Sports - Temp

What will happen to the league title. How come CR has an outside chance despite losing two matches? These are questions that are asked when rugby lovers meet.

Whatever will be the outcome of the last match of the league tournament, the team that will be remembered from last week will be the Havelock’s. Having lost by a narrow margin to Kandy the previous week the Havelock’s did well to defeat CR and FC. After losing the first match by 62 points 7 the side has since shown that they are capable of upsetting some of the well laid out plans. It was a case of determination courage and being fit to the last minute. The happening was suggestive of the past. It was as though the old spirits had decided to revisit the park. All this from a side that spends virtually ten percent of what other big names budget for as expenditure. Well done Havelock’s you got to aspire to be at the top.

I had the opportunity of speaking to a stalwart of the club. This was just prior to the CR match. I asked him whether he was happy with the clubs performance of the previous week. This die-hard rugby supporter, benefactor and well known administrator had this to say “the better players we produce will be picked up by others and we will be back to square one”. His words have been true in the past as this club has lost many of its players as the finances do not allow them to be lavish with payments. Another case in point of being the nursery for providing players to other clubs has been the old Zahirians. The game for these clubs will be; to rise, fall and then be crippled. With difficulty they try to get back on their feet only to see the crutch being taken away. A player transfer system that will require registration and reimbursement of costs to the releasing club has to be in place. This will help off set the costs. The more affluent then can take the better players at a price.

The Havelock’s team will now face their opponents with confidence. They will be a force to reckon with in the knock out stages. Playing to a plan with a thought out strategy will be useful to this side that has proved they can be good spoilers. They have passed the psychological barrier. Now they are a winning side. The rest will follow. The die-hard supporters of the club who have followed them through worst times now have much to be happy.

The other performance of note was that of CH who despite losing played well at Nittawela to an 18 to 21 points defeat. With almost all support in Nittawela being for the home side the boys from Maitland Place did well. They have been during the season playing in patches but yet not produced a performance true to their capabilities.

The results leave the league title open till the end of the battle between the CR and Kandy. A win or even a draw for Kandy will ensure that the title and the trophy remain with them. A win for CR will mean that the winners of the league title will be decided on bonus points. A question that has surfaced is that there are no bonus points for the drawn game of Kandy. CR though losing to Havelock’s have a 0.5 bonus point for having scored more tries than the winning side. The irony of the issue is that till the time of the last stages of the final round those responsible and representing their clubs at the tournament committee did not spot this shortcoming: if there was one.

The possibilities suggest a game can thrill the spectators. CR has to sparkle and not only win but score more than four tries. Kandy will go all out to win or at least force a draw. Both teams have the skill to impress on the park. The key will be possession. To keep the ball with you and reduce unforced errors while taking all chances to cross the line will be the priority. The winner will be the team that can retain possession while crossing the gain line supported by better ball handling.