Double delight for Red Shirts
CR&FC completed a double crown to end the 2025/26 season after pulling off yet another last-minute thriller against Havelocks SC by 12-10 to lift the SLR-Maliban Clifford Cup Knockout Rugby Championship under lights at Longdon Place yesterday.
In a game where both the Red Shirts and Havies played safe and defensive, a rather anti-climax of an expectation to a supposed-to-be nerve-wrecking final, both teams failed to cross the line and penalties and a penalty try became the elements that moved the scoreboard. Yet, CR led 6-3 at halftime, which promised an exciting finish with only three points separating both teams.
CR lock Saula Bilivanua played a gallant role to hold up Havies whenever they were offensive - Pix by Eshan Fernando
In that context, the Red Shirts won the battle against Havies, for forcing four penalties and successfully putting them over with the reliable kicking boots of centre Thenuka Nanayakkara. Havelocks, who began the ‘blame-game’ pushed their opponents to concede a penalty very early as fullback Samuel Maduwantha managed to slot only one of the three attempts, before his team earned a penalty try during the latter part of the game.
Playing under safe mode, key players from both sides conceded unforced errors, a sight unusual to an exciting season witnessed thus far. Even CR skipper and No.8 Lasindu Karunathilake looked nervy, as well as the experienced Havelocks fullback Samuel Maduwantha, displaying the amount of pressure the final had put on their shoulders.
CR centre Thenuka Nanayakkara -- The Player
Maduwantha slotted a rather difficult penalty to give Havelocks an early 3-0 lead, but by the tenth minute CR equalised through a penalty from Nanayakkara, the player of the tournament from the SLR-Maliban Club Rugby League 2025/26. Nanayakkara had very little doubt in taking up an opportunity to put his team in the lead by slotting his second successive penalty in the 16th minute, as CR held on to the lead up until halftime.
The mode of the game slightly took a turn with Havelocks accelerating their pace towards breaching CR’s defence but that too stood against their plot. They were neatly handled by the Red Shirts, first by an interception that took CR almost to brace a try, but Havies scrumhalf promptly responded by making it an own try to minimise the damage. CR locks Saula Bilivanua and Omalka Gunaratne played gallant roles to keep their team inside the safety zone, while Havies gradually tried to open up play.
However, Havies eventually conceded a penalty in the 60th minute, a task Nanayakkara completed with ease by adding his team’s third scoring opportunity to expand the lead to 9-3. Adding further insult to their wound, Nanayakkara took CR to a position where they would be safe by putting over the fourth penalty to make it 12-3 in the 71st minute.
Yet Havies made all attempts to break the fort CR had been holding up to, and during such an attempt they forced forward Achintha Radeesha out from the park with a yellow card in the 75th minute. With that opening Havies’ onslaught became stronger and eventually were rewarded with a penalty try the very next minute, putting CR under pressure with the lead shrinking to 12-10. However the Red Shirts held up their nerves, to survive the remainder of the game, a passage they mastered to bring down the dominance of Kandy SC twice, and claim the season’s second title.