Rugby standards take a plunge
View(s):Were Sharks stung by Navy and immobilized to reduce their performance or were the Sharks inept in matching the standards required from a match in the premier league. The scoring for the day were nineteen tries by Navy and one by Sharks. This means a try was scored every four minutes. Fifteen players in the team scored while fifteen of the nineteen tries were converted. This will be good for records but what good it does to 
rugby. Fifteen players scoring did make this match look like a practice session as the sevens experts ran in typical sevens styles and offloaded for another to score. Clearly a mismatch but will need to stand the test in the coming weeks to decide whether they are useless.
In the past the second round was limited to the top teams in the table while those at the bottom played for the Plate. This kept the competition among equals which was good to produce an entertaining game. Next time around the administration must take into account the need for the game to be competitive in the second round than try to please everyone who wants to be recognised in the champion’s league when they do not have the capacity to be there.
CR played themselves out of a win with some ordinary mistakes that would make a junior school players blush. What excuse can you give when a fullback knock on a ball that was travelling at slow speed with no defender close to apply pressure. It was either lethargy or not knowing some basic skills that are expected to be in place in the top league. Another I could not understand is not taking a shot at goal that was within easy scoring range that would have leveled scores. This penalty was given with five minutes to go and Army was making mistakes as they defended. Army was sloppy as they started but played within themselves and helped them secure another win.
The Havelock’s vs Police match was a very much an ordinary a game that did not suit the expected form of two teams at the top. The errors piled in numbers and the penalty count increased. The inability to keep the offside line at the ruck and maul as well as making mistakes in the tackle were predominant. The penalty had to be given as I saw and rechecked with the broadcast. The only way that could have reduced the penalty would have been to be very strict with the whistle in the first 10 to fifteen minutes without trying to talk and manage as the referee did. Soon if we have to satisfy those whose draw is faster than the legendry Lone Ranger is to talk to the teams and agree not to penalise the offside and the errors at the ruck and maul. I will bet my last cent if that were to happen the game will be worse than it is now and could be described as being chaotic.
Compared to this the schools rugby sevens organised by Zahira College for the Friendship Cup on Sunday was more interesting despite that only two Division ‘A’ schools taking part. Of the lower league schools Zahira, Lalith Athulathmudali MV, Piliyandala Central and Prince of Wales’ performed well. Prince of Wales’ took on the mighty Isipathana side and provided the fire and were unlucky not to win as the game was won by star-studded Isipathana in extra time. What was disgusting was the behavior of a spectator who probably was unbalanced after spirits getting into arguments with a match official when he was asked to leave the playing enclosure which he and others were encroaching. His question was to ask the match official what authority he has. Somebody must explain to him the laws that govern the game and also not to embarass the players who play good clean rugby and the school that is striving to maintain discipline and decorum on the rugby field. The day is not far off when a referee will call off the game it as happens in most parts of the world when they perceive a threat.
The game as it is needs a serious induction of skills development if we are to make an impact in the Asian region. It is not a mission impossible provided the real problem is identified, isolated and treated.
I don’t expect much excitement in the rugby field this week too, but be ready for rising tension other than for the Havelock’s-CR game to be played at Havelock Park. The Air Force taking on Sharks was a battle at the bottom and became one-sided with Airmen winning it easily by 68-15. The following week may see some good clashes and also the School Sevens will be played. CH, one of the oldest clubs appear to have signed off as do not see a game for them.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited
Referees Evaluator IRB