Close result expected in Navy-Havies Clifford Cup Final

by Hafiz Marikar

RUGBY FOOTBALL: A Navy-Havies Cup final after thirty eight years. Last time these two teams met in a Clifford Cup Final was in 1976. It is Navy's first Cup Final and Havie's tenth. The Havelock SC won by 15 point to 3 at Longden Place. Havelock Sports Club last won the Clifford Cup in 1981 and Navy has still to win the Clifford Cup. So, today, who is going to beat whom?

The new League Champions Navy Sports Club will be contesting today, with high hopes for the double, Navy, if they win, this will be the first ever they will win Clifford Cup. On paper, they are the most experience team and they are now well seasoned to handle pressure. Skipper Rohitha Rajapaksa, knows how to press the right buttons to get his players on track. They Navy have some experienced players, like Namal Rajapaksa who is playing is last game of rugby. Then these is Suranga Pushpakumra, Yositha Rajapaksa, Achala Perera, Eranga Swarnatilake, Jason Dissanayake, Nuwan Hettiarachchi and Bilal Hassen.

It was these experience players who Navy them to win last Tuesday's semi-finals and also the league by being unbeaten. The Sailors three-quarters are the main strength of the side and if they run the ball, nothing can stop them. It is almost an inter-linking of performance which gives their threat and which also gives them collective dominance. The Navy will be determined to maintain their level of performance, attitude and intensity against the opponents.

Navy ruggerites are probably still in the driving seat in terms of experience and match winning potentials of this season. Significantly, all their key players are fit and they are sure to give off their best and take the Clifford Cup to Welisara for the first time.

The Havelock Sports Club bounced from their poorest performance in the last few games, to beat the defending, champions Kandy Sports Club on Wednesday. Today, it is going to be a two-horse race in the 'Derby'. Many Park Club supporters think they are back in contention but they also should know that they are playing with a team who have won the League this time. It will end up as a disappointing tournament for the Park Club if they don't play as a team, but that will lead them to put in a much better final performance against the League champions.

So much is expected from Sudarshan Muthuthanthri (Capt), Nirosh Fernando, Sandun Hearth, Chamara Dabare, Mohamed Sheriff, Mithuna Hapugoda.

Havelock S.C., the first winners of this prestigious trophy, have all the ingredients. The only thing they should do is put the ingredients in the correct way. Park Club boys must make it clear that if they perform poorly some of them may not wear a Havies jersey again. It is expected that former champions will want to maintain their level of performance, attitude and intensity against the present league champs. So, today, Navy ruggerites will try their best to sink the Park Club.