It’s another Joe-Pete

The Peterites kicked off their rugby season last weekend with a bang in terms of points – a hapless Kingswood side watched as the Peterites ran circles round them. As much as the score line looked impressive the Peterite victory was not without blemish.

The super rugby season is in full swing these days and it is evident that the bulk of the Peterite three quarters are viewing these games with great intent. Whilst watching them is beneficial, as there is a lot to learn, attempting to emulate certain ploys exhibited by the southern hemisphere teams may prove to be imprudent in the long run, at schoolboy level.

Committing only two or three players to a ruck is always a risky business. The chances of the opposition driving through the middle are great. I also saw a lot of floated, cut out passes in the back division last week. Whilst it looks fantastic when it comes off, the attendant dangers of such ostentatious play are not worth the spectacle that it offers.

The present setup of school rugby is at a reasonably acceptable level; however it has not kept up with the changes taking place in the modern game. Very often we would witness teams attempting to score off first or second phase ball. Take a look at the Super Rugby games, which are now being beamed right into our living rooms.

It is invariably 10 plus phases before they attempt a raid on the opposition goal line. Thereafter having made it to the opposition 22, they ensure that have points on the board to show for their efforts. This is also true for our club rugby where at times one sees aimless kicking from both sides as well as a lot of individualistic play.  I am told that our downfall in the final game of the Asian Five Nations was to a degree due to a lack of patience.

My mind goes back to last year’s SPC/Royal encounter where a total of 91 points were scored in eighty minutes of rugby. Whilst it provided the spectators with a lot of entertainment value, the question asked was whether this was the type of rugby that one hopes play at club level and beyond. It surely indicated a lack of proper defensive tactics. As much as offensive tactics are required, many a game has been won or lost with water tight defences in crunch situations.

The annual Joe-Pete rugby encounter will be played today at St. Peters College grounds for the Rev. Fr. Basil Wiratunga Memorial Shield, who was the former rector of SPC. In all probability this will be a case of the Joes forwards taking on the might of the Peterite three quarters. I still believe that the game is a fifteen man game, if one is able to stick to basics, the desired outcome can be achieved.

The Joes had a torrid time last week at the hands of Issipathana but eventually salvaged some pride in the second half. This week’s encounter is billed to be a grudge game as the Joes believe that they were deprived of a victory last year. It was a slender margin of victory for the Petes – a mere six points. In the past decade the big match so far has been ‘one way traffic’ and the Joes may want to get that monkey off their back, as the Petes have retained the silverware in their cupboard for several years.

A number of former Josephian stalwarts will be on hand to watch their offspring on the field taking on the arch rivals. Whether this will add to the pressure of these youngsters is yet to be seen. I hope not, as we are keen on seeing some open and scintillating rugby. The bulk of the Peterite success in the past decade has been attributed to their former coach who has left them in the pursuit of national duty. Whether his former deputy, can fill in the big empty boots will be answered by how the Petes go about their business this year in crunch games.

The Peterites have won this coveted trophy for the last 12 straight years. Will the thirteenth year in a row be unlucky? Will the Blue White and gold colours fly high after eighty minutes, or will it be the wave of Blue white and Blue that will triumph. Be there at Bambalapitya on Friday to find out.