2018 Clifford Cup

The 83rd Clifford Cup tournament was held between the 16 and 25 February 2018.[1] 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.[2]

2018 Clifford Cup
Tournament details
Tournament format(s)Knockout
Date16 February 2018 – 25 February 2018
Tournament statistics
Teams8
Matches played7
Tries scored58 (8.29 per match)
Top try scorer(s)Dhanushka Ranjan (6)
Final
VenueLongdon Place
ChampionsKandy SC (21st title)
Runners-upNavy SC

Navy SC, who finished in second place at the end of the domestic season by a solitary point, competed in the opening quarter-final match at the Colombo Racecourse ground, against the seventh placed Police SC. The lead changed numerous times during the game however Navy SC's captain, Dulanjana Wijesinghe, scored a try in the dying minutes providing Navy SC with a 36-28 victory and a semi-final berth.[3] The top seeded team in the competition, Kandy SC (the previous cup winner and the undefeated Dialog league champion) faced the eighth seeded Air Force SC (who had only managed two wins in the domestic season) in the second quarter-final match held at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Kandy SC dominated the first half of the game, scoring three tries and a penalty to nil, with the final result being 53 points to fourteen. The third seed, Havelock SC, played their quarter final match against Army SC, at Police Park. Whilst Army SC scored the first try of the game, Havelock SC led 19-10 at halftime, going on to win 41 points to 20 and advanced to the semi-finals. In the remaining quarter final match fourth placed Colombo Hockey and Football Club faced Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club at the Colombo Racecourse, in a repeat of the final game of the domestic fixtures. This time however CR & FC made a fast start to the game and were never challenged by Colombo running out eventual winners 46 (seven tries) to 29 (four tries).[4]

The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union appointed Sam Jones, a Western Australian rugby referee, to officiate in the semi-finals and the final, with Les Cash, an English referee as an assistant official.[5][6]

In the first semi-final encounter played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Kandy SC defeated a gallant CR & FC 38 points to 26 points, running in five tries to four.[7] The other semi-final match between Navy SC and Havelock SC at the Colombo Racecourse was a closer affair, with the scored tied 12 all at half time (two tries apiece). Navy SC the scored back to back penalties and a try after the half time break before Raveen De Silva was sin binned, this led to a resurgence by Havelock SC scoring successive tries and regaining the lead 26 to 25. Havelock SC however conceded a penalty in the dying minutes of the game, which was converted by Navy SC taking them through to the finals.[8]

The final was held at Longdon Place on Sunday 25 February. Danushka Ranjan opened the scoring for Kandy SC with a try, which Nigel Rattwatte failed to convert. The score line remained at five to nil for most of the first half until Rattwatte put through a penalty right under the posts to extend Kandy SC's lead by another 3 points, with an eight to nil score at half time. After the break Navy SC’s Mohommed Absal capitalised on a mistake by Fazil Marija scoring a try, which was converted by Thilina Weerasinghe. Ranjan then scored his second try with a dive into the corner, with Thilina Wijesinghe failing to convert from a difficult angle. Wijesinghe extended Kandy SC's lead by the putting through a penalty, which was followed by a try from Shehan Pathirana. Navy SC failing to add to their earlier converted try with the final score of 21 to seven. Kandy SC repeating their success in 2017 by winning both the League and Clifford Cups, in an undefeated season, with club stalwart Marija retiring from domestic rugby competition.[9][10][11]

Bracket

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
16 February 2018 - 16:15
Colombo Racecourse
 
 
Navy SC36
 
22 February 2018 - 16:00
Colombo Racecourse
 
Police SC28
 
Navy SC28
 
17 February 2018 - 16:15
Police Park
 
Havelock SC26
 
Havelock SC41
 
26 February 2018 - 16:15
Longdon Place
 
Army SC20
 
Kandy SC21
 
17 February 2018 - 16:15
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
 
Navy SC7
 
Kandy SC53
 
22 February 2018 - 16:00
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
 
Air Force SC14
 
Kandy SC38
 
17 February 2018 - 16:15
Longdon Place
 
CR & FC26
 
CR & FC46
 
 
Colombo Hockey and Football Club29


 

Matches

Quarter-Finals

16 February 2018
16:15
Navy SC 36 - 28 Police SC
Try: Dulanjana Wijesinghe (2)
Harsha Maduranga (1)
Kasun De Silva (1)
Thilina Wijesinghe (1)
Con: Thilina Wijesinghe (4)
Pen: Thilina Wijesinghe (1)
report Try: Wajid Fawmy (1)
Suranga Kasun (2)
Kavinda Jayasundara (1)
Con: Sandesh Jayawickrama (4)

