• Cops seek to grab plate title at the expense of CH 

Kandy SC who have regained the League title with a clean slate this season will look to put the icing on the cake, as they host Havelocks SC at Nittawela on Sunday (16). 

The match will also bring the curtain down on the Mastercard Inter-Club League Championship.

Srinath Sooriyabandara’s team who are the sole undefeated outfit in the ongoing tournament, have swept all before them in the 2024-25 season and on current form, are set to account for the Havies in their own backyard.

Kandy were stretched to a certain extent by CR and FC, Havies and CH and FC, in the on-going tournament, which has been separated into Cup and Plate segments at the end of the first-round, to increase competitiveness among teams.

But overall, the men from Nittawela playing their trademark brand of exhilarating rugby, have managed to remain unbeaten, while disposing of each of their opponents in clinical fashion.

Kandy’s forwards and backs have combined effectively throughout the League, to carry all before them.

Though they have already sewn up the title, they will not want to lose their unbeaten tag, by taking their foot off the pedal, the day after tomorrow.

There is also every chance that they will also look to use the Final Cup segment encounter, to fine tune their armoury ahead of the start of the Clifford Cup Knockouts shortly.

As expected, the visitors will be up against it, if their performances in the season proper is anything to go by with.

The Park Club have performed decently this season, but when it came to the crunch, they struggled to land the coup de grace, particularly to CR in the second-round.

That put paid to their hopes of catching up with KSC and being in with a shout for the League honours.

But it has to be said that they were also hard done by the elements, with a thunderstorm preventing play from being continued after half-time against CR in their second-round fixture at Longden Place.

Anyhow Havies too will gear up for the Knockouts coming up shortly and the clash against champions Kandy SC, will offer them another opportunity to avenge their loss to the home side in the first-round.

But, more importantly Saliya Kumara’s Men, will look to gain a psychological edge, as both these teams barring any stunning upsets in the Knockouts, are likely to decide this year’s Clifford Cup champions in the final.

CR-Air Force

CR and FC after their morale-denting loss to Kandy SC at Nittawela the previous week, will look to take out their frustration on Air Force, in their Cup Championship match at Longden Place on Saturday (15).

The red shirts who were dethroned as champions, have flattered to deceive in the current season and the defeats to KSC in both the first and second-rounds and the reverse to Havies in the first-round, saw them tumbling down the leaderboard.

With it their chances of defending the title went through the window and they are now forced to simply play for lost pride.

The Air Force for their part will have nothing to lose but everything to gain here and the underdog status will suit them to a tee.

Sri Lions-Navy SC

League newcomers Sri Lions who have booked their berth in the Clifford Cup for the first time, will eye the scalp of the sailors for a second-time this year, when they clash in their Plate segment match at Race Course Grounds on Saturday (15).

The debutants will also want to prove that they deserve their spot among the country’s rugby elite and that their entry to the Knockouts is not a fluke by producing a spirited performance.

Navy though have stumbled from one loss to another in the tournament and their subpar efforts, has ensured that they miss out on qualifying for the Clifford Cup.

Police-Army

Police will look to record a bonus point win over the inconsistent Army and be in contention for the Plate title, in their crucial match at Police Park today (14).

But, the points for and against differences favours CH and FC for the title, with the latter having already concluded their match schedule.

The outcome of this clash is also likely to decide the eventual standings of the top eight teams for the Knockouts.