The last week of rugby gave a new lease of suspense and hope as more guessing options are computed on the schools league championship. The club rugby season kicked off amidst more interest being focused on the Royal-St. Peter’s game. Royal beat Peter’s and are the only unbeaten side. The table leaders are Royal with Peter’s at number two and Trinity at number three. The match between Royal and Trinity, on one hand is the Bradby while it had its own calculating intricacies. The match between Pathana and Peter’s added to the tension.

Royal and Peter’s game was taken to the wire and the ability of Royal to get turnover ball and possession at the breakdown was one factor that helped Royal. Peter’s had their chances but one that took the game away was the pass that forced the wing three quarter to step as he was forced out when the goal line was clear. It was an opportunity that captain Dulaj could have gone solo but made the Royal defender commit to tackle and passed the ball.

Royal stole the thunder at their home turf and remained unbeaten after handing the Peterites their first defeat. - Pic by Mangala Weerasekara

That was after Dulaj brought scores neck to neck at 7 points to 8 having scored a try and made a successful conversion. He had a hand in the second try and had a tally of 11 points in the match. Peters who are used to more open play had to contain themselves with less chances as Royal opted to slow the game at the breakdown denying possession causing frustration in the Peter’s camp. Both sides were strong in attack and defended resolutely when the need arose. It was a good game of rugby that was enjoyed by all present.

The matches this week renewed interest and the spectator interest in schools games and besides the Bradby there was important match between Pathana and Peter’s. This week will be the last week of the schools league where the interest will be the match between Royal and Isipathana which can have a bearing on the league. More matches where more spectators will be attracted will mean more money to the schools that have the intent on making a killing charging high prices.

At the bottom of SACK and DSS seem destined to take the last two slots and face relegation. The outcome of the matches they play this week can seal their fate. An upset by either team will result in Kingswood and Joes joining to be in suspense till the last week is over. Joes are in this predicament as they lost to Science playing some unimaginative rugby while repeating the hit process which became very predictable.

At times the big hits depended on using bulk which was never decorated with technique. Result was turnover ball that was capitalized upon by Science whose backline was fast and ended scoring aided by some poor tackling. For most parts of the first half I wondered whether there was a standoff as the ball was taken by a big forward even from his own half. Otherwise it was a number eight who may have been a better flanker breaking out and going nowhere as he did not have the build or the power. Then the ball offloaded to the scrum half, standing away, and comes under pressure. It is not enough to dream or scream about winning you have to work hard and plan to get there.

There was no much spectacle in the club rugby scene which however will build up as we see foreigners playing for almost all clubs other than the Air Force. Kandy got the better of the much talked about new comers Upcountry Lions. Navy beat CH and FC while Havelock’s got the better of Police. The redone Havelock’s grounds which is yet to be used looks like being one of the best locations about which we shall talk about another day.The other point of note and excitement generated more off field was the match between CR and Army which the CR won 22 to 20 through a last minute penalty conversion.

The controversy which led to a protest was that the AR did not raise the flag but the referee whistled for a successful conversion. I understand that the tournament committee did not accept the protest starting from the position that referee is the sole judge of law and fact and the evidence produced did not dispute that the conversion was good. The law also states that an ARR or Touch judge must help the referee which his again subject to that they are under the control of the referee and tell them what their duties are and can overrule their decisions.

In the final analysis the decision of the tournament I understand was to accept the outcome which was a successful conversion and also noted that the process may have been flawed.

In my view if the referee awarded the conversion and if he is able to decide himself then what the ARs think is entirely irrelevant as the referee is responsible as inferred by the laws. In the end it is the referees decision and no-one else. If the process is flawed either because the ARR were lazy or whatever other reason they will need more training.

Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB