Can Wesley and Science do it again?

Last week’s upset results have no doubt thrown in a lot of excitement into the schools league this season. Wesley has been playing some quality rugby last year earning them a promotion this year and they have started with a bang by defeating Pathana who were last year’s champs

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They obviously believe that they belong to the top tier and thus this week’s encounter against SACK should have them with a lot of self belief.

Science will take on Trinity and they should be brimming with confidence after their heroics against Royal last week. Trinity on the other hand came out with a draw and will have some serious soul searching to do as the season moves on.

It’s Joe-Pete time once again and after the loss in the ‘50 overs’, the Pete’s will want to stamp their authority on Joe’s in Rugby.

In the games worked off last week a total of three red and 15 yellow cards were issued mostly for stamping and fighting. This is not quite the spirit in which the game is to be played.

Further, despite the Sports Ministry having circulated the health and safety policy, certain school players, coaches and referees have not adhered to these regulations.

It was observed that when a player has been concussed, the coaches send them back to continue with the game. This is fraught with risk and must cease at once.

The season was also marred by allegations of ineligible players taking the field once more. We had a similar controversy last season as well and the authorities must get their act together to ensure that such issues are nipped in the bud.

In terms of controlling the game I would like to see a greater level of consistency in terms of interpretation of the rules. The playing of the advantage rule must be consistent and the referee must clearly call when the advantage is over.

The two assistant referees must add value to the game by assisting the on field referee to control the game and cite any areas of foul play. The current Super Rugby season games will illustrate the point better. The authorities must invest/seek a sponsor to ensure that the three officials are able to communicate with each other during the game.

Given the rather harsh weather conditions, and playing the game in four quarters must be given some serious thought, thereby providing the players and officials with adequate time to be hydrated.

The six nation’s games has been done and dusted but the interest still lingers as the squad for the Lions tour is to be picked. Former English skipper Martin Johnson believes that Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones is a leading candidate to captain the British and Irish Lions.

Others in the fray include Wales’ Sam Warburton, England’s Chris Robshaw and Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll to captain the side in the three-Test series with the Wallabies. However, Brian O’Driscoll has been given a three-week suspension for his stamp on Italy’s Simone Favaro in Ireland’s Six Nations defeat in Rome.

Johnson, who captained the Lions on their last victorious tour to South Africa in 1997, believes the Welsh second-row should be considered alongside the favourites as a top candidate for the role.

In terms of Northern Hemisphere rugby, the pinnacle is obviously being a party of the Lions tour. Thus the Lions captaincy has a big aura about it as well.



(The writer can be reached via [email protected].)