It felt like the Chinese New Year, just passed. The rugby kept picking up a notch and the entertainment rising in ferocity, much like Colombo’s weekend weather in the year of the dog, as per the oriental lunar calendar. We were in for a feast of Yum-char. A very wet and then dry one at that.
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Four very interestingly matched games were about to unfold. Fate would have it, that this round was about to spring an upset? Furthermore, it was quite a challenge to follow four LIVE feeds (three games, the Waratahs V Highlanders) and the distraction of the Mrs. watching the Royal wedding.
Anyhow, it was crucial that those who sought the spoils needed the points on offer and pushed their case further. Especially for that orgasmic “unbeaten” tag. You can just picture those fanatics with an exaggerated exultation over a drink or three. Neat. No soda.
So, it’s two weeks down and two more to go. What did we see and what do we now know? It certainly was a dog’s breakfast sort of round with the weather doing its bit and crowd behavior. Muddy, soggy and heavy surfaces to play on followed by absolute pandemonium and mayhem to rival that of local politics.
Kingswood College vs St. Peter’s College
Friday night feature @ Havelock park
The fortunes of both teams coming in were like cookies cracked during the Chinese New Year. They would have (both) felt the need to make more luck from those paper messages they got. SPC’s said, “Actions speak louder than fortune cookies” while Kingswood’s read “The fortune you seek is in another cookie.” How true was that!
The Petes were buoyed by yet another win over Trinity, 5 on the trot to be specific and Kingswood, a tense, close loss to Isipathana, were very unfortunate not to get up and win, hence seeking the cookie and a new jar.
What was about to unfold was an epic battle but then the weather gods decided to intervene. The deluge got so heavy it was almost impossible to see the marker lines. Havelock Park turned into Waterworld and the run of play a river dance for muddy farmers. So much for cracking open those fortune cookies.
SPC and their thunderfoot, Shehan Liyanapathirana with his speculative kicks, kept them floating above the danger line. He combined well with Jason Karunarathne much thanks to their forward pack with Prop forward Charles and Ifthi heavily involved. Kingswood for good measure kept throwing bodies into contact. Unfortunately, with an irrigated playing surface, the game became farcical. It was a hack and go at the Gilbert. In amongst all of this, Kingswood loosie, Rajanayake was pinged for what I felt was a textbook turnover/ steal in contact but was unfortunate to get a yellow card. That was a travesty of justice and his wry smile summarized what we all felt.
With the brownish pools of water glistening through, a highlight in an otherwise weather ruined game, SPC rode their driftwood towards a predicted win. The use of the driving maul by Sanath Martis’ charges and the home schools’ prefects getting drenched in full blazer and tie on the sidelines were others. Perhaps, an umbrella would have helped and even more so, common sense.
As the game unfolded with three minutes to go, a bottle was thrown into the playing field. This delayed the inevitable and caused some drama with the hosts trying to find the offending idiot amongst a house full section of about nine spectators. This is now starting to become a ritual of sorts. Someone must either throw a bottle, stone or as in the past, a motorcycle helmet.
For the record, the penalty count started mounting from the word get-go. It was difficult to get a true gauge of anything. What mattered most for the Bambalapitiya lot was they won and maintained their unbeaten tag. Kingswood, who had their moments, need to keep looking for a better message or a different fortune cookie, altogether. Final score 20-10 to St Peter’s.
Royal College vs Wesley college @ Longden place
Saturday game
This game originally slated for Friday night was moved to Saturday and to Longden place. There is a very romantic notion about playing here apart from a prison-like fence, which has ruined the appeal and lushness in the terraces. That being said, it has been so for a few years but I thought I would get it out of my chest while we are on the topic. Moving on.
A sunny and warm day greeted both teams and looks like the fortune cookie I cracked open said, “After fried rice, there must come out the sun”.
The defending champs, who toyed with Zahira (last week) and were by and large sloppy, went into this game with a flu bug sweeping through their camp. What transpired was absolutely stunning. A flyweight punching way above its weight took it to the super heavyweight. Two sweeping back to back tries, the second which was a clean break where Royal’s midfield pairing were left a little embarrassed. Looking at each other as a subtle change in angle left Janidu Dilshan lost in transit.
