

The Clifford Cup is the most prestigious club rugby knockout tournament in Sri Lanka, and arguably the oldest rugby tournament in Asia. The Clifford Cup commenced in 1911 and has been played continuously since 1950, having completed 79 seasons. The tournament began as a competition between the mercantile executives in Colombo and planters in the hill country.

The 78th Clifford Cup tournament was held between the 28 September and 7 October 2012.

The 79th Clifford Cup tournament was held between the 27 February and the 5 March 2014. The change in dates from the competition's traditional dates in the September/October period, resulted in there being no competition being played in 2013.

Up Country Lions were a Division 'A' rugby union team based in Sri Lanka, competing in the Dialog Rugby League.

Fazil Marija is a former rugby union player of Sri Lanka. Marija is known as one of Sri Lanka's finest rugby union players and one of Asia's best. He was the former captain of the Sri Lanka national rugby union team. Marija comes from a sporting family background, with at least 17 members through two generations having represented various Clubs, Services Teams and National Rugby teams during the past four decades. Marija hails from the hill capital Kandy.

The 80th Clifford Cup tournament was held between the 20 and 29 March 2015.

Christopher Anthony Cloete is a South African rugby union player, currently playing for Bath in the Gallagher Premiership. His regular position is flanker.

The Dickoya Maskeliya Cricket Club is a sporting club formed by British tea planters and founded in 1868. The club house and grounds are situated at the foothills of Darrawella Estate and therefore the club is often called the Darrawella Club.

The 81st Clifford Cup tournament was held between the 11 and 27 March 2016.

The 2016–17 Dialog Rugby League was the 66th season of the top flight of Sri Lankan domestic rugby union competition. The competition is sponsored and broadcast by Dialog TV.

The 83rd Clifford Cup tournament was held between the 16 and 25 February 2018. The 2018 Clifford Cup took place after the conclusion of the regular season, with teams seeded based on their performance in the 2017-18 Dialog Rugby League season.

The 84th Clifford Cup tournament was held between the 15 and 24 March 2019. The 2019 Clifford Cup took place after the conclusion of the regular season, with teams seeded based on their performance in the 2018-19 Dialog Rugby League season. The eventual winner was Havelock Sports Club, who last won the cup in 1981, thirty seven years ago.

Indrajith Bandaranayake is a former Sri Lankan rugby union player and coach. He currently lives in Australia.

References

  1. ↑ Caffoor, Inshaf (13 February 2017). "Clifford Cup 2016-17 starts Friday". The Papare. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  2. ↑ Marikar, Hafiz (8 January 2017). "Clifford Cup in February". Sunday Observer . Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  3. ↑ Marikar, Hafiz (18 February 2017). "Champs Kandy steamroll CH 121-3". Daily News . Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  4. ↑ "Clifford Cup k/o rugby: Havies have the edge over Police". Daily News . 18 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  5. ↑ Nichols, Shannon (17 February 2017). "CR overcome Air Force in late drama". Daily Mirror . Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  6. ↑ "Frenchman to 'blow' in Clifford Cup k/o semis, final". Daily News . 17 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  7. ↑ Jaleel, Shamzeer (23 February 2017). "Kandy annihilate CR and FC". Daily Mirror . Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  8. ↑ Nichols, Shannon (24 February 2017). "Havelocks down Navy to set up epic final". Daily Mirror . Retrieved 27 February 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.