Sports
CR start Clifford Cup battle without Kandy SC
By A Special Sports Correspondent
Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club (CR&FC) will be hot favourites to win the knockouts when the ‘Clifford Cup’ unfolds another chapter with seven out of the eight A Division teams battling for honours. The knockout tournament is scheduled to start today (February 28) with a quarter-final match between Police SC and Air Force which is scheduled to take place at Longden Place this evening. The other quarter final matches are: Havies vs Navy (February 29) and CH&FC vs Army (March 1). CR&FC receives a bye and moves to the semi finals.
This year’s runners-up at the league rugby tournament, Kandy SC, has pulled out of the tournament citing disagreements over venue arrangements for the knockout tournament. Kandy SC wanted all their matches in the Clifford Cup to be played at Nittawela, but the organizer of the tournament- Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR)-was not in favour of this request. This was the same scenario at the tournament last year too with Kandy SC pulling out of the tournament due to a similar disagreement.
Kandy SC could end up being the ‘looser’ for the decision taken to hold the SLR to ransom. They are not the champions this season and fans and the team’s sponsor would have received a golden opportunity to see the Nittawela side bounce back from two defeats had they opted to play in the knockouts. This Kandy SC side is a young outfit and the players need match practice and exposure at top level games. Given that most of the Kandy SC players also shun national duty, playing in all domestic tournaments would be just what the ‘doctor’ ordered for the players based in the cool climes of central province.
The Clifford Cup will now have to proceed without Kandy SC. CR&FC has taken over the slot that Kandy SC occupied as ‘kings of local rugby’. The second and third best teams in the knockout tournament will be planning their game around CR&FC, which has raised their game many notches with hard work, commitment and discipline. Changes like this in the top spot of rugby serves the game well. This writer is not writing with malice directed at Kandy, but there is now a breath of fresh air in the domestic rugby scene with a team from Colombo breaking Kandy SC’s dominance in the game played with the oval shaped ball. It would have been good for CR&FC if Kandy SC played in this tournament because that would have presented them with an opportunity of beating them thrice in a row and apart from giving western province the feel that there is a rugby kingdom here as well.
This concept of ‘the enemy or rival’ at sport is an interesting one. The Kandy-CR&FC rivalry began during the early 1990s when several players from Longden Place left Colombo and headed for Kandy SC over a captaincy dispute. Since then, these two teams have made their traditional encounter one hell of a contest; akin to a cricket big match like the Royal-Thomian. Despite whatever disagreements Kandy SC should have played in the knockout for the sake of playing against their arch-rival, CR&FC. Kandy’s absence is surely going to make CR mourn the loss of a much looked forward to battle at rugby; akin to a quarrel by two lovers.
By the way, the last week of matches at the league tournament was hectic and rugby analysts and statisticians at SLR probably had to work on their calculators and recall lessons on arithmetic to make the final points table. Interestingly after the first and second slots were decided it would have taxed the brains of SLR’s recorders of the game to find the third and fourth place finishers of the league tournament. Now, we are told by the SLR that Havelocks SC finished third and the fourth place was taken by Police SC (The eventual Plate Championship winner in the league) despite the ‘cops’ not booking a slot in the Cup Competition of the tournament. Only the teams finishing among the top four places in the points table after the first round of the league tournament were pooled into contest the Cup Competition. The rest of the teams contested the Plate Championship and Police did well to win that tournament despite losing to Air Force in the 10th and final week of the tournament. The surprise is that CH&FC, despite playing in the Cup Championships, finished fifth in the league tournament. A cursory look at the rest of the places in the points table reveals the following: Air Force Sports Club (sixth), Army Sports Club (seventh) and Navy Sports Club (eighth).
Havies can find itself being rated as the ‘dark horse’ at the upcoming Clifford Cup tournament; given the fact that they have improved with every game this season. Led by hooker and playmaker Azmir Fajudeen the players from the ‘Park Club’ have given CR&FC a run this season; losing 25-10 in the first round of the league tournament and then going down fighting 12-9 in the second-round game in the league tournament. However, CR&FC will receive a bye in the quarter finals of the knockout and move to the first semi finals scheduled for March 5. The second semi final of the tournament is scheduled for March 6 and the final on March 9. Both semi finals and the final are scheduled to be played at Race Course.
CH&FC can pat themselves on the back for a ‘well done’ this season, because they finished a hopeless eighth (Last) during last year’s league tournament. But it must be commended that the Gymkhana Club players have decided to stay in contention for more honours this season and contest the Clifford Cup. Last season (2022/23) even CH&FC pulled out of the Clifford Cup knockouts.
The Clifford Cup is one of Asia’s longest used pieces of silverware given away during presentation ceremonies at sport. The trophy came into being on September 2, 1911 when Lady Clifford presented this trophy to be given away at the game between All Ceylon and United Services and played in Kandy. The cup later served as the trophy given away in a quadrangular tournament. It was later on offer for the winner of the domestic inter-club league rugby tournament. Rugby records show the huge fan following for rugby when teams contested for the Clifford Cup. The cup was then used to be presented to the winner of the inter-club knockout tournament in 1985 and served this purpose for many years.
