The game is on but wow’s not yet the word
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“We had a bad day” was a muttering I heard when passing the Coach of CR and FC after the defeat at the hands of Havelock’s last weekend. The good thing I heard from the secretary was that the CR committee is very keen of reviving the post-match fellowship.
To win or lose is immaterial but the spirit and fellowship of two long standing rugby teams must be maintained said Shiran the Secretary. To this end they had spoken to former stalwarts and the response seemed good. Apart of rugby rivalry the game needs to get back to the spirit of sharing the joy and continue friendships that will last. Good thought and hope the trend continues.
The week started in Welisara amidst gloomy skies and Army jingled a flat note of joy beating Navy 18 points to 17 at the bell. At halftime Army led by 15 points to 5. Navy erred through bad handling for most parts of the game but led till the last minute as Army had two pegged to the sin-bin. The indiscipline of Army which earned then yellow card helped Navy regroup and lead by seventeen points to 13. It was in the last minute that Army barged through for a try and recorded a thrilling win by one point.
The CR vs Havies Division ‘A’ match was not that exciting as anticipated - Pic by Ranjith Perera
CR’s only moment of pride in the match against arch rivals Havelock’s played last Saturday was when within minutes of starting the game a good run of over 40 metres by the scrum-half ended in a try and took an early lead of 5 points to nil. This was countered almost immediately and Havelock’s went into a lead of 7 points to 5.
This was short-lived as Havelock’s countered and consolidated to lead 17 points to 8 at half-time. Thereafter the game meandered in favour of Havelock’s who took a lead of 17 points to 8. Why I say it meandered is because it never reached a height of entertainment and excitement. The game at the 15th minute was a clear lead for Havelock’s at 31 points to 8 but ended the day with Havelock’s winning by 34 points to 18.
There was a lot of lethargy that crept into the game between two long standing rivals. Keep side World Rugby – the standards and the way the game is played puts us way behind the Asian giant Japan. These were the words of a spectator, who had come from Australia, at the match as he left saying there is no entertainment. Another stalwart coming home to CR after many years wondered whether this was a CR-Havelock’s match comparing to the crowds in his time where he came the previous day to buy a ticket. Comparative to recent times the crowds are better but there are more spaces to fill.
Police pummeled a hapless CH&FC by 55 points to nil while Air Force could not fire their jets and were beaten by Kandy 63 points to 12. These teams are fillers which was worthy in the past as participation was important. The records books noted that so many teams played in the top league but the game as it is has to have an entertainment value which requires competition and not cricket scores.
Take the Asian top nations which have been limited to three countries on a home and away basis. This is to keep the interest in better rugby through competition as cricket scores are not helpful when you watch rugby. Hopefully Air Force will recover during the season and be a force and not a farce. In the case of CH, hopes are very distant as they played their home match on enemy grounds.
It is also noted that the issues with regard to the under twenty team has been sorted out and the schools section has decided to take the bull by the horn; meaning that they have worked with the Sports Ministry to get the required release of players from clubs. According to sources involved with Schools Rugby they have worked close with the Ministry and also used the goodwill of their former students now in the hierarchy of the clubs. They said that they did not want to be seen as obstinate and asking for their pound of flesh as it is the school boys who are the future of the nation.
One wise crack at a match by a member was to ask how come our rugby does not reach dazzling heights when Sri Lankans are selected to play for the Fiji Sevens team. I wondered what he was saying wondering whether a JD had taken the better of him. The realisation dawned as I read the weekend newspapers which commented about the Fiji Rugby Union seeking a clarification on including a player who represented Sri Lanka being selected for national honors in Fiji.
* Vimal Perera is a former player, coach, referee and an IRB Accredited Referees’ Educator