Wesley– backing up after a game effort against St Joseph’s, the adrenaline was certainly flowing. Royal used their usual methods of forward interrogation. Hirushan, Adahan, and Madumewan were like Ferdinand, Valiante, and Machina in a bullfighting ring.
Nonetheless, a brave Wesley took a two-point lead going into halftime. A first for this season, as Royal was trailing. This was on the back of some audacious and attacking footy.
Then in the second thirty-five, again a tense tussle intensified and Royal was fumbling their way through but by and large controlled the pace of the game. Wesley cut open their defense and highlighted that kicking behind their wingers certainly gave them much hope and it worked. It’s not rocket science and rugby 101 in territorial play.
Then it happened, a stoppage in play to sort out crowd issues. The ref, match commissioner, admin staff, the janitor and his dog had to get involved and literally beg a section of the crowd to sit behind the fence. Problem is, this was the unexposed side of the fence. Ridiculous to say the least with ten minutes to go.
There were lots of finger pointing, much debate and a reluctance from the officials to get on with it, probably due to security concerns. It eventually ended up with the Royal junior team being asked to move behind the fence (behind touch in goal) by the home team and we are– finally, away.
Upon resumption after what seemed like an eternity, the arm wrestle continued. Royal eventually scraped home by the skin of their teeth and deserved the wake-up call they got. The Bradby effect was well and truly in play. As for Wesley — what a game effort and unlucky not to get up for the mother of all upsets. They deserved it.
So that’s it. Right? not a chance.
An incensed bunch of seemingly Wesley supporters wanted a piece of the ref who was being shielded and walked to the change rooms. As he walked away, a Royal mob moved forward towards halfway to greet their team, out of the way of the retreating ref. Then a chair was tossed at them by a home team supporter who ran after, being the coward he is. This triggered an all-out brawl, with more chairs, tables, umbrellas, slippers, and food being at hurled wildly at each other. This included an eight on one matchup on last year’s Royal skipper, who was spotted trying to calm things down. A trademark of Sri Lankan street cowardice– gang up and bash the bloke who seeks peace.
An absolute moronic finish and a real black stain on the game of the season. Mercifully, no one got seriously hurt or so we think.
That was, eventually, the end. Royal’s cookie read “Don’t eat any Chinese food today or you will be very sick– again” and Wesley’s “I am just a cookie, I cannot help you now or even tomorrow”. Royal home (eventually) 18-17. A win nonetheless but Wesley certainly exposing Royal’s soft underbelly.
St. Joseph’s College vs Zahira College @ Maradana
Saturday game
After their brilliant match winner Gamunu Chethiya took them home last week with some export quality rugby, this was seemingly a lesser assignment. Zahira, who contested bravely despite copping a 36-point walloping at the hands of Royal, seemed unfazed. They never are.
This was to be proved true yet again as Zahira gave St Joseph’s a real run for their money. They fought tooth and nail and probably wore out all their nails and part of their teeth in the process. With sheer tenacity and an attitude worthy of a champion, they hustled, contested and tackled away to stay in the game.
This endeavor went unrewarded and backfired on the hosts. They were spotting SJC twenty-six points against superior broken play and individually brilliant players. Halfback, Rashane Gunawardana’s effort underscored this on the back of a brilliant break from Chethiya. A moment of simplistic magic.
Eventually, all the competing Zahira did had to pay off. Resulting in two back to back tries.
Again, the spotlight of this game, sadly fell on home team coach Shamly Nawaz being yellow carded. This was probably a result of the frustration of a yellow card given for a deliberate knockdown, reducing Zahira to fourteen men. An unhappy Nawaz, from his seat, gestured and remonstrated towards the ref. Possibly arguing or vocally questioning as to why in a previous play, a Jospehian wasn’t carded for a spear tackle. A fair enough question based on the severity of the offenses and as to how one was ranked above the other. This is understandable and he was certainly trying to win it from the bench as any coach would do. Meaning, he had to then endure ten minutes away from his cares. It was rubbing salt in the wound with a sprinkling of chili powder.
