Navy and Kandy top contenders for the Clifford Cup

Wednesday, 18 March 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Kandy Skipper Sean Wijesinghe led the side from the front By Shamseer Jaleel The Inter-Club League champions Kandy SC and second placed Navy SC will be the two teams favoured towin the Clifford Cup knock out rugby tournament which will be worked off from 20 March onwards in Colombo (Race Course) and Kandy (Nittawela). The current title holders of this104-year-old cup is Navy SC, after beating Kandy SC last year in the Cup final. Both semi finals to be played on 25 March (one in Kandy at Nittawela and the other in Colombo at Race Course). Final on March 28 (Kandy or Colombo). The Clifford Cup was first offered by Lady Clifford in 1911, the cup to be played for honouron her birthday (26August). This trophy which is 104 years old was with CPRFU until 1950 when the Central Province Rugby Football Union (CPRFU) opened the competition to all the clubs in the country. In the initial few years CR&FC and Havelocks SC dominated the proceedings. For over the last three decades the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) in view of promoting rugby in the outstationshas conducted the tournament in Kandy. From the last four years it was agreed to play one year in Colombo and the other year in Kandy (in case Kandy reaches the final). This year Colombo matches will be played at Race Course and the Kandy games at Nittawela Rugby Stadium. Kandy SC first won the Clifford Cup in 1992 with the revamping of the club. Kandy (19), CR&FC (13), Havelocks SC (12), Police SC (8), Army SC (8) and CH&FC (8) have won the trophy on the most number of occasions. Past winners – 1950 and 1951 (Havelocks), 1952 (CR and FC), 1953 (Dimbula), 1954 to 1956 (CR and FC), 1957 (CH and FC), 1958 (CR and FC), 1959 (CR and FC/ Dimbula) 1960 (CH and FC), 1961 (Havelocks), 1962 (CH and FC), 1963 and 1964 (Havelocks), 1965 and 1966 (CR and FC), 1967 and 1968 (Havelocks), 1969 (CR and FC), 1970 (Police/ Havelocks) 1971 (CR and FC), 1972 Police), 1973 (Army/ Police), 1974 (Havelocks), 1975 (Army), 1976 to 1978 (Havelocks), 1979 and 1980 (Police), 1981 (Havelocks), 1982 and 1983 (CH and FC), 1984 and 1985 (Police), 1986 (Air Force), 1987 to 1989 (CR and FC), 1990 (CH and FC), 1991 (Police), 1992 and 1993 (Kandy SC), 1994 (CH and FC), 1995 to 1997 (Kandy SC), 1998 (no tournament) 1999 to 2005 (Kandy SC), 2006 (CR and FC), 2007 to 2013 (Kandy SC), 2014 (Navy).