Holy Trinity and the Saints Go Marching in
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Petes had it easy last week - File pic
School Rugby, calling this a first week is more in a literal sense, as match dates changed to span over 2 weeks. It was an expanded first week when Dharmaraja and Wesley could not find the paddock. Testing time for a season that looks to be close, with teams matching each other and able to stand and be level, eye ball to eye ball. This disjoint of the first week is expected to correct itself as the second week approaches. Correction started with rolling substitutes introduced in the first week, with some making good use, being done away with. Specifically, I thought Trinity did the rolling well in getting back to defeat St. Anthony’s.
After a high powered meeting between the Schools and the heavyweights of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR), it transpires that rolling substitutes will be done away with, as the current Under-19 Schools Tournament does not fall into the defined level of SLR keeping to the Laws. At the end of the day, it is about continuing the tournament for which the Schools have been getting ready. When we talk of Schools getting ready it is about a young generation. The ‘no rolling’ should have a minimum of coaches grumbling, as up until a few days prior to the first week, very few practised with rolling substitutes in mind. The argument of some is that rolling is for junior games, where it is to give the opportunity for more to play. It has however, come to stay in the top level 7s, because the rate for player exertion increases in the shorter version. Time will tell whether this trial will get rooted in all forms of the game. With a long Schools season ahead, time will expose to whether there is a toll of injuries. Let the game go on as we debate whether the goals were changed or, the goal post was changed or, is it that the action steps were changed?
The game that caught my eye was the one between S. Thomas’ and St. Joseph’s for the Lady Jayatilleke Shield. The Joes won the Shield convincingly. Incidentally, this is 50 years since the Joes first won both the Lady Jayatillke and the Rev Fr Basil Weeratunga Shields together in 1968. This is also 50 years after Joes beat Petes to win the Rev. Basil Weeratunga for the first time, as reminded by Mifthah Mohideen, the Pete’s scrumhalf. Will the Joes celebrate the Golden Jubilee of annexing both Shields this year? If week 1 is a base for forecasting, then they should.
The game between S. Thomas’ and St. Joseph’s was good, in the sense that, both teams played disciplined Rugby, with less penalties, despite attempts by both sides to give quick ball. That is one up for the boys who were down there. When the opportunity arose, the Blue&White worked wide and scored using the backs that looked deadly. Cheka Jayawardena able to change direction both ways, supports and finishes well, teaming with winger Gemunu Chethiya and fullback Piyatissa joining. S. Thomas’ started off well, but stuck to the the same plan of pick and hit, and did not respond. They should have looked at the changing goal posts, as the Joes defence was solid and had more men to counter, as they judiciously kept less involved at the breakdown. Decision-making there on the field would have changed the line, and the scores would have been closer and made more exciting, as both sides deserve a pat for playing positive Rugby. The straying, albeit at times over the last foot, should have been countered, possibly, with a kick over the advancing backs. You got to play to the whistle and change according to the whistle.
St. Peter’s posted the highest total for the week scoring 48 points, showing what they are capable of . They were less fluent than expected from a talented side, but looked confused as much as the numbers on players. That is where a team looks what they should look like, when they get on the field. Zahira was a tad disappointing, though they did try to work the ball. With 29 points down, what purpose does it serve to keep barracking the man in the middle. A better message to the players whose defense allowed territorial advantage to St. Peter’s, would have made more impact to curtail the scores.
Trinity got the better of St. Anthony’s in a game that could have gone either way. A little more of decision-making and adjusting could have sealed the game for the Antonians. They opted for the pick and hit at most times, and gave the Lions the chance to win. Trinity, on the other hand, seems to have a well knit side that can start performing to please. What I would have expected from the whistle, which had an acceptable tone, is to hold for a moment and let play move on. That again is discretion lost, when people keep pumping pages of mistakes, some which, if stopped, will be mostly stopped. It is this fault-seeking attitude that makes a more conscientious whistle.
Of the 10 teams seen on the field, 9 have shown they could match one another, even in defeat. We will see Dharmaraja and Wesley, who missed the action last week, though not against each other. The game will be on and let it go on, as tension will rise and passion will take pride over rational behaviour.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, Coach and an Accredited Referees’ Evaluator IRB