Season gathers momentum as the big guns fire
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Tharinda Ratwatte, scored 23 points for CR, who staged a dramatic comeback last week - File pic Amila Gamage
We hear so much of the Reds these days as almost every other day as we spend hours on the road because of some kind of protest. Last Saturday opened another opportunity to talk of the Reds. Not the protesting ones but those who for sometime were creating rugby history.
Almost drowned at half time by the Navy with a score of 23 points to 7 against them; they took a deep breath at half time to surface and win the game by 38 points to 23. CR and FC brushed aside Navy in the second week as they add momentum to face stiffer oppositions as the season gets older. It was one of the better wins the reds have recorded in recent times. Smiles all the way to a place where the beer is cheaper.
Navy must still be wondering; what missile hit the ship as they were cruising along in comfortably at the break. Leading by 23 points to 7 and losing at the end require some soul searching as the weeks ahead will be getting tough. Rugby is a game — a game of two half’s where Navy were a pleasing menu at the end of the first half. The pleasure at the end of the second half was for CR and the pain to Navy. What made the difference?
The game I believe was lost around the second minute of the second half when Navy was attacking the CR goal line and was two metres away and sneak over the line to consolidate the lead. They decided on feeding the back line from the breakdown. Navy was pushed back ten metres. It is true in rugby you have to go back to move forward but this time: going backwards put the attacker under pressure from a line of defenders.
The breathing space for the reds was gleefully accepted as the ball that came their way after a Navy error. The area to work gets smaller as you get close to the try line. There was no pushing back of the Reds from then on.
The question is: what space have you to get over the gain line when you pass it back. Making that decision in real time is what is important? That is the twist between the cup and the lip.
CR proved they have talent and players to substitute. It was not just having players on the bench but knowing when, where and how to substitute. CR also had people to change and they did the changes well. They had manpower to stay fit as a fiddle to last the game. Lasting was about being there and doing nothing it was about doing something all the time. That I thought was what made the difference.
Navy having lost many players at the start of the season need not fret about the loss. They need to get back and work on being men of steel when the odds turn against them. A kick with a few minutes to go and in range was missed by a man who contributed eighteen points from the 23 in the first a half. Probably the nerves got the better of Thilina Weerasinghe. Whereas Tharinda Ratwatte held his head high contributing 23 points. It was a game where two individuals put points on the board.
Kandy playing better than they did in the first week against CR pushed Police to a corner beating them 43 points to 11. Kandy ran the ball and their backs did the finishing touches. There is more to come from the League champs who showed what the team is capable of.
Army scored a close win over CH registering their first win for the season. CH seems to be continuing their woes of recent times but is blessed with better performance than last year. They however need that elusive win to keep afloat and for the boys to be kept motivated. It was another game where CH were leading 15 points to 10 in the first half but succumbed to a 20 to 15 win to Army. It is good to see them on the field continuing and keeping eight teams in the top league. Something the player and management will be proud of.
Havelock’s continued the winning formula beating Air Force who led 6 points to 5. With Havelock’s being penalized heavily in the first 15 minutes. Havelock’s eventually settled to play better winning by 46 points to 23. Something that they need to control is by disciplining themselves by reducing the penalty count.
Havelock’s, CR and Kandy are the teams that have won in both weeks. Navy who have lost one match together with the Army have a striking chance of paddling to shore. Police, Air Force and CH having lost in both weeks have a tough task ahead.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, Coach and a former Accredited Referees’ Evaluator IRB