The serene and cool central highlands, known for their green mountains and golden tea plantations, buzzed with excitement as the 23rd Inter-Plantation Rugby Sevens reached its climax at the scenic Dickoya Maskeliya Cricket Club (DMCC) in Darawala. Malwatta Valley Plantations clinched the title for the third consecutive year, solidifying their dominance in the tournament.
Group Stage Breakdown
Teams were divided into four groups for the preliminary rounds:
- Group A: Malwatta Valley A, Malwatta Valley B, Lankem
- Group B: Thalawakelle, Elpitiya, Kahawatta
- Group C: Bogawanthalawa, Kelani Valley, Browns
- Group D: Maskeliya, Hatton
At the end of the group stage, Malwatta A, Thalawakelle, Bogawanthalawa, and Maskeliya topped their groups and advanced to the Cup semifinals unbeaten.
Meanwhile, the runners-up — Malwatta B, Elpitiya, Kelani Valley, and Hatton — moved forward to contest the Bowl Finals. The remaining teams competed for the Shield, offering one final shot at tournament success.
Knockout Rounds Heat Up
Despite many one-sided matchups in the early rounds, the knockout stages saw intense action. In the Cup semifinals, Malwatta A delivered a dominant performance against Bogawanthalawa, scoring five unanswered tries. The second semifinal between Thalawakelle and Maskeliya was a nail-biter, with Thalawakelle narrowly emerging victorious.
In the Bowl Final, Elpitiya edged out Malwatta B, while Lankem secured the Shield title with a resounding win over Kahawatta. The Plate Final saw Maskeliya cruise past Bogawanthalawa to claim third-place honors.
The grand finale featured a showdown between two of the tournament’s strongest teams. Malwatta Valley A, continuing their unbeaten streak, shut out Thalawakelle to retain the Cup title. Despite finishing as runners-up, Thalawakelle displayed great determination and added vibrancy to the competition.
Malwatta Valley captain Avishka Chandrathillake, noted for his speed and defensive prowess, was named Player of the Tournament.
Match Highlights
Preliminary Results:
- Malwatta A 29–0 Lankem
- Thalawakelle 22–0 Elpitiya
- Bogawanthalawa 26–5 Browns
- Maskeliya 31–0 Hatton
- Malwatta B 22–7 Lankem
- Elpitiya 34–5 Kahawatta
- Bogawanthalawa 12–10 Kelani Valley
- Malwatta A 29–12 Malwatta B
- Thalawakelle 50–0 Kahawatta
- Kelani Valley 29–14 Browns
Shield Semis:
- Lankem 19–5 Browns
- Kahawatta advanced via bye
Bowl Semis:
- Malwatta B 33–10 Kelani Valley
- Elpitiya 36–0 Hatton
Cup Semis:
- Malwatta A 31–0 Bogawanthalawa
- Thalawakelle 19–12 Maskeliya
Finals:
- Shield: Lankem 50–0 Kahawatta
- Bowl: Elpitiya 19–12 Malwatta B
- Plate: Maskeliya 26–5 Bogawanthalawa
- Cup: Malwatta A 17–0 Thalawakelle