The Caltex knockout tournament played last week had interesting moments on the field of play, as well as outside. Kandy sports club got the better of CH in the first semi final game played in Kandy. What attracted most attention in this match the card the CH coach was shown by the referee for a breach of the technical Zone Management Protocol.
The management of the Technical Zone is covered by an IRB communication which has been incorporated in the SLRFU tournament hand book. The handbook spells that managing those in the technical zone are the responsibility of the fourth and fifth officials. Where there is a transgression of the protocol the referee can caution or expel the persons from the playing enclosure.
The question that some have asked is whether a referee can issue a yellow card to the bench. The card is a tool for communication and that was done in this incident. Subsequently as per reports the offender was asked to leave the playing enclosure which basically amounts to expulsion. In the confusion that entertained the minds of the officials as the indication was by a yellow card the coach returned to the bench later on.
The crux of this issue is that the IRB as well as the tournament handbook of the SLRFU has included a provision which allow the referee to take action. Even if we are to look back; the laws of the game state that the playing enclosure is within the control of the referee. This means that he could direct at his discretion. The referees being harangued from the bench is nothing new and is a common sight in most matches including school as well as junior games. The action taken by the referee in this match should be a reminder that it can happen and now that it has been done others may follow.
On the field we saw some exciting moments in the Navy vs. Police Match. Police played very well in this match and deserved to win. Yet their key player Wijeweera who had a very good game let the nerves take the better of him and mistimed a ball he kicked to clear. This was in the final minute and navy seized the opportunity and got in to a position five meters from the Police goal Line. Desperation made Police give away two penalties. The Navy opted to take a scrum form what appeared to be the last set piece and the number 8 Bilal Hassan took off form the base and planted a try that ensured that Navy will reach the Semi Final.
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| Action from the Navy-Police encounter |
The pressure that was exerted in the last minute resulted in Police not marking the Navy number 8 who did a good break from the base. What was noteworthy is that Bilal who was penalized for not staying bound a few times did his act well this time around as he knew that the referee has spotted his action previously. The Police forwards who played well in this game should take to heart that though they lost on points they did win in their hearts. It seems as though there was a resurgence of Police Rugby and they will be a force to reckon with as in the past if they keep the act together.
Havelocks got the better of the Army in another quarter final though Army did show resistance as well as attack in the first half of the Game. Havelocks who centered play on their expatriate players romped home easy winners.
The CR and Air Force game ran all the way to the last minute. CR was leading 25 points to 20 as the clock was clicking the last few minutes. Inside Air Force territory closer to the 40m CR were awarded a penalty. At this point there was hesitancy as to what should be done with three possible options. Leading by 5 points they could have taken a kick at goal and sealed the game. Even if the conversion was not successful you would have received the ball from a 22 m drop.
If it fell short Air Force would have been under pressure inside the 22 to either kick the ball or play on. The other would have been to kick the ball to touch and have a lineout with your throw closer to the 5 meter line; the throw was for CR. CR opted for the higher risk outcome of taking a tap and going for pick and hit. They did not need five points to win a match and even if they did they would have got closer with a kick to touch. After three hits the ball went to the other side and history was that Air Force got a penalty for a deliberate knock on in the forty meter line in Air Force territory. The long kick was not defended properly giving Air Force another chance to go over the goal line.
The outcome was history as CR failed to defend the back division move form 10 meters out and closer to the touch line which ended with a try under the post. It was Hysteria that followed with all the chanting and swearing that greeted the referee on the way to the dressing room.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB |
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