The Trinitians were shocked while the Joes surprised them at rugby in the lions den. The result would have been a disappointment to the Trinitians. No one in the hill capital would have been expecting a defeat at the hands of St Josephs. Trinity was the unners up in the schools league the previous year.
St Joseph’s who were promoted from segment 2 had never beaten Trinity in a history of over fifty years. Despite all the odds and the disadvantages of playing in Kandy the better outfit on that day .won the match and created history for the Darley Road School. While nobody expected a win for St Joseph’s there were a group of enthusiastic young ex Joes who dreamt of a victory. They were mostly from the team that last held Trinity to a draw in 1996 and now involved in guiding rugby at St Joseph’s. They were very confident and invited me to join them to travel to Kandy. Other commitments did not permit me to do so. Probably I would regret not being there.
Joes’ entry to rugby was in 1955 and has threatened to beat Trinity but never did.
The last time they came close was in 1996 .For the year 2009 it looks as though Joes will be a team to watch as they play a power game with the forwards and believe in fast open rugby. Their next match is with Kingswood who were the champions last year .Having come through a baptism of fire with no luck of the draw it is a challenging task for the team to progress.
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| Joes beat Trinity and as the picture says it the Thomians beat Isipatana after trailing in the first half. (Pic by Ranjith Perera). |
For Trinity it is back to the drawing boards to find out the shortfalls in their game. It is better that way than to say we lost because the man with the whistle did not do his job properly. While most have been magnanimous in their comments as seen in the ‘papare.com’ it is the few that spoil the spirit in which rugby is played.
Joes who were known for Cricket, Athletics, Swimming and Football in the past, now has the opportunity to make a name in rugby. Their present win should be used to inspire others to take to the game. Rev., Fr Peter Pillai in his prize giving speech in the year 2006, published in the Blue and White of that year informed that the schools had added rugby as a sport in the schools calendar.
It was promised that action will be taken to develop the Beira Grounds for this purpose. This did not happen and rugby shared the front grounds with Cricket and other sports. Matches were played on the front ground. Subsequent to a turf wicket being laid in the late seventies grounds were not made available for rugby.
From that time Joes practiced rugby behind the ring of fielders practicing cricket. The teams at that stage had virtually a piece of ground 25 meters in breadth and 75 meters in length., Despite the handicap St Joseph’s beat top rugby playing schools such as Royal . Isipthana S Thomas’, St Peter’s on and off, while holding Trinity to a number of drawn games and the last being in 1996.
They produced more rugby players at the National Level (that is playing for Club and Sri Lanka) than in the preferred sport of cricket. In early 2000 the college began to develop the Beira grounds promised in 1956. The ground was not a full pitch but sufficient for practices and get the rugby playing schoolboys a feel of the game. In 2009 they have justified the decision to continue with the game and hold promise of establishing as a worthy rugby playing school in. This week it appears to be the week of the saint’s in schools rugby. S Thomas’ who were beaten by Royal the previous week bounced back and beat the more fancied Isipatana. The schools rugby season looks to be heading for a neck to neck showdown Rugby fans should keep the dates free as there will be some interesting games to follow. .Kingswood, Royal, Trinity, Isipathana, S Thomas’ and St Joseph’s will definitely draw the interest of spectators as they meet each other. The score line so far does not suggest a possibly sting from St Anthony’s, Dharmaraja nor Mahanama. The coming two weeks will tell the next part of the story “Schools Rugby 2009”
While Royal beat S Thomas’ the previous weekend and continued to beat St Anthony’s, S Thomas’ got the better of Isipatana at Havelock Park. Pathana started off well and led the Thomians 12 points to three at half time. After the turnaround the Thomians had other ideas and fought valiantly to wrest the initiative and finally win with a comfortable margin. Pathana at most times gave the game away committing unforced errors and dropping the ball at crucial times. S. Thomas’ kicked for space while at times they opted to attack from within their twenty two metre. Some times it was suicidal as moves started virtually from their goal line. Rugby is all about running and passing the ball. This the Thomians did well and had the stamina to do so till the game ended.
= Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB |
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