Rugby is suffering due to bad refereeing
View(s):“Hang down your head, Tom Dooley, hang down your head and cry, Hang down your head, Tom Dooley poor boy, you’re bound to die. I met her on the mountain where I took her life. I met her on the mountain, stabbed her with my knife.”
The first verse of a song made popular in 1958. The background to this song was the 1866, murder of Laura Foster by veteran Tom Dula (Dooley), Foster’s lover and probable fiancé, convicted of her murder and hanged on May 1, 1868. Foster was stabbed to death with a large knife; the brutality of the attack partly accounted for the widespread publicity of the murder and subsequent trial received.
South African Jonathan Kaplan officiated the second leg of the Bradby Shield - File pic
The words ring in my mind as clubs claim they have been stabbed brutally but still not dead and raising their hand and to say enough is enough. So much has been said about decisions made on the rugby field in the current club rugby season. The history behind the song is like local rugby entrapped in a vicious circle of greed of people who become virtual prisoners not knowing what it is about. It is like Dracula gracious in the first impression but a blood sucking vampire or similar creature he turns to as it suits him.
Many were piqued by decision which they perceive has gone against them brought out the vampire in Dracula that wanted to taste blood. It was like the case of Harker who ventured out and fell under the spell of the brides of Dracula. He was saved in the last minute by the count as he wanted the legal advice for which Harker had come for. Having got at he wanted abandoned Harker to the wives and barely escaped from the castle. The protests one by one is because of the pseudo bravado shown in the absence of real men .Sucking blood that will leave scars that will take a long time to heal.
At the end as it has to be said rugby will suffer because of a few nincompoops attempting to cover their nakedness through lies and deceit. Remember the saying “all this in-house fighting is extremely upsetting and really quite unnecessary. Greeks against Greeks…for God’s sake put an end to it.” Maybe 2014 will enlighten some as rugby needs them as still a few dare even with the odds are against them.
Lasitha Gunaratne the Vice President of the SLRFU confirmed that referees from across the shores will be in Sri Lanka to officiate in at least in two matches per week. The crumbs are for those who may now also practice for the marathon at the next Olympics. The question however is on appointing two for matches which then will have to be decided on the perception that this is a good match. That leaves room for clubs to ask the question what about me from those who are fighting to scrape the bottom of the barrel. The game of rugby has many castles aligned to the SLRFU known as clubs and to the SLSRFA known as schools. Will it be possible at this yearend to leave the vampire attitude behind and get on with the game for 2014.It does not seem to be as some are threatening a pullout and play among themselves and turn the clock to a game of rugby for camaraderie? The advent of referees from across has put a stop I believe albeit temporarily.
The game, as some say, has improved while money is being pumped. The question how long can you last and or depend on foreign referees as there is almost 600 games played in a year. There has to be a solution somewhere and may be if one has to set the apparatus in motion with new wheels it may have to be done.
The game is swinging both ways and still unbeaten at the top are Havelock’s and Navy. The Park Club has the disadvantage of not having played the game against the Sharks which according to inside sources may not come off. The games for Navy and Havelock’s will be crucial in the coming weeks. Thereafter the rugby of the second round will be close and tough. Close scores can be interesting but does not mean pulsating rugby or fantastic as some prefer to call them. Dropped passes, missed tackles and aimless kicking dominate the game. Correct these and sure it will be good rugby. The game otherwise is slow but gathers momentum at irregular intervals where you see good ball handling and running which end in tries.
Why cannot this be so most of the time than being some of the time? That probably is because clubs seem to build their game around foreign players who attempt to use the physical ability to the maximum. They do get their target at times but are offered stiff resistance at other times. The good point here is that the locals have shown that they are not reluctant to tackle. But those who sham with make believe tackles are those who allow passengers to score.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB