Malwatte A retains Plantations Rugby Sevens Cup Championship

Wednesday, 9 April 2025 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Malwatte Valley Plantations A team successfully defended their Cup title at the 23rd edition of the Plantations Rugby Sevens 2025, at the iconic Dickoya ground last weekend.

This tournament, sponsored by Anysort drew a massive crowd and featured thrilling rugby action from 12 competitive plantation teams across the country.

Malwatte A showed their dominance from the outset, brushing aside Lankem 29/0 in their opening encounter. Their momentum continued as they outplayed Malwatte B 29/12 in the group stage before overcoming a strong Talawakelle side turned out to be a one-sided affair winning 17/0 in the Cup Final to seal the championship in emphatic style.

Malwatte Valley had three outstanding players in their line-up who helped their institution to success once more in tandem. Former Royal skipper, Randul Senanayake, Avishka Subash, and Bagya Wijesiri all were outstanding in the entire tournament.

Talawakelle too impressed throughout the tournament, beating Elpitiya 22/0 and crushing Kahawatte 50/0 to book their place in the Cup Final. Despite falling short against Malwatte A, their performances earned them plenty of plaudits. Maskeliya made a statement in the Plate segment, putting on a clinical display to beat Bogawantalawa 31/5 in the final. They had earlier recorded a dominant 31/0 victory over Hatton, reinforcing their credentials as a rising team in the tournament.

The Bowl final saw Elpitiya lift silverware after a commanding 21/12 win over Malwatte B. Elpitiya’s journey to the title included a 38/0 win over Hatton in the semifinal, while Malwatte B overcame KV 33/10 in the other semifinal.

In the Shield segment, Lankem staged a spirited comeback after early setbacks. They defeated Browns 16/5 in the semifinal before routing Kahawatte 50/0 in the final, securing a deserved title in the lower tier.

Bogawanthalawa had mixed fortunes in the tournament. They registered wins against Browns (26/5) and KV (12/10), but faltered in the Plate final against a disciplined Maskeliya side.

Browns showed early promise, especially in their 31/14 win over KV, but couldn’t sustain their form in the Shield semifinals. Similarly, Hatton and Kahawatte had limited impact, with heavy defeats highlighting their need for rebuilding.

The crowd at Dickoya was treated to a festival of rugby, with high-octane matches and passionate fan support creating an unforgettable atmosphere. The event was a show of plantation rugby’s growth and competitive spirit.

Group Stages

Malwatte A beat Lankem 29/0, Talawakelle beat Elpitiya 22/0, Bogawanthalawa beat Browns 26/5, Maskeliya beat Hatton 31/0, Malwatte B beat Lankem 22/7, Elpitiya beat Kahawatte 34/0, Bogawantalawa beat KV 12/10, Mslwatte A beat Malwatte B 29/12, talawakelle beat Kahawatte 50/0, and Browns beat KV 31/14

Shield semi final

Lankem beat Browns 16/5

Shield final

Lankem beat Kahawatte 50/0

Bowl semi finals

Malwatte B beat KV 33/10,

Elpitiya beat Hatton 38/0

Bowl final

Elpitiya beat Malwatte B 21/12

Plate final

Maskeliya beat Bogawantalawa 31/5

Cup final

Malwatte A beat Talawakelle 17/0