Central College produced a remarkable final day comeback to win the Battle of the North Big Match, defeating St. John’s College by three wickets after an outstanding eighth-wicket partnership between Murali Thison and Jesuthasan Nitharsan.
Central had been playing second fiddle to their arch-rivals for most of the match until the morning of the third day, when Thison and Nitharsan turned the game around with a match-winning unbeaten stand of 93 runs.
At the start of the final day Central were in a difficult position, trailing by more than 120 runs with only four wickets in hand. Overnight batsman Iyathure Kabishek, who had scored 21, was dismissed after adding 37 runs for the seventh wicket with Thison. From that point onwards, Thison and Nitharsan combined to frustrate the St. John’s bowlers, batting together for 12 overs to guide their team to a memorable victory.
Emmanouil Karalis in action in Rouen
Thison had already been a thorn in the flesh of the St. John’s batting line-up from the opening day, capturing 12 wickets in the match, including seven in the second innings. However, his superb bowling effort initially appeared likely to go in vain due to Central’s poor batting performance.
Central beat St. John’s by three wickets at the Battle of the North Big Match.
Central had struggled in their first innings, being bowled out for just 95 runs, with the highest individual score coming from Antanareshan Abishek who made 23. Only three other batsmen reached double figures, while Thison was dismissed for just one run.
In contrast, Thison rose to the occasion in the second innings, producing a magnificent unbeaten 81 that proved to be the cornerstone of Central’s successful chase. His innings came off 126 balls and included eight boundaries and a six.
Nitharsan played the perfect supporting role with a brisk unbeaten 44 off just 33 deliveries, striking five fours and two sixes to accelerate the scoring during the decisive stand.
Earlier in the innings, openers Jayaseelan Jenoshan (20) and Kabilan Amalan (45) had given Central a solid start, putting on 44 runs for the first wicket.
St. John’s had earlier gained the advantage with a first-innings lead, and in their second innings a brilliant century from Uthayanan Abijoyshanth — 121 off 105 balls with 15 fours and four sixes — helped them post a challenging total of 247.
Despite the odds being heavily stacked against them heading into the final day, Central’s determined batting display, led by Thison and Nitharsan, ensured a memorable turnaround and a thrilling victory in the historic Battle of the North.
The traditional Big Match between St. Sebastian’s College Moratuwa and Prince of Wales’ College Moratuwa ended in a draw after an absorbing contest at De Soysa Stadium Moratuwa on Sunday.
St. Sebastian’s produced a strong second innings batting display with five top-order batsmen scoring half centuries to finish on 279 for five wickets declared, setting their arch rivals a target of 230 runs for victory.
Prince of Wales struggled in their run chase and were reeling at 54 for five wickets at stumps after 28 overs when play concluded.
Batting first, St. Sebastian’s were bowled out for 214 runs with Chamath Wellalage providing the main resistance with a half century. Nethul Anuhas and Rusandu Silva shared the bowling honours for the Cambrians, claiming three wickets each.
Prince of Wales responded with 263 runs in their first innings to take a slender lead. Suwahas Fernando anchored the innings with a well-compiled 77 off 145 deliveries, holding the top order together. Opening batsman Palingu Perera also made a valuable contribution with 42 runs.
Milantha Silva was the standout bowler for the Sebastianites, delivering a marathon spell of 36.2 overs to capture five wickets for 100 runs. Koshendra Fernando provided good support, claiming three wickets while bowling 31 overs.
In their second innings, St. Sebastian’s mounted an impressive batting effort. Thivanka Fernando (50), Kaveesha Perera (52), Lashen Fernando (54), Koshendra Fernando (66 not out off 68 balls) and Chamath Wellalage (50 not out off 49 balls) all struck half centuries as the Sebastianites declared at 279 for five, setting up an intriguing finish.
However, the Cambrians lost wickets at regular intervals during their chase before the match eventually ended in a draw.
SriLankan Airlines Resumes Flights to Riyadh and Dubai
Iran names Khamenei’s son as new supreme leader after father’s killing
Oil prices jump above $100 for first time in four years
Dry weather will prevail over the island
FSP warns of possible coal shortage
Repatriation of Iranian naval personnel Sri Lanka’s call: Washington
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News4 days agoUniversity of Wolverhampton confirms Ranil was officially invited
-
News5 days agoLegal experts decry move to demolish STC dining hall
-
News4 days agoFemale lawyer given 12 years RI for preparing forged deeds for Borella land
-
News3 days agoPeradeniya Uni issues alert over leopards in its premises
-
Business5 days agoCabinet nod for the removal of Cess tax imposed on imported good
-
News4 days agoLibrary crisis hits Pera university
-
News3 days agoWife raises alarm over Sallay’s detention under PTA
-
Business6 days agoWar in Middle East sends shockwaves through Sri Lanka’s export sector