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2017 Clifford Cup

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2017 Clifford Cup
Tournament details
Tournament format(s)Knockout
Date17 February 2017 – 26 February 2017
Tournament statistics
Teams8
Matches played7
Tries scored73 (10.43 per match)
Top point scorer(s)Thilina Wijesinghe
Top try scorer(s)Richard Dharmapala (7)
Final
VenueNittawela Rugby Stadium
ChampionsKandy SC (20th title)
Runners-upHavelock SC
← 2016 (Previous)
(Next) 2018 →

The 82nd Clifford Cup tournament was held between the 17 and 26 February 2017.[1][2] The 2016 Clifford Cup took place after the conclusion of the regular season, with teams seeded based on their performance in the 2016-17 Dialog Rugby League season.

The top seeded team in the competition, Kandy SC (the previous cup winner and the Dialog league champion) faced the lowly ranked Colombo Hockey and Football Club in the opening quarter-final match. Kandy SC dominated the game, accumulating nineteen tries to nil, with the final score being 121 points to three.[3] Second seeded Havelock SC, were missing a number of the key play makers going into their quarter final match against Police SC[4] however easily accounted for their opponents winning 46 points to 26. In the other quarter final matches Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club (CR & FC) narrowly overcame Air Force SC 36 to 33, with a solitary penalty being the only difference between the two sides,[5] and Navy SC defeated Army SC 35 to 25.

The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union appointed Julien Castaignede, a French rugby referee, to officiate for the two semi-finals and the final.[6]

In the first semi-final encounter played at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium Kandy SC soundly defeated CR & FC 56 points to 16 points,[7] whilst Havelock SC dominated Navy SC at the Colombo Racecourse winning 39 points to 13.[8]

The final was held at Nittawela Rugby Stadium in wet conditions, following a heavy downpour before the game commenced. Havelock SC dominated the early stages of the match until a crucial injury to key playmaker, Dulaj Perera. Havelock scored first with a penalty in the 8th minute however Kandy equalised five minutes later. A few minutes later Kandy crossed the line with the first try of the day by Gayan Weeraratne, which was converted by Thilina Wijesinghe. Weeraratne followed this up soon after with a second try, also converted by Wijesinghe and minutes before half-time veteran Fazil Marija crossed the line for Kandy SC a third time, which was also converted, resulting in a 24 to 3 score. After the break Havelock SC again dominated the early stages of the second half, with Nishon Perera scoring back to back tries, although Hirantha Perera only converted one. Wijesinghe then managed to score a 30 m (98 ft) drop goal before Havelock's Dushmantha Priyadarshana scored a try bringing them to with seven points. Kandy SC however then put the game out of reach through a try by Richard Dharmapala. The final score line being 30 points to 20, securing Kandy SC's twentieth Clifford Cup.

Bracket

[edit]
 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
17 February 2017 - 16:15
Nittawela Rugby Stadium
 
 
Kandy SC121
 
22 February 2017 - 16:15
Nittawela Rugby Stadium
 
CH & FC3
 
Kandy SC56
 
17 February 2017 - 16:15
Colombo Racecourse
 
CR & FC16
 
CR & FC36
 
26 February 2017 - 16:15
Nittawela Rugby Stadium
 
Air Force SC33
 
Kandy SC32
 
18 February 2017 - 16:15
Colombo Racecourse
 
Havelock SC20
 
Havelock SC46
 
23 February 2017 - 16:15
Colombo Racecourse
 
Police SC26
 
Havelock SC39
 
19 February 2017 - 16:15
Colombo Racecourse
 
Navy SC13
 
Navy SC35
 
 
Army SC25
 

Matches

[edit]

Quarter-finals

[edit]
17 February 2017
16:15
Kandy SC121 - 3CH & FC
Try: Thilina Wijesinghe (1)
Vishva Mithra Jayasinghe (4)
Dhanushka Ranjan (2)
Richard Dharmapala (4)
Yakoob Ali (1)
Tharindu Chathuranga (1)
Roshan Weerarathne (1)
Buwaneka Udangamuwa (1)
Lavanga Perera (1)
Srinath Sooriyabandaara (2)
Arshad Jamaldeen (1)
Con: Thilina Wijesinghe (11)
Arshad Jamaldeen (1)
Yakob Ali (1)
reportPen: Shamri Burah (1)
Nittawela Rugby Stadium
Referee: Aruna Krishantha Rankothge

17 February 2017
16:15
CR & FC36 - 33Air Force SC
Try: Kavindu Perera (2)
Sashan Mohammed (1)
Panduka Anganmana (1)
Nalin Kumara (1)
Con: Nalin Kumara (4)
Pen: Nalin Kumara (1)
reportTry: Gayantha Iddamalgoda (3)
Anjna Vinod (1)
Supun Madhushanka (1)
Con: Gayantha Iddamalgoda (4)
Colombo Racecourse
Referee: Priyantha Gunarathne

