Sports
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rugby violence becoming common place? The Kingswoodians at this stage were huddled in celebrating victory and suddenly there were punches being traded. The crowds who were on the field by this time joined in. The players too were on the receiving end. What sparked off the incident was the throwing of a punch by a player (scrum half). The end result was the disruption of the day’s proceedings and cancellation of the awards distribution. This was unnecessary as the game was played in the best of spirits and hard fought while the spectators enjoyed rugby. The Kingwood boys were at the receiving end. The next day Saturday 1st October was the second Semi Final between St Anthony’s College Kandy and St Peter’s College. The saints battled it out in the centre without incident. The game went onto extra time and was clinched by St Peter’s College Colombo. The crowd as on the previous day was on the ground and this time at the receiving end of insult and threatened violence was the referee. The same continued as the referee winded his way to the pavilion. The old boys present behaved in a manner most disgusting challenging the supporters of the winners while blaming the referee. One wonders what example these older supporters give the younger schoolboys by their disgraceful behavior. Do you think you are displaying undying loyalty to your former school? In reality it is a show of how badly you have been brought up unable to take defeat. This is an insult to the great men who were the founding fathers and other teachers who gave guidance to the protégés of these respected schools. We know that rugby is a game of physical contact and are played by men. Yet the game is played in the best of sporting spirit. Let not there be cowards who get the spirit of kings when in a crowd and disrupt the enjoyment of the schoolboys. One thing will be sure; CR & FC will ban culprit schools from using the ground in the future as they have done in the recent past with two other schools. The ultimate loser will be the game which has only a few grounds to go around the many. The SLRFU in its true role as the Governing body for rugby stepped and ensured that the game does not suffer. And the finals will be played in Colombo. This is what a governing body is there for. Well done. It is now to be seen what action the main body for schools rugby would take. What will the school do? The problem in the first match started as the result of irresponsible behavior of player of a school. The second was the unsporting behavior of the supporters. The SLSRFA must also organize and have a better security arrangement than taking cover under the excuse that the police are present. There should be adequate organization and the presence of civil security to prevent crowds converging on the field after and or during the match and also to take responsibility and action to get both teams off the field. There is also a need for the presence of organizers at matches as this. The lower you are in your attitude and skills the harder it will be to find success. The people who are negative, whiney and always blaming someone else for their failures do not make it to the highest level of success (however you define it). This is what the loosing supporters of the second semi final where St. Peter’s College beat St Anthony’s College Kandy have to take to heart. These folks will always feel like life or somebody is against them and they just can't get ahead. The cards are stacked against them because of the altitude they choose to live. The higher you are in your attitude and skills the easier it will be to find success. Rugby played in the best of spirits must end in camaraderie. This is a game, a competition and not a conquest. |
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