Kandy SC out to win Caltex Clifford Cup

RUGBY: Defending champions Kandy Sports Club and CR and FC will battle-it-out for the island’s most prestigious and oldest silverware - the Caltex Clifford Cup when they clash in what could be a thrilling finale to the 2008 club rugby season, in the inter-club knock-out final at Nittawela Stadium, Kandy today, August 24.

Kandy has won Caltex League title and they also won the Dialog Professional Rugby Sevens. Kandy Sports Club has remained unbeaten in all matches played in the gruelling league tournament and a daunting prospect awaits CR and FC to prevent the former from defending the knock-out title for a second consecutive year.

Led by flanker Sean Wijesinghe, Kandy Sports Club will be at full-strength to lift the coveted trophy on their own turf, but, if the ‘Red Shirts’ could get their act together, they could turn tables on the day.

For Kandy Sports Club, their forwards and ‘outsides’ have played well together this season almost in clinical fashion and it is left to be seen how the ‘Red Shirts’ could overpower the might of the home side.

CR and FC under ‘prop’ Sgammil Mohammed have had a decent season, but the two league losses to the title-holders, and will need to fire on all cylinders if they are to deny the champions of their cup glory.

The match will be refereed by an experienced ARFU Panel referee Tobe Lethian from Hong Kong who has consented to be in Sri Lanka after the SLRFU had contacted the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union.

The DIG Charles Wijewardene Memorial trophy presented for the third successive year to the most outstanding rugby player by Police Sports Club, will be awarded at the end of the Caltex Clifford Cup final today by the President of SLRFU Nimal Lewke - DIG to the Most outstanding player of the Caltex Clifford Cup Knock-out Tournament (not the League).

Sri Lanka flanker Dilan Wijesekera (CH and FC) and Sri Lanka number ‘eight’ Dushanth Lewke (CR and FC) were the previous winners.