Police snatches Clifford Cup Rugby 2024 ending 33-year wait

Police Skipper Mohan Wimalarathne with trophy 

By Shamseer Jaleel

Police Sports Club ended the season on a very high note when they accounted for the Clifford Cup Knock out Rugby Championship when they got the better of Havelock Sports Club 19/12 in the Grand Final at the Racecourse ground on Saturday.

At the short breather Police led 5/0.

Last time Police SC won at Clifford Cup knock out rugby was in 1991 when the former Rajans player, Hemantha Yatawara led the outfit to a 13/11 win over CH and FC in the final.

It was a slow start as both teams tried their level best to dominate the other but hardly did any scoring. It took almost 33 minutes for the first score of the match when former Isipathana skipper and Centre, Hirantha Perera brushed a few Havies defenders to touch down a try for the Cops. Shane Hopwood missed the kick at goal. Police had a golden opportunity to extend their lead by 3 points when Prince Chamara received a penalty which was kickable but to everyone’s surprise, he missed to take the short breather at 5/0 favouring the Cops.

After the turn around things went out of hand as the referee issued Yellow cards to Shenal Silva (Havies) and Lahiu Thilakarathne (Police). It looked not a good day for the kickers with the pressure getting into them. Reliable, Samuel Maduwantha (Havies), Prince Chamara and Shane Hopwood (both from Police) missed one penalty each which kept the score board unmoved. 

It took another 30 plus minutes for the next score to come in when experienced Shanaka Harischandra crossed over through a forward’s rush for the Cops. Hopwood added the extra 2 points to take a clean 12/0 lead for the Cops.

Havies scored their first try when Musheen Faleel spotted the gaping hole in the Cops defence to touch down unmarked. Samuel Maduwantha added the extra 2 points to cut the deficit to 5 points. During the last 10 minutes of play Cops kept their play within their forwards and played safe and in the end saw burly, Hafeez Thabith going over for their third try. Shane Hopwood added the extra 2 points. Then Havies made a late burst through a superb try by former D.S. school boy Jayathu Rajarathna but it was too late for a comeback as Police enjoyed their weekend after waiting for 33 years to win the Clifford Cup.

Referee was Ishanka Abeykoon. 

Police SC was coached by former Kingswoodian, national sevens player, Coach and Joe’s Head Coach, Nilfer Ibrahim who did an unthinkable this season by beating the unbeaten league champions, CR and FC in the semi-finals plus accounting for two trophies. Earlier they won the Plate segment in the League encounter.