Nonetheless, after all this drama the game tapered towards a close but not before Zahira were rewarded with two lovely tries as stated before. Just reward for their toil.
It was another good outing for Joes who drew a message of “Don’t forget to include and allow for tax when exporting”, as for the Maradana team, “Today is not a lucky day for you and your coach”. So it ended with the Josephians looking forward to next week’s all-important Peterite clash and Zahira, looking for a new bakery to buy a fortune cookie at. The final score did not do the game any justice whatsoever.
Isipathana vs Trinity @ Havelock park
Saturday game
Staring down another potential defeat was Trinity. Their season in the doldrums and a possible seat at the table to be fed with the wooden spoon. This was not their finest of seasons or hours. Isipathana, who survived a late scare from another hill capital school in Kingswood, arrived unscathed (quite literally– avoiding and bottles, brickbats and other objects from a week ago) to familiar surrounds. The charm of Havelock town and its famous park.
Trinity started like a house on fire and resorted to their set piece. A beautiful lineout drive from ten meters out saw them force over there first five-pointer. It looked all too easy and showed up the Green Machine’s weakness. They just couldn’t stop a driving maul. (Royal- take note). Perhaps they had watched how Royal spanked them with this tactic.
The Lions had found their mojo– or so it seemed as they dotted down again and made Isipathana look very pedestrian. Their only respite was skipper Rubeyru keeping them in the game with his reliable goal kicking.
Had this form been what they brought to the Bradby, the shield would have taken a far more competitive path. Instead, TCK reserved some of their best and progressive form for this game, possibly for what lies ahead as well. The Havelock town team stayed in it with snaffling and pouncing on isolated attackers but they had lost the sting which they are so renowned for.
It is highly unusual for a Pathana team to go through a whole game without scoring a single try. We however just witnessed it happen. Perhaps they are turning a new page in their book of rugby. Points are all the same, so long as you score them when on offer.
Another highlight was several collisions of one which looked sickening and caused a green shirt to be stretchered off. What’s more with the TMO on hand, such game-changing decisions can always be referred for a closer look. Please, use it when on offer.
Nonetheless, all it did was contribute to another nail-biting finish. 12-12 after seventy minutes and both teams seemed very disappointed not to have won. Trinity probably more so as their campaign was starting to realize more promise and zip. They pushed themselves hard and almost to the brink. It was a crying shame that they couldn’t just push themselves over it.
Isipathana College was found wanting in the tackle area leaving it too late to haul back, now had to share the points on offer at home.
Play of the week:
Wesley and their set-piece move which put their second five Zubair into a hole, leaving Royals defense for dead, then drawing and passing beautifully to release K.P Perera who found a five-pointer by the posts. Peaches and cream on Saturday afternoon.
Hero of the week:
Wesley Kicker Mushin Zubair who read the Royal game like Tin Tin in America. His bryl cream hair like rugby skills and tactical touch finders propelled his side. Wesley on the back of this almost pulled off the heist of the year. Close enough but no cigar. A clear-cut hero for mine and a true masterclass.
The verdict:
Winning and losing is part of life. Finding scapegoats and looking to apportion blame is part of that learning process. Resorting to violence and blaming your opponent is the easy way and a cop out. Acrimoniously, this is true for a minority of wannabe rugby supporters who are thugs. Sadly, it is an indictment of how currently, society in SL has found itself. There are ways to report the judge and jury, hold them accountable. There are ways other than violence.
A fresh gallon of milk gets soiled by a single drop of cow dung and the same can be said about sports fans in SL, particularly in schools rugby. This is a real low point and something concrete MUST be done to arrest this pattern of behavior. Violence towards referees, visiting fans, and team transportation need to end.
It’s time to flush these dropping down the toilet for good so they don’t spoil it for the majority. It’s a shame really– we should be talking about an epic weekend of rugby but brawling with the boys overshadowed all the fortune cookies on offer.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ThePapare.com
