2017 Clifford Cup

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.

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
VenueNittawela Rugby Stadium
ChampionsKandy SC (20th title)
Runners-upHavelock SC

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 SC121
 
22 February 2017 - 16:15
Nittawela Rugby Stadium
 
CH & FC3
 
Kandy SC56
 
17 February 2017 - 16:15
Colombo Racecourse
 
CR & FC16
 
CR & FC36
 
26 February 2017 - 16:15
Nittawela Rugby Stadium
 
Air Force SC33
 
Kandy SC32
 
18 February 2017 - 16:15
Colombo Racecourse
 
Havelock SC20
 
Havelock SC46
 
23 February 2017 - 16:15
Colombo Racecourse
 
Police SC26
 
Havelock SC39
 
19 February 2017 - 16:15
Colombo Racecourse
 
Navy SC13
 
Navy SC35
 
 
Army SC25
 

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)
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
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

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
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
gollark: Fascinating.
gollark: What about ”””Marty”””?
gollark: "W"elcome!!!¡!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
gollark: Ah yes.
gollark: Did we do that?

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.
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