What the Green Machine is made of was amply proved
View(s):
In a recent address US Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal said “However, past achievements do not in themselves translate into present-day accomplishments. Success does not come automatically. A long and terrible civil conflict and a tragic natural disaster all combined to keep Sri Lanka on the margins of the global economy for many decades. That is no longer the case. Sri Lanka once again has the opportunity, the will, and the support to achieve what has eluded it for so long.” If Nisha Biswall could have walked to the Race Course on Wednesday, she may have wondered on what she was talking. Is the conflict on or off? The security arrangements around Race Course was such that one could have wondered whether this was protection needed to play a school rugby knock-out final: what hope lies for Sri Lanka.
The post-match cordon was so tight that it looked impossible to get on to the field. That held on for a couple of minutes but the heavily armed could not stop the children from different corners running in. Proving that the presence of heavily armed men alone cannot stop and will do little, as it is not a mob. Schools need to take look at the broadcast footage and ping if any pupils that are identified. They need to be educated as fast as you can or else the sport will be a war. Though the crescendo of voices rose a few decibel points every time the referee made a call, which was not to their liking, there was little they could do. Even if they wanted to get to the pitch. Security was tight. It is time those in charge of education and government addressed the issue, as sport must be an opportunity and a part of the whole education requirement to build a citizen for tomorrow.
Many schools-masters on duty at the match were skeptical in their comments on why this has to be when it is two schools teams vying for a trophy. In playing a sport in the spirit of the game, the players have been a good example. This has been there through the season and with no exception in the knock-out final. The yellow cards in the final was for technical breaching of the laws repeatedly such as not releasing at the tackle or going over. That will occur and is part of rugby. The Isipathana schoolchildren deserve the win as they played most times under pressure and under the microscope because of the behaviour of adults. On Wednesday, they were on song. Isipathana proved that they are the solid force in school rugby by winning both the league and the knockout. The scores were wide as they romped home by 47 points to 12.
Pathana was at most times in the game running with the ball and changing their play. Royal who had dominated for over 10 minutes at the start lost it around with the dependence of one game style, which has brought them victory during the season. The second try by Pathana was a display of good ball handling playing wide and many involved. Two early penalties that Royal opted not to kick but go for the rolling maul was the winning point of losing. The most potent weapon during the season was the rolling maul. You could have not thought that Nilfer Ibrahim would not practicing countering. This he did and did well and that was the point to note. The attendance at this game was something that the rugby administration has to take note of as the game is more than alive.
It also shows that when some names in schools take the field there will always be numbers. I hope that the numbers will keep coming in the future and club rugby too will see the interest. The resignation of the Warden of S. Thomas’ College from the post of Vice President of Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association is no surprise to me as he shows character and that is what you need in running a school. There is no holding of ceremonial posts; hang onto a job only if you are doing what is right. The contents of the note and the duplicity in shifting the responsibility to a sponsor is clear. It is time to reflect and form a base for discussion for the future of the game. Warden Marc Billimoria may have resigned; but you could still keep talking to him, as he seems to be talking something this country sadly lacks.
The character and principle. The school season in terms of a tournament is over. The battle however has just begun, as there is a need to get onto the drawing board and start planning for next year. It is important to address the loopholes in the tournament rulebook before the next season begins. If the need is for expert opinion and you have to pay professionals do so and put a paper that you can stand on. The jokes of the week was when I read “if the Warden has resigned let us get our principal in”. The other was the big post- match complaint. The referee missed crooked throws. Why stop the game when the lie out was not contested.
* Vimal Perera is a former player, coach, referee and an IRB Accredited Referees’ Educator