When there is congested traffic in Colombo, the traffic police are seen to be flailing their arms about in the hope of clearing the jams for the vehicles to flow.
However the hand gestures at the Havelocks SC vs. Police SC by referee Irshad Carder stole the show where the Park team emerged winners.
Cader an experienced referee could not go two minutes without blowing the whistle to stop for an infringement. It is understandable that there might have been that many errors during the game however, more number of breakdowns leads to more stoppage time which cuts down the chance of any free flowing rugby. And as a spectator who has been following the religion of rugby for many years, it certainly takes the glamour and shine off the game. Not only was Carder guilty of stopping interesting passages of play he also made a number of incorrect calls which stemmed the flow of the game which had so much to offer.
It is fair to say that many of the calls which the referee made were genuine and were definite infringements by the part of the players, however it is important to note ‘when to stop play and went to play on’. Many of the international referees are known to be extremely vocal throughout the game, which helps the players understand their infringements and helps in keeping the game alive. For example, if a player is not supporting his body weight and is contesting the ruck, the referee should advice the player beforehand stating the team and jersey number and yelling ‘Number 06 white, roll away your off your feet’, which would alarm the player of any probable infringement. Communication has been an enormous barrier for referees and the referees union should pay more attention in this area now more than ever due to the inclusion of foreign players which brings along various language barriers.
A total of six yellow cards were given during the game which shows the state of mind of the referee. The referee when addressing the captains before the game needs to be clear in laying down the laws of the game and his interpretation rather than sending half the team to the bin.
After witnessing some of the international matches which were on display during the last couple of months it’s sad to say that there is a contrasting difference between the standards of refereeing between the local referee and the international referees which is shocking to say the least. It’s even more disappointing to note that a country which adopted this magnificent sport before many of the giants in both Asia and other parts of the world have still not found a solution for the incompetence of the referees.
As far as the game is concerned, Police SC were undoubtedly the more dominant side. They kept the ball closer to their forwards and drove the ball up the middle to leave the Havelock boys in disarray. Though the Policemen had the Park lads scattering in defense the lack of discipline and patience led to their downfall (Jamaldeens kicking also didn’t help the cause). With the right game plan, they would be able to topple any of the other local teams and is a team to watch out for in the coming weeks. Havelock’s SC on the other hand had to rely on individual brilliance which they got from their ever dependable winger Sandun Herath. The more experienced and full of flair Havelocks SC three-quarter could not live up to their namesake and offered very little in attack.
Sri Lankan rugby has blossomed over the years, however local refereeing has not tasted the similar successes. It is beyond doubt a tough role to play in any part of the world, but the individuals who are under the hammer need to be properly educated and made aware to appropriately officiate.
SLRFU, this one’s for you!
