Sri Lanka win big

Sri Lanka made a clean sweep of the matches in the Asian five Nations championship, thereby earning a well deserved promotion to the top rung. The performance is all the more creditable when one considers the timing of the tournament as all the club games were completed a long time ago.

Thus it is safe to conclude that the determination of the Lankan lads combined with the technical skills of the coaching staff concerned saw us through. From the first game itself the intentions and the intensity of the Lankan lads was clear.

They played with a sense of purpose, and the teamwork was evident as they passed the ball often to the support runners thereby ensuring that we had points on the board. As much as there was individual brilliance in certain games, which is not totally taboo, the overall team spirit that was on display must be commended.

In the final analysis, the three quarters were a class apart and combined well in attack and defence. The forwards gave a good account of themselves, and if at all there was a weak link, we may need to re-look at the front row combination.

They appeared rather jaded and a little slow off the blocks. We may have played the best that we have, but the search must continue for an improvement in the quality, especially with the tighter laws on scrimmaging.

Even in super rugby, this season there appears to be a constant issue with the front row in most teams. All is all it was a pleasing performance and it definitely made the Lankan rugby fan proud at the end of the tournament.

A weekend newspaper carried details of the Asiad played in 1974, where we were runners up to Japan on a rain soaked pitch.

The skipper of that champion side was Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, who was then with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

He obtained his Bachelors and Masters in Economics from the Cambridge University UK, and subsequently obtained a Doctorate from the University of Sussex. He is truly a great champion of our times.

It is quite common to see him at critical club games watching with great intent and a large number of spectators would barely recognise him as he makes no fuss. I was surprised to see that the authorities did not think it fit to have him grace the occasion of the Sri Lanka rugby games although they did so for two other stalwarts.  

In all the excitement of the national team doing duty and making us very proud, a couple of key school games were worked off. The Pete’s continued their winning ways with a great win against Royal. The rugby on display was not fluent by any means.

In doing so they won the inaugural cup named the ‘B.C. Anghie Cup’ which is in memory of (late) B.C. Anghie who was a master at both schools, St. Peters from 1929 to 1936 and at Royal from 1936 to 1954. The trophy was donated by his sons, spearheaded by Captain Anthony (Tony) Anghie who played for Royal College first XV in 1948. Incidentally it is the second oldest running fixture and the first fixture began in July 1932.

Giant killers Wesley continued to impress everybody with their style of play and got the better of the Joes over the weekend. Having being promoted recently they are giving a good account of themselves and appear to be a force to be reckoned with.

They are not a flamboyant side, but get through the basics with precision. It is a welcome sight to have Wesley rugby back at its best and with Dharmarajah too doing themselves proud, the bulk of the school games are worth watching with no one sided games on the cards.

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