Kandy-Navy one of the best rugby finals

Hafiz Marikar

Kandy SC edged out Navy SC 17-16 to clinch the final of the Clifford Cup Knock-out Trophy at the Royal College Sports Complex in Colombo on Saturday.

The match was the best ever final, despite Kandy SC fielding a virtual second string side with the Skipper Saliya Kumara, Eric Gunasinghe, Sean Wijesinghe, Buddika Thalagampola, Shasika Jayawardena, Prasard Chaturanghe, Mohamed Arshan all national players sidelined due to injury and other reasons.

The defending champions and favorites for the trophy KSC turned in a superlative performance to edge out their opponents Navy SC in a game where everyone were on tenterhooks until the long whistle.

Rugby enthusiasts in Kandy were disappointed over the SLRFU's decision to hold the Clifford Cup finals in Colombo. The protest made was on principle but the parent body was adamant that the finals be played in Colombo for reasons best known to them.

A very senior rugby enthusiast said: " The parent body need to put egos aside and make sure decisions are made for the good of the game. If we do get our act together in Kandy with the right personnel appointed to the SLRFU Council, Kandy can do better and be the best for the next decade as well',he said.

Despite the loss, the Sailors continue to show improvement in the game since last year. With the revival of the domestic structure, it may not be long before they will be a force to be reckoned with.

The enthusiasm of the Navy hierarchy has put the team in the limelight.

Kandy SC opened scoring in the eleventh minute when scrum half Roshan Weeraratne fired over a 25 metre penalty from an acute angle.

It took about fifteen minutes for the sailors to invade the Kandy territory due to the tight defence formed by the winners. The sailors stormed into the Kandy goal line when hooker Namal Rajapaksa made a daring run over 35 metres only to be brought down by a Kandy defender. If he had support to his right it would have ended in a certain try.

In the 20th minute Navy's place kicker Dev Anand's unerring kicking found the equalizer, but winger Mohammed Jabbar put Kandy in the lead again when he scored off a ruck and Roshan Weeraratne gave them the extra points.

Just before lemons Kandy extended their lead further when Eranga Weerakkody's clearance kick was smothered by Fazil Marija who ran to touch down under the posts to give Roshan Weeraratne an easy kick at goal.

Kandy led 17/3 at half time. Navy came back fighting after the short whistle and really got their act together.

Number 8 Bilal Hassan and scrum half Suranga Pushpakumara rattled Kandy with their robust play. Both forwards and backs playing cohesive rugby rattled the KSC and were on the back foot but defended well to stop the onslaught by the Navy who were desperate to clinch a win to create history at Rugby for the first time.

But Dev Anand put over two penalties early in the second half to bridge the gap 9/17 , and the sailors were desperately looking to forge ahead. They gave some anxious moments to Kandy near their goal line with a fierce attack and finally prop forward Sathya Ranatunga scored a try converted by Dev Anand minutes before the final whistle to make it 16-17.

Nizam Jamaldeen refereed.

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Rousing welcome

A rousing welcome was accorded by the rugby fans of Kandy on their return for bringing back the Prestigious Silverware for yet another year.

When this reporter questioned some players they had this to say: "Although we had resistance both from the SLRFU and other sources, we put aside all that and trained hard with great commitment to achieve this result as such we are very proud of this win".

The rugby coach Johan Taylor had a hard time full throughout the season with insufficient players to fit into the respective positions particulary prop forwards and replacements, but still found continued his coaching assignment since 2007 as rugby champs.

Kandy players are grateful to Malik Samarawickrema who backed them from the beginning and still continues to support the players and their needs.

'We owe him a great deal and thank him most profusely for his untiring efforts to support rugby in Kandy, both personally and financially", said the Kandy players.

Besides, the Rugby Committee consisting of Rugby Chairman Lasantha Wijesuriya Rugby Coach Johan Taylor and Team Manager Kapila Silva, Physiotherapist Sanjeewa Perera, Team Attendant S. Kumar and the Gym Attendants played a huge role towards the victory of Kandy SC for 2011.

The Club Committee as usual played their role supporting the players in whatever way they could.