Some are getting ready to drink from the cup of champions while others follow close to get an opportunity to grab the trophy. For others it is a crying fight to be among the last. I hope realization has dawned about the futility of sticking to technicaliies and leading young athletes to damnation. It may be true that the process has been flawed but the outcome seems disastrous as teams find it difficult to compete at the top.
To some the score line is so huge that the players will be naturally disappointed. To others it is difficult to find numbers to continue the game. Speaking to reliable authorities in the schools section I was made to understand that the situation is true. They are wondering; if this is the pressure felt after four matches, what will it be as the season progresses.
To play all eleven matches would be better than to drop off. Some resorted to indulgence in all possible ways, including appeals to the political will, to get there. The situation has been brought about by the narrow-minded thinking to stay at the top league using technical issues. They did not take into account the need of men and material for the battle on the field. It is the time to review the direction to include twelve teams in the tournament through political intervention.
Forced to play in the top league the character and self esteem of students have been played around with. To quote the law and seek legal remedy to remain in a place where you are a misfit does more damage to these kids. Possibly some of them may have performed within their limits and played among likes and made an impression and built confidence to face life.
Next year there will four teams that will go to the lower level and two will be promoted.
The authorities should rethink and possibly drop two teams and not make any promotion to the top league.
If the mismatch continues next year too it will another massacre of the innocents and destruction of the mind and body.
Even at the lower Division 1 B and C teams have been accommodated to make it twelve in a group. The teams that have been pushed up find themselves unable to sustain.
The whole system has gone wonky in the attempt to include twelve teams in Division 1 A. Designed and forced upon by individuals to whom their ego was more important than the well being of the students and the game. This should be a case study for review by both education and sport ministry authorities to not take short term measures to provide solution to problems that have a long term effect. Specially to be wary of those who seek the use the influence of politicians to seek a place with no balance of eligibility and ability.
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| Science in action this year. Pic by Sanka Vidanagama |
Meanwhile Peters and Royal who are unbeaten seem likely contenders to win the cup. Yet one cannot write off the likes of Trinity and Isipathana who have lost one match each.
Trinity who were beaten by Science College came back strongly to beat St Josephs while Royal did not have much resistance in keeping the unbeaten record intact. It needs one fall to make the league competition a close affair or for the two teams at the top to pull away.
Thus the next few weeks of rugby will be interesting as we get beyond the half way mark. This will be time for the giants to clash and for sparks to fly as the cup is at stake.
Science who fought their way to be in Division 1 are proving to be a worthy outfit and went down fighting to Pathana who were led at half time.
Though they have won only one match so far they are in a position to change the course and fortune of the others. So far they remain the only team that fought to be in Division1 “A”, showing that they fought a truly just cause.
Thurstan who have been scrapping the bottom of the barrel managed their first win beating S Thomas’ College.
This is no sensational news like when Science beat Trinity. It reflects e on the inability of the Mount side to sustain this season. The only Schools team that never was dropped to the lower division seems destined to go there unless and until a miracle happens. Hopefully they will find their feet on former grounds if the new coach, young Esala Tennekone, can motivate the boys to perform. Then again changing coaches mid season requires the team to adjust. By the time they do the season may be over.
By the time this article is read Thomas will have played Dharmaraja another team that has not won a match.
Thus it will be known whether Mount boys will be doomed to their destiny or they will live to fight another day.
The flip side of the coin is that the same sentiments apply to Dharmaraja who can be saved by the bell.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB
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