Kandy Sports Club would like to settle matters which were missed once this season. That was the League. Now they lock horns with the same opponents this time for the Clifford Cup Knock out rugby encounter which will be worked off today at Bogambara Stadium. Kick off is scheduled at 4.30 pm. Kandy always looks [...]

Feeds Editorials Times Online

The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka

Kandy SC holds the edge in own backyard

By Shamseer Jaleel
Dialog Clifford Cup Knock out Final
View(s):

Kandy Sports Club would like to settle matters which were missed once this season. That was the League. Now they lock horns with the same opponents this time for the Clifford Cup Knock out rugby encounter which will be worked off today at Bogambara Stadium. Kick off is scheduled at 4.30 pm.

Kandy always looks a different unit when they play in Kandy that too in front of their home crowd. Kandy SC will for sure miss the Nittawela Rugby Stadium atmosphere but not short of any crowd support today though playing at a different venue. They will be all out to settle the defeat at the hand of Havies in their game in Colombo. In the league first leg was won by Kandy and the return leg in Colombo Havies not only won but also took away any chance of Kandy claiming the League in tandem for 12 years.

Clifford Cup the oldest on offer will be 101 years old and originally played between the Up Country teams till early 1950. Later the Central province Rugby Football Union (CPRFU) opened out to the other clubs in Colombo as well. Kandy first won the Clifford cup with their revamp in 1992. So far Kandy SC has won it 17 occasions and Havies 12 occasions. CR & FC who are going through a bad patch this year have accounted for 13 times. Kandy Sports Club will defend the trophy which they have kept in their cupboard since 2007 (last five years). Further the Up Country club has missed out only in 1994 when they were beaten in the semi finals and did not participate in 2006 for shifting the tournament to Colombo.

Havelocks managed to drub Kandy in the league competition. - Pic SLRFU

Kandy coming in to this grand final notching up two easy wins over CR & FC (83-5) and Police SC (53-8). Havies on the other hand had an easy outing against Air force but had a cliff-hanger against Up Country Lions in a nail biting 32-31 win in the semi finals.

Kandy’s strength is their set of three quarter line. The entire line had done the national jersey. Play Maker and Fly Half Fazil Marija will be a threat for any team. With Pradeep Liayange, Mohamed Jabbar and Antonian schoolboy Danushka Dayan joining the Up Country club they will hold the key for this game. Roshan Weeraratne who was taken out due to injury will be in the starting line up as he had recovered from an injury. He is one of the best defending as well as attacking player who could take the place kicks along with his school mate Fazil Marija. Anura Walpola, Keith Gurusinghe and experience Sean Wijesinghe will add power for the forwards.

On the other hand Havies have not won the Knock out trophy for the last 27 years. Last win was under M S Salley in 1984. This club almost being written off by most has came back in to the limelight. Their forwards are outstanding this year. Havelocks are led by work horse Kavinda Jayasena with number 8 Aitui Nissan also being thick on things. Other players to watch in the Havies side would be winger Sandun Herath and Lee Keegle. Recovering from an injury Sandun is hitting the peak. All in all it looks like Kandy three quarter and Havies forwards to battle it out. Who were comes on top the spectators are assured of a clean game of rugby to end the rugby season 2012 as the 2013 season is a too longer wait till November next year.

Kandy SC coached by Johan Taylor since 2007 have never missed out on the Clifford Cup since his arrival in Kandy. Originally the offer for coaching was given to South African scrum Half Van Zie but on his recommendation Taylor came down to Sri Lanka. He also coached the national team qualifying for the Top Five in the Asian Region. Samoan Laga too was brought to Sri Lanka by Rugger Legend Malik Samarawickrama. Later Laga left to his home land returned to coach the Park Club and he is the main architect behind their success this season. Kandy SC Manager Kapila Silva speaking to Sunday Times said the players want to end the season on a very high note. They are all out to give their best. We also want to thank the Kandy crowd who were behind us through out the season to come join us and support the team where this will be the last match for 2012.

The two probable sides

Kandy SC: Latu, Anura Walpola, Kishore Jahn, Buddhika Thalagampola, Senaka Bandara, Moses, Heshan Kalhara, Sean Wijesinghe, Roshan Weeraratne, Fazil Marija, Pradeep Liyanage, Gayan Weeraratne, Mohamed Jabbar, Dhanushka Dayan and Tharindu Chanaka.

Havelocks SC: Henry Terrance, Rajiv Perera, Liston Karunanayake, Kavinda Jayasena, Ashen Karthalies, Dhiren Warnakulasuriya, Sudharshan Muthuthanthri, Aitui Nissan, Rizwan Meedin, Niroshan Fernando, Lee Keegel, Nive Tausa, William Hakaloa, Chamara Vithanage, Mithun Hapugodage, Mohammed Sheriff, Chamara Dabare and Sandun Herath.

Referee-Paul Mackay




Share This Post

DeliciousDiggGoogleStumbleuponRedditTechnoratiYahooBloggerMyspace
comments powered by Disqus

Advertising Rates

Please contact the advertising office on 011 - 2479521 for the advertising rates.