Isipathana’s cardinal sin
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The defending champs almost had it, but the Schools League title is a slip-away
As the schools rugby league reached the final round, the importance of keeping the game alive became more evident.
Despite the high entrance fees for school matches there has been an increase may be two fold in comparison to that of a club match.
The average tries per team has been 37 giving a healthy 5 tries per game, impressive indeed. The teams that fall below the mean of 37 are Peter’s, Thomas’ and Zahira. St Joseph’s has a healthy 40 tries as compared to Wesley who is above them in 4th place but has only 30 tries. With that and possibly another victory and having the highest bonus points so far Joes can end as fourth. Something common among the 4th and 5th place is that they are both grumblers.
Trinity and Pathana are two teams that have been willing to run the ball and head for the try line with 53 and 52 tries scored respectively. Peter’s are the best penalty conversion rate with 14 followed by Wesley at 11.
Next year around the schools section should think of having a better bonus point scheme to reward those who score tries. World Rugby has put out a proposal of 6 points for a try, 2 points for a penalty goal and 2 points for a dropped goal.
Besides being the best try scorers Trinity has in the past been known for good hospitality and continues the same way that is something visiting teams has always talked of. New comers to the top league Zahira is providing a scenario where rugby is not merely about winning. The culture they are promoting is more in line with the ethos of world rugby in playing to the spirit the game expects. Zahira College Maradana is a team who has climbed the ladder in “A” division Rugby to be in the first eight. Though they have not done very well in the second round, they are in the hearts and minds of the teams visiting Maradana.
The hospitality starts before the game with a very kind letter sent to the visitors inviting them to the school and offering them the facilities of a pre-match ground use and post match use of the pool and an invitation to the team and officials to dinner. The crowds are much in control of themselves and the calls they make are in line with the game. Well done Zahira for setting a worthy trend and being cordial as you should be to your guests.
By the time this column is in print the fate of the schools rugby league will be known. Ironically it had to be decided at the First Leg of the Bradby. Trinity who started with a flash lost to Peters while Royal lost to arch rivals Isipathana. Pathana who were riding high were undone by Trinity, yet Trinity lost to St. Peter’s while Isipathana beat them. I seem at a loss to understand why they did not take the kicks at goal and forge a lead when they were awarded penalties within kicking distance. They seem to have not got their act written properly. That is a win first and bonus points come next. They probably were interested in the try line to get bonus points as against kicking a penalty goal. The end result was that they lost the game and the league.
Trinity was steady but ill at ease as they entered round two. This was probably because the opponents in the first round were a little less to match the Lions. They lost to Peters but recovered to be the main contender. Thorough he season they were willing to run with the ball and the result was more tries scored. Other than the crass stupidity in their match against Wesley Trinity had a good record on the field took things in stride? The cards that they drew were a result of over enthusiasm which can be expected in game involving physical contact.
The battle with Pathana was played in good spirit and was a fast game with a close score line. Anything could have happened and turned the outcome up to the last minute. It was a hard fought battle and after a long time less is spoken about the referee and more about the match.
Royal has been slow and steady. They specialise in getting into their preferred position and gradually reaching the milestone. The league has been decided and the Brady has another leg yet to be played.
The top three teams were more interested in correcting what is under their control than passing the blame to somebody else. That does not mean the all in the other five who made to the top eight were grumblers. That was confined to may be two teams whose mistakes were always the result of a third party despite the errors made on the field. After the Zahira match Peters rugby stalwart who is in the thick of advising asked me for statics of the match as he felt despite winning they made many mistakes.
He whispered that we need to improve on technique and skills when he was told that the school had only for loose heads while the opponents had twenty one, that they also gave away fourteen penalties while receiving seven. Having got the information he thought that they should compile data for all matches as it seems mistakes have cost them.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB