Kandy down one-way street?

The “ Caltex” league trophy will not wind down the roads from Kandy to seek a new home in Colombo as it stands at present. The performance to date suggests the least possibility to prevent Kandy from retaining the cup. Theoretically the closest is CR with one game down the most likely to challenge and prevent the expectation of the hill capital club. Following the defeat in the hands of Kandy the performance against Police Sport Club does not inspire much confidence for one to hope that CR and FC can provide a new home for the Cup.

The number of changes that CR and FC have done in for the last match leads to ask the question. Did they have to wait for defeat to realize that there is something that needs adjustment? Kandy in the meanwhile continued their winning run with another empathetic performance. This time around it was Havelocks Sports Club that was at the receiving end.

CH beat Army in a match that produced some heavy scoring and ended 42 points to 24. An accumulation of sixty six points in a game is good for the spectator. So many points scored means that the spectator has seen a lot of action. The way CH is playing instills a hope for challenge. Yet with two games down to be winners needs others at the top to fall apart.

The dominance and player retention by Kandy requires others to ask a question. How do they manage to do so each year? Without looking at why players join and or remain people at most times are interested to find out ways and means of how to stop the players joining the hill capital club. It is common knowledge that the game has expanded in Sri Lanka breadthwise. It has spread to many parts. The most populated and the most represented Western Province clubs are still second to the Central Province club We at most times find fault and point fingers at those in charge of Kandy and blame them for poaching players As a nation of fault finders it is not surprising that we will try to blame others and stall any progress they achieve. It takes courage and foresight to learn from others and apply the experience for you to do better.

As the games creep along the issues of discipline and court action keeps popping up. When will we learn and put in place pop up blockers to benefit the game. The sad part is that those responsible try to justify the actions that have been issues of indiscipline. Else they try to find fault with the absence of a comma or full stop without asking the right question.

An interesting case reported is the complaint made against French Coach Bernard Laporte and the action to be taken by the IRB. It is not only the IRB that is looking into the matter but also the French Rugby Federation. Laporte who has been coaching France since 1999 has been named the French Sports Minister following this years World Cup tournament. The report which is copied below involved verbal abuse.

IRB to probe Laborite’s outburst at referee
France coach Bernard Laporte could face suspension if found guilty of misconduct after an alleged verbal spat with Australian referee Stuart Dickinson last week.

International Rugby Board (IRB) referees' chief Paddy O'Brien told reporters in Wellington that Dickinson's report into the incident in a hotel foyer had been received and would be assessed by the IRB and the French federation.

"They will deem whether there is enough to perform a formal inquiry into the matter or not," O'Brien said.

"If they do, and they find there is a case to answer, then Bernard will have to answer it under the normal judiciary process."

Dickinson officiated the first Test in Auckland which New Zealand won 42-11 earlier this month, and was a touch judge in the second Test in Wellington on Saturday when the All Blacks wrapped up a 2-0 series win with a 61-10 rout of the French.

Dickinson was reported to have wanted to apologize to Laporte for some "minor" officiating errors from the Auckland game and met Laporte in the hotel on the eve of the second Test.

"If you are appointed to any French games at the World Cup, the French team will not turn up," Laporte was quoted as saying by local media.

The IRB's code of conduct states a person "shall not abuse, threaten or intimidate a referee, touch judge or other match officials, whether on or off the field of play".

In Sri Lanka it has been Physical and yet we try to justify. If we cannot then we will issue a certificate of good behaviour and pat them on the back for a dirty deed and say “well done”.