A closer look at the Havies-Kandy encounter
View(s):Kandy Sports Club excelled by breaking the resistance of Havelocks Sports Club, who travelled to fight but it turned out that they were subdued. Havelocks were bent on disturbing the winning trend of the Hill Capital club that has dominated local rugby.
Kandy remains unbeaten at the end not six weeks. It was not that Havelocks were toothless.The home team had the crowds behind them, roaring them with cheers while the visitors had to deal with the hostility. In their five matches so far the Colombo players would not have such a crowd behind or against them. Rugby for Kandy is sort of a tribal business and anyone who steps into their territory have to face hard times. It was obvious Havelocks could grasp this in the first half.
Havelocks closed up in the second half after succumbing to pressure. Unable to secure the cheeky pull by the front rows as well as in the roll off the maul they never looked like capitalising on the foreign referee they asked for. If that was all they wanted; they were not mentally toughened to deal with home team crowd pressure. Some might say that Kandy too will have to face the same pressure when they come to Colombo. That is provided you believe that there will be support from home crowds which never will be comparable to crowds for a match in Kandy. Remember that Kandy comes at least seven times in a league season to Colombo and players are used to the traffic lights, snarls and annoying tooting.
But the Colombo Club travels to Kandy probably once during a season. There too the players have to experience sleeping in another’s bed and getting across for a match. May be going forward there is a need to read more on how the home team has an advantage when planning. “So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.” ― Sun Tzu, the Art of War.
Kandy beat Havelocks 31-21 as they failed to get the best of their expectations. Charlie Brown was very assertive on the field and particularly policed the front row and at one stage sent a prop from each team for their inability to give a stable scrum because of improper binding. Despite being shown a yellow, the pinkie prop seemed to continue his improper binding which he has been used to and often cheered as part of his gutsy play. Prompting the referee to assert himself asking where your hands should be.
Before that he did say when he sent off two front row players ‘I have no problem in sending off’ while reminding ‘I told you my execration in the pre-match brief’. Kandy on the other hand seemed to get in stride keeping play with their forwards or denying Havelocks from being out the marauding pack that has come on top during the last five games. Both sides also found it tough as the illegal break and continuity was snuffed off early whereas both teams has got away with the pseudo rolling maul breakaway in past matches. When the game opened a little more than usual the Havelocks found it somewhat different that taxed their fitness.
Sixty three points was scored when CR met bottom of the group Air Force. Kiwi Theo Seraphim, who has been involved in local coaching schools rugby, thinks it was a great game. He believes the game has improved. It should be for Air Force who took a name studded CR side to the wire. In a message sent, he says the game was good and the referee was good irrespective of what people on the ground say. That is a discussion that will never see an end in any club house. That is that the Referee was good. Probably could be different way I look at from a technical perspective.
Army for some unknown reason did not look the same team that played the previous week going down to Police by 41 Points to 19. Police seemed to enjoy their rugby on this day as though they seemed to sense a different direction akin to the recent issues in echelons of justice.
CH who have lost themselves in previous games anchored the sailors in their den. Lethargy set into Navy early in the first half but they started to paddle in the second half. This was too late.
There is much talk on the social media on how referee Brown let the game flow and did not penalise at will. It is a mind set as there was a penalty count close to 25 and two yellow cards. Not different to what a local referee would dish out. What was most important was how he managed. It is how the people accept. It is about credibility as we reach for new blood. There is much hope in the young who have been bold to accept the whistle. There is wonders you can do if handled properly. That includes all involved in the game.
Sun Tzu in the Art of war says; there are not more than five each in musical notes, primary colors and cardinal tastes. Yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies more hues than ever seen and yield more flavours than can ever be tasted. That is what has to be done and you need the people knowledgeable to do so; if not they are driven to the slaughter house.
The talk on rugby social media is a clip about a player taking the position of non throwing scrum half standing on the other side to the direction from where the ball is put in. The questions asked is whether he could do it. Players and coaches and followers dialogue is that he cannot. The beauty comes from an old whistle inferring ‘you can because it is not a ruck or maul’.
The book in simple English says ‘Prior to the start of play in the scrum, the scrum-half of the team not throwing in the ball stands: On that team’s side of the middle line next to the opposing scrum-half, or at least five metres behind the hindmost foot of their team’s last player in the in the scrum and remains there until the completion of the scrum.
Once play in the scrum begins, the scrum-half of the team not in possession: takes up a position with both feet behind the ball and close to the scrum or permanently retires to a point on the offside line either at that team’s hindmost foot, or permanently retires at least five metres behind the hindmost foot.
The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. William Arthur Ward. If you do not know you can tell anything, the explanation is of no use, cannot demonstrate nor inspire and the people have no faith in the pupil.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, Coach and an Accredited Referees’ Evaluator IRB