Blockbuster Clifford Cup final today at Nittawela
View(s):All eyes in Sri Lanka’s rugby circles will be glued to the Hill Capital today, as two giants of the game — unbeaten league champions Kandy Sports Club and former league winners CR&FC — lock horns in a blockbuster Clifford Cup final at 3:45pm at the famed Nittawela Stadium.
This final is not just a game — it’s a battle of pride, power, and passion. On one end, Kandy SC, the kings of consistency, are playing in their fortress. On the other, the Red Shirts from Longden Place, are determined to wrestle back lost glory. When the whistle blows, expect sparks to fly.
RUGBY
Kandy SC, captained by the ever-reliable fullback Srinath Sooriyabandara, are on a dream run. They swept through the league unbeaten, leaving every opponent trailing in their dust. Now, they are hunting a perfect double — the league and Clifford Cup in the same season.
Their road to the final was clinical. They crushed Clifford Cup newcomers Sri Lions 41-8, then outclassed Plate champions CH&FC 38-21, both wins coming at home in Nittawela. The message was loud and clear — Kandy are a well-oiled machine, hard to stop and even harder to shake on their home turf.
Their attacking flair, especially in the three-quarters, is second to none. The likes of Danushka Ranjan, Dinal Ekanayake, Heshan Jansen have turned defence into attack in the blink of an eye all season. The side is coached by former Sri Lanka captain Fazil Marija, whose sharp rugby brain has moulded a squad playing at full throttle.
But Kandy will miss a key weapon today — Tarinda Ratwatte, top point-scorer this season, is sidelined with a knee injury. Yet, Kandy’s depth in the backline might just help them plug that gap. Adding more emotion to the day, veteran flyhalf Nigel Ratwatte, a loyal servant of Kandy SC for 14 years, will bow out after today’s final. At 34, this will be his final act in club rugby.
CR&FC, led by dynamic centre Gemunu Chethiya, enter the final as underdogs — but they are no strangers to turning the tables. They have had a gritty Clifford Cup run. After brushing aside Clifford Cup title holders Police SC 31-20 in the quarter-final, they won a heart-stopping 25-24 thriller against arch-rivals Havelocks SC in the semis. That victory displayed their grit, heart, and never-say-die attitude.
Their strength lies up front. Omalka Gunaratne, the barnstorming flanker, has been the heart of their pack, smashing through defences and dragging his team over the gain line. Lock Suhiru Anthony, the former Sri Lanka captain, is playing his final match today — a warrior bidding farewell. His leadership and experience will be vital in keeping the Red Shirts composed.
CR coach Dushanth Lewke, a former national back division coach, knows that matching Kandy’s pace with physical dominance is the way forward. “We know what we are up against. Kandy at Nittawela is a huge mountain to climb. But we believe in our systems, our heart, and our forwards. This team has fought hard all year,” Lewke said on the build-up.
They will miss flanker Adeesha Weeratunga, who is out with a knee injury. But CR still has the muscle in the scrum and mauls to grind down their opponents. This is a match made in rugby heaven. CR’s power-packed forwards against Kandy’s lightning-fast backs. It’s the age-old battle — brawn versus speed. Whichever team dictates the tempo, may well dictate the scoreboard.
Kandy will look to stretch the game wide, run angles, and strike through their classy backs. CR will try to slow the tempo, win collisions, and choke Kandy in the set pieces. Today’s final promises to be a rugby masterclass. A match that could go down to the wire if both sides hit their stride. The Clifford Cup — Sri Lanka’s oldest and most prestigious knockout trophy — is more than a silverware. It’s legacy. It’s pride. It’s history.
“Finals are all about moments. We just need to create the right ones,” said Kandy SC Head Coach Fazil Marija. “It’s about controlling pressure and delivering under it.” Kandy might be the favourites, but CR’s never-say-die attitude could spring a surprise. Expect a nail-biter, and let the best team take the glory.