A fitting finale of the Club Rugby Season will take place at Longdon Place on the 25th of February as Navy Sports Club challenge Kandy Sports Club in the final of the Dialog Clifford Cup 2018.
It will be the last opportunity for the lads from Welisara to get their hands on some silverware this season. Meanwhile, the marauding bunch from the Hill Capital will look to end their season unbeaten, with both the League and Knockouts in their pocket.
Kandy Sport Club will have the chance to win the Clifford Cup for the 21st time when they take on Navy while the Sailors will have the chance to add to their solitary Clifford Cup victory in 2014.
Kandy made easy work of CR & FC up at Pallekale as the hometown lads got the better of the Reds. However, their defensive effort was not up to the mark in the semi-final as CR crossed the white-wash on four occasions, leaving the coaching staff of Kandy with something to ponder.
Danushka Ranjan was the hero with a hat-trick as he seems to be peaking at the correct time for Kandy Sports Club and Sri Lanka Rugby.
WATCH LIVE: Kandy SC vs Navy SC – Dialog Clifford Cup Final
Meanwhile, Captain Gayan Weerarathne and his troops struck when it mattered leaving CR in the dust but will surely be knowing that the task at hand against Navy will be different.
Kandy will have to up their game a notch, not only in attack but in defense as they seek to retain their knockout title.
Fazil Marija and Co. will be wanting to make it a memorable occasion, ending the season with the double crown, giving their stalwart, a fitting send off.
For the Sailors, it was the boot of Thilina Weerasinghe, the highest try and points scorer of the League that paved their way into the final in a battle which could’ve gone both ways.
The Sailors were pushed to the end but managed to sneak past the Park club to get to the final. Like Kandy, Navy will also know they have to bring a much-improved defensive show if they are to keep the potent Kandy attack at bay in the final.
Weerasinghe will know he has some heavy lifting as Navy look to add silverware into their trophy cabinet for the first time in the 2017/18 season but it won’t be an easy task defeating Kandy.
After falling short on both occasion in the league stage, Navy will be adamant to set the record straight against high flying Kandy.
On the other hand, Kandy Sports Club will be wanting to add the cherry on top of their cake as they aim to end the 2017/18 season unbeaten, taking all the trophies on offer.
Kandy will come in as favorites. However, if Navy bring on the defensive show they put on against Havelocks at home, and attack for their lives, an upset maybe on the cards.
