Kandy Sports Club clinched the Clifford Cup for a record-extending 22nd time after beating CR & FC 41-33 in the final at the Nittawela Stadium this evening.
The Kandy side was made to toil throughout the pulsating encounter by a determined CR team who were with a shot at silverware until the last minute of the game.
The valiant try by Heshan Jansen just before the final whistle by Referee Gihan Yatawara sealed the game for Kandy much to the jubilation of the boisterous Nittawela crowd.
Although both teams scored five tries apiece, the two penalties put over by the retiring Nigel Ratwatte helped Kandy SC cross the line.
Along with Jansen, Diluksha Dange, Nigel Ratwatte, Kenula Hettiarachchi and Dilshad Fareed scored tries for Kandy while Omalka Gunaratne, Chemod Muthunayake, Zubair Doray and Manilka Ruberu crossed the line for CR.
Kandy had a slender 17-14 lead at half-time.
CR will now make the long journey back to Colombo empty-handed despite starting the year as one of the favourites and as Defending League Champions.
Kandy SC also won the inter-club league tournament by remaining unbeaten in the season.
This is the first double by Kandy Sports Club since 2018.
