Kandy SC out to make a clean sweep by clinching President's Trophy

Ranjeeva Seneviratne

RUGBY: Kandy Sports Club which has already clinched four titles this year will go all out to make it a clean sweep by winning the President's Trophy knock-out tournament which will be worked off from September 14 to 23, 2007 at Longden place.

The President's Trophy knock-out tournament has been revived after nine years and will be sponsored by Chevron Lubricants Lanka Limited.

Kandy Sports Club clinched the Caltex 'A' Division League Rugby Title by remaining unbeaten and a fortnight ago they bagged club rugby's richest prize - the Clifford Cup by beating CR and FC 16-5 in the final. Earlier they took the Singer Professional Sevens with a smashing 28-5 win over CR and FC in the final played at Radella and two weeks later clinched the Qi Professional Sevens by overcoming the Red Shirts 15-7 in the final at Longden Place.

However, the lads from Kandy face a fierce challenge from CR and FC and CH and FC in their bid to make it a clean sweep.

The lads from Kandy bagged the President's Trophy for the first time by beating CR by 12-7 in the final in 1995 and made it three in-a-row by overcoming the Red Shirts by 6-5 (1996) and 16-8 (1997) before CR and FC snatched back the trophy by edging out Kandy SC (30-26) in the 1998 final - the last time the tournament was conducted.

The President's Trophy knock-out Rugby tournament was inaugurated in 1977 with CR and FC led by Shiraz Ferando bagging the trophy with a resounding 22-6 win over Army in the final. In the following year (1978) Havelocks under the leadership of Anton Benedict took the President's Trophy with a hard fought 10-4 win over Kandy SC in the final.

In 1979 Daya Ratnayake's, Army team clinched the trophy with a smashing 18-0 win over the more fancied Havelocks with full back S. P. de Silva coming up with a stupendous performance firing across four penalties and adding the extra points to the solitary try scored by winger Reginald Fernando.

The park club regained the trophy in 1980 by overcoming CR by 12-7 in the final and made it two-in-a row by edging out Police 8-6 in the 1981 final under the captaincy of Angelo Wickremaratne.

In 1982 Army led by John Senaweera snatched back the President's Trophy with a sensational 13-3 win over league champions CH and FC in the final. But surrendered the trophy to CR and FC in the following year (1983) when they went down by 9 points to 12 in the final.

In 1984 the SLRFU decided to rename the President's Trophy as the Premadasa Trophy in honour of then Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa and the CR and FC had the distinction of winning the Premadasa Trophy with a thrilling 16-12 in the final.

In 1985 CH and FC under the leadership of Roshan Perera clinched the Premadasa Trophy with a resounding 28-9 win over Army in the final and retained it in the following year by edging out Police 7-4 in the final.

In 1987 the Policemen won the Premadasa Trophy for the first time with a smashing 31-12 win over Havelocks in the final helped by a hat-trick of tries by No. 8 Hector Gunatilleke.

In 1988 CH regained the trophy with a hard fought 7-4 win over Police in the final but in the following year (1989) Police snatched back the trophy by beating CR 12-4 in the final.

CH and FC reigned supreme during the five year period from 1990 to 1994. They clinched the Premadasa Trophy by overcoming CR and FC by 12-3 in the final in 1990 and made it five-in a row with a smashing 31-16 win over Havelocks in the 1994 final before the SLRFU decided to rename the tournament as the President's Trophy in 1995.