17 February 2018
16:15
Kandy SC 53 - 14 Air Force SC
Try: Shehan Pathirana (2)
Richard Dharmapala (2)
Yakoob Alin (1)
Vishwamithra Jayasinghe (1)
Oshan Perera (1)
Danushka Ranjan (1)
Con: Thilina Wijesinghe (5)
report Try: Soorya Krishan (1)
Jehan Seelagama (1)
Con: Charith Senevirathne (2)

17 February 2018
16:15
CR & FC 46 - 29 Colombo Hockey and Football Club
Try: Chanaka Chandimal (2)
Joel Perera (2)
Gayan Dilshan (1)
Kavindu Perera (1)
Reeza Raffaideen (1)
Con: Tarinda Ratwatte (3)
Reeza Raffaideen (1)
Pen: Tarinda Ratwatte (1)
report Try: Sudarshana Muthuthanthri (2)
Anuradha Herath (2)
Con: Samuel Maduwantha (3)
Pen: Samuel Maduwantha (1)
Longdon Place
Referee: Sam Jones

17 February 2018
16:15
Havelock SC 41 - 20 Army SC
Try: Prasad Madusanka (1)
Randy Silva (1)
Sudam Sooriarachhi (1)
Dinuk Amarasinghe (1)
Dushmantha Priyadarshana (1 Penalty Try)
Con: Rizah Mubarak (2)
Rajith Sansoni (1)
Pen: Rizah Mubarak (1)
report Try: Janith Lanka (1)
Manoj Bandara (1)
Samira Bulathsinghala (1)
Con: Gayan Salinda (1)
Pen: Gayan Salinda (1)

Semi-Finals

22 February 2018
Kandy SC 38 - 26 CR & FC
Try: Dhanushka Ranjan (3)
Srinath Sooriyabandara (1)
Gayan Weerarathna (1)
Con: Nigel Ratwatte (1)
Pen: Nigel Ratwatte (2)
Thilina Wijesinghe (1)
report Try: Chanaka Chandimal (1)
Omalka Gunarathna (1)
Shemal Weerasekara (1)
Reeza Rafaideen (1)
Con: Tarinda Ratwatte (4)

22 February 2018
Navy SC 28 - 26 Havelock SC
Try: Charith Silva (1)
Chathura Gomez (1)
Adheesha Weerathunge (1)
Con: Thilina Weerasinghe (2)
Pen: Thilina Weerasinghe (3)
report Try: Azmir Fajudeen(2)
Lasindu Ishan (1)
Gihan Madusanka (1)
Con: Riza Mubarak (3)
Colombo Racecourse
Referee: Les Cash

Final

25 February 2018
Kandy SC 21 - 7 Navy SC
Try: Danushka Ranjan (2)
Shehan Pathirana (1)
Pen: Nigel Rattwatte (1)
Thilina Wijesinghe (1)
report Try: Mohommed Absal (1)
Con: Thilina Weerasinghe (1)
Longdon Place
Referee: Sam Jones

References

  1. "Dialog Clifford Cup rugby tourney kicks off today". Daily FT. 16 February 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  2. de Silva, Romario (14 February 2018). "Dialog Clifford Cup: one final chance for redemption?". Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  3. "Navy SC qualify to Dialog Clifford Cup semi-finals". The Island. 17 February 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  4. Tharinda, Saveen (18 February 2018). "CR & FC take sweet revenge". The Island. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  5. Perera, Vimal (25 February 2018). "According to Jones: Lesson of letting the game flow". Sunday Times. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  6. Nagahawatte, Ravi (18 March 2017). "Refs must dream big – Anil". The Nation. Archived from the original on 9 March 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  7. "Rugby: Kandy beat CR to reach Clifford Cup final". Sunday Times. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  8. Kodithuwakku, Sandun (22 February 2018). "Weerasinghe inspires Navy into Clifford Cup final". Mirror Citizen. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  9. Welagedara, Indika (26 February 2018). "Kandy retains Clifford Cup". Daily News. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  10. "Kandy beat Navy to win their 23rd Clifford Cup in Style". Daily Sports. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  11. "Kandy Wins Clifford Cup". Times of Sri Lanka. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
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