A look back on 1950 Clifford Cup

Hafiz MARIKAR

With the Clifford cup final set for next Saturday, where the cup is one hundred years old, a look back to the first Clifford cup competition

the cup which was introduced in 1920’s, was first played among Up-Country, Low Country, Ceylonese and United Services Kandy. Then in 1950 the tournament was conducted on a league basis.

The curtain raiser was between CR & FC and Dickoya MCC which game was played at the Darawella grounds, the planting club led by D.A. Cook beat the CR & FC led by Archibal Perera by a narrow 6 points to 5. which match was handled by J.M. Stewart. In this game the excitement and the tension created continued to be part and parcel of the championship.

The feature of the tournament was the Havelock Sports Club led by Ian Labrooy went through the tournament without having their line crossed, Similarly the Dimbulla ACC team mainly comprising of planters, maintained an unbeaten record at Radella, their home, until the last tournament game they played against Havelock SC.

It is said that it was the best rugby ever witnessed at Radella Grounds. By virtue of their points 13 two goals and a try to nil victory over Dimbulla ACC, Havelock SC became the first inter club champions and pocketed the coveted Clifford Cup. At the end of the tournament Havelock S.C. gained 14 points, in seven games two points ahead of the nearest rival CH & FC.

CH & FC had the distinction of scoring the highest score of the season when they beat the Dimbulla ACC by 41 points to nil in Colombo at the Race Courser.

(1) Havelocks played 7, won 7 scored 100 points, against 56.

(2)CH & FC played 7, won 6 lost 1 scored 123 points against 11.

(3)CR & FC,

(4) Dimbulla ACC 5) Kandy Sports Club,

(6) UVA,

(7) Dickoya MCC,

(8) Kelani Valley (KV).

[In this inaugural year of the Clifford Cup]

Havelocks SC were represented by Ian Labrooy (Captain), B.S. Hanricus, H. Aldons, F. Aldons, H.E.V. Matzelling, F. Aldons, S.B. Pilapitiya, V. Kelly, A. Drieberg, R. Sourjah, E. Mathayasz, I. Batholomeusz, L. Ephrams, D. Ernest, O.K. Gunawardene.

CH & FC - M.C. Bostock, G. Hall, N.W. Dewing, K.E.L. Burton, D. Clarke, L.D. Cotton, H.C. Dowse, H. Campbell (Captain), G.F.E. MaZrsh, W. Cooper, T.D. Carrick, A.V. Woodman, A.P. Calladine, W.D. Barker, R. Hambling (Not a single local).

CR & FC - R. de Zylva, Summa Navaratnam, P. Perera, P. de Zylva, U. Amarasinghe, Archibald Perera (Captain), Mahesh Rodrigo, A.I. Obeyasekara, R. Christofeszl, E.I. Gray, E. McHeyzer, D. Ranasinghe, M. Nuhuman, E.L. Blaze, G. Weinman.

Dimbulla ACC - M. Gibbon, R.L. Lushington, M.P. Thacker, J.D. Cambell, D. Sounders, D. Ironasinge, Reid Wilson, D.R.A. Shaw, M. Sparks, M. Arinign, D.T. Trail, L. Simpson (Captain), M. Robertson, G. Lovell (Not a single local).

Kandy Sports Club - M. Frazer, S. Clarke, M. MaCpherson, A. Halangoda, T. Jenkins, O. Currie (Captain), G. Gloud, D. Willet, P. Penny, C. Richards, S. Greenhow, S. Somerville, Miles Chrostoffeszl, S. Spacey, R. Rontidege.

UVA - L Hearth, A. Arirajah, C Macaulay, P Ponibrideg, G. Fernando, Ralston Tissera, G. Pethiyagoda, F. Brown, H. Froxely, D. Dawson, M. McKohenck, D. Berteet, G. Roberts, S. Csobie (Captain), J. Macky.

Dickoya MCC - P. Amstrong, A. Horsdfall, R.C. Graham, D Ingles, P.W. Rowson, G. Gibbon, C. Jayasuriya, M.D.A. Cook (Captain), J. Forsythe, P. Playfair, R.B. Reith, E. Perkins, D. Nugawella, N. Lindsey, M. Steait.

Kelani Valley - R.R. William, J.B. Trotter, K. Bushby, J.F. Soward (Captain), K.K. Peddle, P.M. Dagetty, F. Roelofts, K.C. Meier, G.B. Hall, A.H.C. Harvey, R.S. Frazer, M. Henman, P. Wheatle, D. McCarkdsle, I.M. Mollison (no locals).