The 81st Clifford Cup tournament was held between the 11 and 27 March 2016.

2016 Clifford Cup
Tournament details
Tournament format(s)Knockout
Date11 March 2016 – 27 March 2016
Tournament statistics
Teams8
Matches played6
Final
VenueColombo Racecourse Sports Complex
ChampionsKandy SC (19th title)
Runners-upCeylonese Rugby & Football Club
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The final was held on Sunday 27 March 2016 between the Kandy SC and the Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club at the Colombo Racecourse Sports Complex. This was the 21st time that these two teams have met in a Clifford Cup decider. Kandy SC, the previous year's cup holders, started the game as firm favourites having beaten Ceylonese R&FC in the first and second round of the league season. Kandy SC were also bolstered by the return of their captain, Fazil Marija, returning from a spinal injury suffered earlier in the season. Ceylonese R&FC having last won the cup ten years ago in 2006.

Ceylonese R&FC scored the first try of the match, with Kandy SC successfully converting two penalties before Ceylonese R&FC scored their second try of the game, which was duly converted. Ceylonese R&FC scored two more penalties with Kandy SC converting a penalty before half time. At the midway break Ceylonese R&FC led 16–13. Kandy SC scored from two consecutive penalties after the break to level the score before Ceylonese ran in another try. Kandy SC then equalised with a try of their own and extended their lead with another try soon afterwards. Ceylonese R&FC then scored another try tying the game at 28 all before Kandy SC converted a penalty in the dying minutes of the match to win the game 31 to 28. The win handed Kandy SC the Clifford Cup for a record 19th time, with the man of the match awarded to Nigel Ratwatte from Kandy SC.

Seedings

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The seeding is based upon the teams standings at the end of the 2015/16 Dialog Rugby League season. Last year's cup holder, Kandy SC, were undefeated in the league championship, finishing 13 points clear of second placed Havelock SC. Kandy SC seeded No. 1 were drawn to play 8th seeded Colombo Hockey and Football Club, the SLRFU normally allocates the games on neutral grounds but the CH&FC agreed to play their match at Nittawela Rugby Stadium, subject to their travel expenses being borne by the Kandy Sports Club.[1] The opening game on 11 March was held between No. 3 seed Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club and No. 6 seed Army SC at the Colombo Racecourse Sports Complex.

  1. Kandy SC
  2. Havelock SC
  3. Ceylonese R&FC
  4. Navy SC
  5. Police SC
  6. Army SC
  7. Air Force SC
  8. Colombo H&FC

Quarter-finals

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12 March 2016
16:15
Kandy SC89 - 7Colombo H&FC
13T, 12C - 1T, 1C [3]
Nittawela Rugby Stadium
12 March 2016
16:15
Havelock SC20 - 11Air Force SC
2T, 2C, 2P - 1T, 1C, 1P[4]
Colombo Racecourse Sports Complex
14 March 2016
16:15
Navy SC19 - 10Police SC
2T, 3P - 1T, 1C, 1P[5]
Colombo Racecourse Sports Complex

Semi-finals

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19 March 2016
16:15
Havelock Sports Club27 - 34Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club
5T, 3P - 2G, 2T, 1P[6]
Colombo Racecourse Sports Complex
Referee: Tim Baker
20 March 2016
16:15
Kandy SC37 - 27Navy SC
6T, 2C, 1P - 4T, 2C, 1P
Pallekele Stadium
Referee: Tim Baker

Final

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26 March 2016
16:30
Kandy SC31 - 28Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club
2T, 1PT, 2C, 4P - 4T, 1C, 3P
Colombo Racecourse Sports Complex
Referee: Tim Baker

References

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  1. ^ "Club Rugby : Clifford Cup 2016". The Sunday Times. 2 March 2016. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  2. ^ Cader, Saabir (12 March 2016). "CR Knocks Out Army in Thriller". The Papare. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  3. ^ Rajapaksha, Kaveenth (12 March 2016). "Kandy Barges into the Semi". The Papare. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  4. ^ Hameed, Hisham (13 March 2016). "Havelocks Advance to The Semi-finals". The Papare. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  5. ^ Caffoor, Inshaf (14 March 2016). "Navy Book Their Berth to Clifford Cup Semis". The Papare. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  6. ^ "CR beat Havies 34-27". Sunday Observer. 20 March 2016. Archived from the original on 20 March 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.