Havelocks beaten 5-37: CR win Caltex Clifford Cup after 17 years

By Lal Gunesekera

CR & FC won the Caltex Clifford Cup after a lapse of 17 years when they beat traditional rivals Havelocks by 37 points (3 goals, 2 tries, 2 penalties) to 5 (1 try) after leading 20-0 at half time in the final of the 'A' Division Inter-Club Knock-Out Rugby Championships at Longden Place yesterday. They also won the Caltex Golden Star Trophy awarded for the first occasion.

CR last won the Clifford Cup in 1989 under Shyam Siddique beating Navy 6-3, though reaching the finals on four previous occasions (1994, 1996, 1997 and 1999). Havies last won under Angelo Wickremaratne when the Clifford Cup was awarded to the league champions, though entering the finals thrice (1985, 1990 and 2004). The last occasion that these two sides met in the final was way back in 1974 when the Havies under Desmond Harridge beat CR led by Reggier Bartholomeusz 16-4.

The red shirts dominated play right from the start with the ball run judiciously by their outsides which kept Havies defending most of the time, except on two occasions in the first session. But came the second session with Havies raiding CR territory more frequently and even looked threatening with one such move ending with a try. CR looked as if they had slowed down, knowing very well that victory was theirs.

It certainly looked that Havies win over CR (9-5) at Havelock Park in the second-round of the Caltex League and over CH in the semi-final of the Clifford Cup tournament were mere flash in the pan victories.

CR scored in the third minute with hooker Anuja Perera sneaking through off a line-out on the right flank of Havies territory, but Senthil Kumar missed the conversion (CR 5-0). He fluffed a penalty too five minutes later. In the 12th minute, CR, went further ahead through a fine try by centre Hettiaratchi and this time Senthil Kumar obliged with the conversion (CR 12-0). They made it 15-0 with a 22 metre penalty by Senthil Kumar in the 23rd minute, and in the 31st minute, full-back Asanga Rodrigo formed the overlap just outside the Havies "22" and sliced his way through to score far right. Senthil Kumar missed the conversion and CR led 20-0 at half time.

Soon after the turn around (in the fifth minute), CR, went further ahead with centre Sheriff making a break for flanker Ashen Karthelis to put the finishing touches. Senthil Kumar converted (CR 27-0). He put over his second penalty in the 12th minute for CR to lead 30-0.

Then, Havies struck back in the 24th minute with No. 8 Harrison falling over far left, but Sajith Bandara missed adding the extra points (Havies 5-30). Eleven minutes later, CR, put the issue beyond any doubt with right winger Dinesh Kumar flying over 50 metres to touch down and with Senthil Kumar making certain of the conversion, the red shirts were victorious 37-5.

Nizam Jamaldeen refereed.