Under-19/20? SLSRFA grow up and decide
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Despite technical shackles, the Schools League tournament has already gained momentum - File pic
Schools Rugby drags on despite the hiccups of the non availability of the tournament rules. It is reliably understood that the book is almost finalised, with agreement to be reached with the parent body. A hitch is to iron out the problems in calling the tournament Under (U)-20. So, probably, they will call this U-19, allowing a 17-year-old to play. That is on paper, as some schools seem to object, because they trained for an U-20 tournament. The quixotic decision might be to call it U-19 on paper and get on with the game, as some suggest. Possibly, this will make the bone structure of the lower age group strong, when on paper it is U-19.
With 7 teams in Segment 1A, as against 6 in 1B, the procedure for proceeding to Round 2 looks confusing. The proposed average and the removal of least tries seem to be complicating the issue more than it should. It looks like the 7th DS Senanayake College (DSS) will remain there as last, unless the unforeseen happens in the weeks to come. Would be better not to take points off for matches against DSS, and make it an even 6 where the points table is concerned.
The question then will be the last 4 or 5 that will proceed to the next elimination round. So far, only Zahira, who were a ‘B’ Division team last year, has shown it is capable of taking on the top 8 teams. Dharmaraja has shown they are worthy of consideration. DSS and Prince of Wales look like the poor relatives who have come to the party, but are shoved and shoveled around. Unfortunately, it is the young players who face injuries at the hands of the big brothers of the game. Unfortunately, this is not understood by the adults who want to satisfy their ego, living in fantasy that the boys may give a fight. It is like the boy who throws a stone at a bunch of mangoes, hoping their might be a hit and a mango will fall.
That apart, the talk of the town is the defeat of reigning champs Isipathana by St. Peter’s. The Park Boys who love to run the ball, met with a stout defense, particularly, in the 2nd half, which made the running more difficult. This opens the game, hence the Pathana-Royal match will be a whopper. By the time this note is on print, the fate of the game and the performance of the Wise Old Owl and the Young Turk will be known. St. Joseph’s who beat Dharmaraja convincingly, will also have a battle of a ‘do or die’ nature for both teams, when they take on St. Anthony’s at Nittawela. Royal, Pathana and Petes seem to be in position to proceed to Round 2. The 4th place is a tossup between the Joes and St. Anthony’s Katugastota. In Division 1, Segment B, it is virtually Trinity, Wesley, Zahira and S. Thomas’ that will make the first 4, while Science still has an outside chance.
A gesture that caught my eye was the Joes and Dharmaraja players standing alternatively and taking a bow together after the match. This was indeed a great gesture in the spirit of Rugby, after the fracas that tarnished the image of Rugby and strained the relationship.
The games have been well patronised and teams are well supported, despite the high cost of entry. The matches being scattered from Friday to Monday, I think, has contributed to more crowds at venues, as well as there being less pressure in assigning officials. While there has been grumbling about issues, there is little so far that has caused panic behavior that can harm the game. The fun really stars after the 5 weeks of Rugby, when Round 2 is on. We have seen some new faces on the field and so far, they have been trudging along. That is something the game needed badly, as it was thought that there will be no new blood. This is still not adequate, as the need for more young Rugby players to join is imperative.
I think, what I hear is a rumour and not a strategic move, as whispers, is that the Union has proposed a Rs 1,000 for a referee per match, if they are new entrants at the basic level. There is thinking that even the payment for a referee at the higher grade matches need to be revised down. The excuse it seems is that the Union cannot match tournament expenses to revenue. Will cutting down referee’s expenses be the correct answer, as it is more lucrative to coach? Will it be like cutting off the nose to spite the face? That will be ill timed when we see new faces on the park. Napoleon said, “There are only two forces in the world, the sword and the spirit. In the long run the sword will always be conquered by the spirit.”
Today, I believe it is the spirit that keeps the referee going, despite the odds he faces and the risk he faces, and escorted off the field after a match, surrounded by an army of security men. That is something the preacher of “cut the referee’s payment” needs to fathom. Why not look at the Generals who eat into the pie and without whom the game will still be played.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRBÂ Â Â