Police Sports Cub saved up their best display for the appropriate moments that gave them a smart victory by 19 points to 12 over Havelock SC to clinch the Clifford Cup in the final that was played at the Race Course ground yesterday.
Police scored three tries and converted two that gave them a lead of seven points over Havelocks. The losers scored two tries and one conversion for their 12 points.
This win gave Police SC the Clifford Cup after 28 years.
The second half saw the exciting moments in the match with both sides making close advances into each others’ territories. Havelocks were the unfortunate side with their players handling the ball poorly and making many mistakes.
Police SC players gave off their best at crucial moments using their strongly built forwards to good effect to win possession and penetrate the tight defence put up by Havelocks.
The first half saw Havelocks score almost with the kick off when the ball went to winger Randitha Warnapura who ran by the touch line and fell over, but unfortunately he had stepped on the touch line in the process.
However, both sides got a fair number of opportunities to bring in the points on the board but simple mistakes deprived the scoring.
Police opened scoring in the 34th minute when they won a scrum within ten metres from the goal line and a sudden inside pass caught the Havelocks on the wrong foot as Hirantha Perera went over unchallenged.
Shane Hoopwood’s attempt to convert missed the target narrowly.
Havelocks too had an opportunity of scoring when Sandesh Jayawickrema spilled the ball with the open field staring at him.
Police failed to increase on their scoreline when Prince Chamara failed to convert a penalty from as far as 50 metres.
Half time was taken with Police leading 5-nil.
Police increased on their score when in the 23rd minute of the second half when off a line out Shanaka Harischandra went over the line. Prince Chamara added the extra points to take a 12-nil lead.
After that it was the turn of Havelocks to bring some points for them. They worked their three quarters at every turn and Jayathu Rajarathna beat the defence with his speedy run.
The conversion was made by Samuel Maduwantha.
Police scored again through another loose maul and an extra effort put up by their forwards with Sameera Jayasinghe going over.
Shane Hoopwood added the extra points to give Police a safe margin.
Havelocks scored in the final moments when their centre Mushin Faleel went over off a three quarter move. Samuel Maduwantha failed to convert and Havelocks were left behind by seven points and short of time to catch up on.
Ishara Abeykoon refereed.