18 February 2017
16:15
Havelock SC46 - 26Police SC
Try: Chamika Samarathunge (2)
Sudam Suriarachchi (1)
Hirantha Perera (1)
Prashanth Madusanka (1)
Nishon Perera (2)
Sudarshana Muthuthanthri (1)
Con: Hirantha Perera (3)
reportTry: Udara Gayan (1)
Abzal Mohomad (1)
Radeesha Senevirathna (2)
Con: Rajitha Sansony (3)
Colombo Racecourse

19 February 2017
16:15
Navy SC35 - 25Army SC
Try: Dulanja Wijesinghe (1)
Thilina Weerasinghe (2)
Richie Dharmapala (1)
Supun Dilshan (1)
Con: Thilina Weerasinghe (5)
reportTry: Ashan Bandara (1)
Gayan Salinda (1)
Penalty Try (1)
Manoj Bandara (1)
Con: Gayan Salinda (1)
Pen: Gayan Salinda (1)
Colombo Racecourse
Referee: Dinka Peiris

Semi-finals

[edit]
22 February 2017
Kandy SC56 - 16CR & FC
Try: Dhanuska Ranjan (3)
Visva Mithra Jayasinghe (1)
Danush Dayan (1)
Buwaneka Udangamuwa (1)
Yakoob Ali (1)
Richard Dharmapala (1)
Suhiru Anthony (1)
Con: Thilina Wijesinghe (3)
Nigel Rattwatte (1)
Pen: Thilina Wijesinghe (1)
reportTry: Omalka Gunaratne (1)
Con: Ashan de Costa (1)
Pen: Nalin Kumara (3)
Nittawela Rugby Stadium
Referee: Julian Castaignede France
23 February 2017
Havelock SC39 - 13Navy SC
Try: Sudam Suriyarachi (2)
Nishon Perera (2)
Vimukthi Rahula (1)
Niroshan Fernando (1)
Con: Hirantha Perera (3)
Pen: Hirantha Perera (1)
reportTry: Roshan Ranasinghe (1)
Con: Thilina Weerasinghe (1)
Pen: Thilina Weerasinghe (2)
Colombo Racecourse
Referee: Julian Castaignede France

Final

[edit]
26 February 2017
Kandy SC32 -20Havelock SC
Try: Gayan Weeraratne (2)
Richard Dharmapala (1)
Fazil Marija (1)
Con: Thilina Wijesinghe (3)
Pen: Thilina Wijesinghe (1)
Drop: Thilina Wijesinghe (1)
reportTry: Nishon Perera (2)
Dushmantha Priyadarshana (1)
Con: Hirantha Perera (1)
Pen: Hirantha Perera (1)
Nittawela Rugby Stadium
Referee: Julian Castaignede France
FB 15 Thilina Wijesinghe
RW 14 Richard Dharmapala
OC 13 Dhanushka Ranjan
IC 12 Gayan Weerarathna
LW 11 Vishwammithra Jayasinghe
FH 10 Fazil Marijan
SH 9 Roshan Weerarathna
N8 16 Buwaneka Udangamuwa
OF 18 Tharindu Chathuranga
BF 6 Shehan Pathirana
RL 5 Dimitri Wijethunga
LL 7 Sohiru Anthony
TP 19 Ali Mohamed
HK 2 Damith Dissanayake
LP 1 Ganuka Dissanayake
Replacements:
3 Piyumal Manchanayake
30 Lasitha Attanagoda
8 Heshan Silva
4 Gayan Rathnayaka
22 Srinath Sooriyabandara
17 Dashna Dayan
20 Naijel Rathwatte
25 Lawanga Perera
FB 15 Kevin Dixon
RW 30 Vimukthi Rahula
OC 13 Nishon Perera
IC 12 Hirantha Perera
LW 11 Chamara Dabare
FH 10 Niroshan Fernando
SH 9 Sudam Sooriyarachchi
N8 7 Sudarshana Muthuthanthri
OF 6 Senal Deelaka
BF 33 Sithum Peiris
RL 22 Umesh Madushan
LL 19 Janik Jayasuriya
TP 3 Dushmantha Priyadarshana
HK 2 Prasath Madhusankha
LP 1 Ashan Darling
Replacements:
16 Liston Flatney
28 Udana Anjana
34 Jason Melder
17 Sharo Fernando
20 Shehan Dias
4 Ganidu Lakshan
32 Rahul de Silva
23 Chamika Samarathunga

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Caffoor, Inshaf (13 February 2017). "Clifford Cup 2016-17 starts Friday". The Papare. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  2. ^ Marikar, Hafiz (8 January 2017). "Clifford Cup in February". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  3. ^ Marikar, Hafiz (18 February 2017). "Champs Kandy steamroll CH 121-3". Daily News. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  4. ^ "Clifford Cup k/o rugby: Havies have the edge over Police". Daily News. 18 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  5. ^ Nichols, Shannon (17 February 2017). "CR overcome Air Force in late drama". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  6. ^ "Frenchman to 'blow' in Clifford Cup k/o semis, final". Daily News. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  7. ^ Jaleel, Shamzeer (23 February 2017). "Kandy annihilate CR and FC". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  8. ^ Nichols, Shannon (24 February 2017). "Havelocks down Navy to set up epic final". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 27 February 2017.