Havelocks-Army clash in the curtain-raiser of Clifford Cup

Ranjeeva Seneviratne

RUGBY: Last year’s runners up Havelocks Sports Club will confront the Sri Lanka Army in the curtain raiser of the Caltex Inter-club knock-out rugby tournament for the Clifford Cup on August 10 (Friday) at Longden Place.

Caltex ‘A’ Division League rugby champions Kandy SC who will go all out to clinch the Rugby Double will play host to the minnows of ‘A’ Division rugby Old Zahirians in the second quarter-final on August 11 (Saturday) at Nittawela.

On the same day defending champions CR and FC will take on plate champions Air Force at the Royal Sports Complex, Colombo 7 in the third quarter-final while on the following day August 12 (Sunday) the formidable CH and FC will lock horns with Police at the Royal Sports Complex in the fourth quarter-final.

The semi-finals will be worked off on August 14 (Tuesday) and August 15 (Wednesday) at Nittawela and Longden Place respectively with the final scheduled for August 18 (Saturday) at Nittawela.

Last year Kandy Sports Club withdrew from the Clifford Cup Knock-out Tournament as a mark of protest at the decision taken by the SLRFU to shift the tournament to Colombo. CR and FC clinched the Clifford Cup with a smashing 37-5 win over arch rivals Havelocks in the final last year breaking a 17 year hoodoo having last won it in 1989.

The Red Shirts entered the final with a hard fought 21-11 win over Air Force while Havelocks edged out CH and FC 15-10 in the other semi-final.

Kandy Sports Club have reigned supreme in the Clifford Cup knock-out Rugby Tournament since they won it for the first time in 1992 under the leadership of Ananda Kasturiarachchi. During the 14 year period from 1992 to 2005 the lads from Kandy have bagged the Clifford Cup - club rugby’s richest prize on 12 occasions except for 1994 and 1998.

CH and FC won the cup in 1994 by edging out CR and FC 15-11 in the final played at Nittawela having earlier knocked-out the mighty Kandy SC in the semi-final while the tournament was not conducted in 1998.

CR and FC has the distinction of winning the Clifford Cup the most number of times - 14 since bagging it for the first time in 1952 while Havelocks have clinched it on 13 occasions - having the honour of winning it in the first two years when it was on offer to the clubs - 1950 and 1951.

CH and FC another strong contender for the Clifford Cup this year have won it on seven occasions since winning it for the first time in 1957 while Sri Lanka Police have bagged it on eight occasions since clinching it for the first time in 1970 sharing it with Havelocks and the Policemen last won the cup in 1991 by edging out CH by 13-11 in the final.

Quarter-finals

(a) Havelocks vs Army SC at Longden Place on August 10

(b) Kandy SC vs Old Zahirians at Nittawela on August 11

(c) CR and FC vs Air Force at Royal Sports Complex on August 11

(d) CH and FC vs Police at Royal Sports Complex on August 12

Semi-finals:

(e) Winners of (a) vs winners of (b) at Nittawela on August 14

(f) Winners of (c) vs winners of (d) at Longden Place on August 15

Finals - winners of (e) vs winners of (f) at Nittawala on August 18