How to spoil a good game
View(s):Irrational thinking almost drowned the value of the Schools Rugby Under 18, ten-a-side tournament, at the Royal Complex on August 24 and 25. A tournament that was ambling along peacefully saw adults nearly spoil the picnic. One team kept away on day two having seen that they would not be among the top teams. What a way to encourage the young athletes who could have played either in the
In the process of falling
Bowl or Shield the next day. Dharmaraja Kandy, the present Under 20 league champs, showed they have a lot of homework to do to stay in front as they dropped
The follow through after the ball falls
out of the Under 18 competition having lost both matches on day one. There were other schools that took a beating on day one but stayed back and gave the players a chance to take a shot at the lower Bowl and Shield games. In sports you win some and you lose some and young men have to learn to take up both in good spirit.
This was a lesson the adult supporters and match officials of St. Peter’s College needed to learn. It looked like the Royal College Complex was to make another first for hosting a team which was about to be called off because the adults wanted the match abandoned because the referee disallowed a try. Saner counsel among some Old Boys prevailed as the team was asked to get on with the game. I remembered the Royal walkout a few months ago and wondered whether the absence of any action on the issue is setting a new trend. I have said before that during the Schools Knockout a similar incident occurred in the lower league on the same ground. Royal had a player safety excuse but in the two following events the reason was the inability to accept on-field decisions.
The ball is dropped just before tryline
Science and DSS played in virtual darkness having had to play the last match on day one at around 6.30 p.m. Science lost their place in the Cup while DS made it. Science had every chance of making it to the Cup quarters and the light definitely had an effect on play. It was the same with DS too but they had luck on their side. But these players and their coaches went on to help the organisers to finish day one without citing the disadvantage they faced and walking off on day two. The school was gracious enough to accept the result and play on day two and win the Bowl.
However, St. Peter’s encounters featured a completely different landscape. The school’s officials reacted adversely while some in the crowd railed match officials with abusive language which shocked parents of other schools who had gathered to see their children play. There were parents who remarked that if this was what was in store for their children then it would be better if they were directed to a sport less exposed to mob-like behavior. As a witness to the mayhem, I find it hard to disagree with this conclusion.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and
Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB