Can Navy torpedo Kandy?

Once in a while the SLRFU gets things right. This time either through foresight or sheer fluke, the three top three teams will be playing each other at the end of the season. This week will be the grand finale, and Kandy is the only team that is standing tall and unbeaten.

Navy met their waterloo against HSC while HSC in turn met theirs against Kandy last week. Both these games were quite good in terms of the quality of rugby as well as the crowd support. In recent years it is only Navy who have been able to topple Kandy and a lot will depend on their ability to win ball upfront, and recycle quick ball to the three quarters. Navy should also guard against rough play and not give away unnecessary penalties.

Kandy on their part has played well but is definitely not at their best. They have had a few close games and need to up the ante if they are to keep the sailors at bay. Navy will have the advantage of playing at home in Welisara and if the past is anything to go by, they are difficult to beat at home.

There will be bus loads of naval ratings cheering the team, irrespective of the fact that they may not have understood the rudiments of the game as well as they should. The papare bands will be display and the entire VIP contingent is bound to converge in Welisara like a swarm of bees looking for the queen. After all they want to be present at the venue and say that we were part of the team that did it.

Before the start of the game there has already been some controversy with Kandy crying foul at the appointment of Nizam Jamaldeen to handle the whistle. They are of the view that they need the services of an expatriate referee to handle proceedings. Whether the authorities would accede to this request is a matter of conjecture at this point in time.

Havies will be against the UCL in Nawalapitya and I hope that fatigue does not set in as they had to travel to Nittawela last week as well. If HSC and Navy win this weekend, there will be a tussle for the top slot and the deciding factor could be the bonus points. UCL are in fourth slot and the chances of them being dethroned are a remote possibility by Police who meet the Airmen on Friday.

On the school rugby front, the disciplinary hearings were held and Vidyartha has obviously been caught with their pants down. Fielding of overage players amounts to cheating and this goes against the very purpose of the game.

Whilst it is laudable that the school team has been suspended for one year and thereafter will be relegated, a fish generally rots at the head first. Thus, whilst the master in charge has also been suspended I am of the view that the school principal must also be penalised. In such instances, the tone is set at the top.

Recently during the cross examination of the former Barclays CEO, Bob Diamond, by the Parliamentary select committee with regard to the LIBOR scandal, the same issue was raised. All heads of units must be held accountable for misdemeanours in their organisations and I cannot fathom why it has not been done in this case and many similar cases on our wonderful republic. Maybe it’s a miracle in the making.

On the super rugby front, the Chiefs will lock horns with the Sharks on Saturday in the grand final. This will start at 13.05 hours and it is bound to be a cracker of a game. With the Navy Kandy game due to kick off at 16.30 hours we will be able to witness both games and our rugby plate for the weekend will be overflowing.

Whilst I do not normally dabble in badminton, it was heartening to see our Lankan buddy, Niluka do so well at the London Olympics. Unfortunately, when it was needed the most, he did not have his coach by his side. Presumably, some other non related official must have hitched a joy ride to London, and we then wonder why we cannot perform and win at the highest level.

Badminton also made the news in the women’s arena when the authorities decided to ban players for underperforming so as to have an easier opponent in the next round. The swift and decisive action taken is good for the sport and has sent the correct message. I have seen this happen in cricket as well, especially at the Word Cup league stage, and unfortunately, I have not seen any action taken. This is simply not cricket.



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