Looking back on the accomplishments
View(s):The fiasco at the One Day cricket match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was a good enough excuse for some rugby fans to point that spectator deviant behaviour is not limited to rugby. What happened nevertheless is no excuse or a reason to justify unsavory behaviour in rugby where the spirit of the game is on top of expectations. A lesson to be learnt was the very low turnout at the 4th One Day International. You come to enjoy and be with a sport and you do not want what is not part of the sport. Rugby has to take a cue.
Spirit of the sport is above all - File pic
Rugby, this school season has seen less of on field violence and issues that has found its way to the stands and or to the grounds following the end of a match. The school section and the SLRFU referees committee has been standing tall in taking action against officials who have been in the habit of expressing dissenting views whereas they may not be always correct. The school season is over and we may look over shoulder to see what was behind us.
Royal College was a team that performed consistently through the season and was rewarded with the Bradby Shield as well as the schools league title. They fielded a side for the knockouts and are claimed as part of their social responsibility as league champions to take part despite not being able to field a full side. Royal at most times of the year played as a team and used their skill of a rolling maul effectively. Many questions have been asked about the weapon they used and the defence of the maul and were experimenting on hypothetical issues than taking the bull by the horn. If somebody says you cannot keep the ball behind and push and this is unfair what about a pushover off a scrum where again the players bound are in front of the ball.
Isipathana College had a fairly successful season up until the last week in the league where they lost to Royal and the league crown. They had some good and talented players but the overdependence and using one man as a pivot probably resulted in not using all the guns you had in your armour.
Third placed Trinity was a good team that did not fire when required. The second round of the Bradby Shield was their loosening of the grip which was too much to handle for a schoolboy team. Nevertheless as has been in the past they have kept their head above water despite the third place was a result of bonus points.
Science College proved to be the most determined side having a not so good start but kept pushing to be recognised and they got a deserving fourth place in the league before they annexed the knockout title. The game in the final proved to be more open play by both sides than sticking to pick and hit. The challenge now is to stay on top. One better season next year and the path may be set to be among the best.
In the words of two veteran school coaches St. Joseph’s College had the best team if you compare man to man of team of all other schools. It is somewhat a question as to why they could not fire all cylinders and end either as one or two in the league.
St. Peter’s College was another team that had a disappointing season and in my analysis it was that they were a one man team. From the time the dynamic captain went off in the first match they were a shadow on themselves unless otherwise when the captain was on the field in short stints. A pointer was when he came in the second half and Peter’s came from behind and beat Trinity. It is not always that an injured captain can keep rowing the boat. This reminds me of a story that a rowing team too needs a leader but to win all must row.
S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia had talent but did not bloom when on the ground. I have heard the phrase it is a young side and wait till next year. Hope to see you at the top is that is the case. But what makes a great team as I have said before is about sustained performance and not glowing once in a while.
St. Anthony’s College, Dharmaraja College, Kingswood College and Wesley College were the other teams at the top division but were disappointments. The fall out is CWW Kannangara MV, who are good at the lower level but failed to sustain themselves in the top segment.
Kandy, the hill capital sees many involved in rugby as though that was all they had. Trinity was the only school to show promise while Kingswood fell way below. The performances by the other schools from the hills point to a sad situation when Kandy was almost the heart of rugby for many years.
* Vimal Perera is a former player, coach, referee and an IRB Accredited Referees’ Educator