Rugby talk with Siva

Predictable results in second week

KANDY SC led by Sanjeeva Jayasinghe continued to dominate the 'Caltex' league rugby tournament as predicted in their first two outings against Old Zahirians and the Air Force during the last two weeks.

In their first game against the Old Zahirians, they dominated play and defeated them by a large 65 points (5 goals, and 6 tries) to 7 points (1 goal). This goes to show that this was a lopsided mismatch and the Old Zahirians have a long way to reach the required standards to scrum down with the senior clubs.

Kandy in their second outing against the Air Force at Ratmalana had no difficulty in getting the better of the Airmen by beating them 48 points (1 penalty goal, 3 goals and 4 tries) to 3 points (a penalty). These two wins go to show the superiority of Kandy SC in local rugby.

CR & FC too in successive wins

CR & FC led by Pavithra Fernando did well to win their first two games in the 'Caltex' league. In their first outing against Navy they won by 29 points to 5 points. Last week at Galle Face they got the better of the Army SC by 26 points to 13 points.

The architect of the win was their full back from Kandy Danushka Pushpakumara who made a personal contribution of 16 points. CR & FC which has some of the best schoolboy rugby players from Colombo is an attractive outfit and will give the Kandy SC a good run for their money.

They will take on the unenterprising Police next Sunday and should have no difficulty in chalking up another victory as the cops in their opening game against the Army SC. Gave a disappointing display and was defeated 32 points to 12 points.

CH & FC given a scare

CH & FC led by Saranga Jayakody, in their first outing of the 'Caltex' league rugby tournament the previous week beat the Air Force by 29 points to 15 points at Ratmalana. But last Saturday when they took on the Havelocks SC at Maitland Crescent the young lads from the Park Club gave them a scare and nearly beat them for the match to end 15 points to 8 points in favour of CH and FC.

The standard of rugby that evening was not of a high standard and both sides played in patches.

CH & FC started play on a promising note and confined play in the Havies half and was awarded two penalties within the first ten minutes which they fluffed. Later they put over a penalty to lead 3-nil. But the young Havelocks team surprised everyone when they scored a brilliant try from midfield with the ball going from hand to hand ending by the corner flag which went unconverted.

And the Havelocks led 5-3. CH & FC too scored a try and goaled it to take their score to 10-5. Havelocks narrowed this lead to 10-8 at lemons, with a penalty.

During the second half, both teams played negative rugby. But the Havies threes looked dangerous. During the end CH scored another unconverted try for the match to end 15-8 in favour of CH & FC.

Havelocks SC captained by Rajiv Ganapathy started shakily. As this was their first game of the 'Caltex' rugby league. Their three-quarters appeared to be attractive and attacking and they could have scored more than they been fed with more balls. With more games this young team should improve.

Tony Amith, their coach should do more homework with the team if they are to make an impression against the champion Kandy SC outfit next Saturday at Havelock Park.

Army win and lose

Army on their first outing against the Police at Galle Face went on to win well by 32 points to 12 points which spoke volumes of the soldiers' capabilities. But the following week they failed to produce the same form against CR & FC again at Galle Face and were beaten 26 points to 13 points.

Army is reputed to be a rugged side who play their rugby in a robust way. But they should spice their strength with skills if they are to beat the senior clubs such as CR & FC and Kandy.

What ails Police rugby?

When Police and Army met at rugby in the years gone by, it was a clash of steel which generated thunder and lightening and was electrifying. But the way the Police was beaten in their first 'Caltex' rugby league game by the Army on Sunday, April 24, the police appeared to have lost their punch and aggressiveness and submitted to the soldiers meekly.

Quentin Isreal, the rugby stalwart writing in his weekly rugby column lamented that "the Police on their part appeared to have forgotten their past, a time when they had formidable teams that could take on and got the better of most club teams."

He went on to further state "the Police on their part showed pathetic lack of cohesion and innovation. They appeared to be going through the motions associated with rugby football, but sadly lacked purpose and commitment. A far cry from the teams of the days gone by."

This year the Police team is coached by Norman Silva and Sudath Sampath who are former Police and national rugby players with outstanding ability. But whether they are competent to coach is debatable point.

From the sixties when Police rugby was at its formative stages and its ascendency, Police had highly qualified coaches of the calibre of Fred H. Brohier, Eddie Hettiarachchi, Percy Perera, Geoff Weiman, Derek Christofelsz, 'Summa' Navaratnam and Kaven Rambukwella, who instilled in the police players the correct skills which made the Police play entertaining and innovative rugby to thrill the rugby crowds and Police rugby became popular among rugby fans and Police became undisputed champions in the seventies and eighties winning all the trophies. But today, the rugby played by Police makes one wonder whether we have a rugby history.

DIG Nimal Leuke, the present chairman of Police rugby, with his vast experience as player, coach and referee should bring the standard of Police rugger to its past glory, which he is capable of.

The Inspector General of Police Chandra Fernando who is also the president of the Police Sports Club and who comes from St. Peter's College, a traditional rugby playing school, should encourage the Police rugby team to improve the standards by getting the services of a qualified coach like his predecessors such as Eleric Abeygunawardane, Stanley Senanayake, Rudra Rajasingham, Ernest Perera and Frank Silva during whose period Police reigned supreme in local rugby.

Navy beat Old Zahirians

Navy which lost to CR & FC at their home grounds at Welisara in their opening match of the 'Caltex' rugby league season by 29 points to 5 points did well to defeat the Old Zahirians by 20 points (1 goal, 2 tries and 1 penalty) to 3 points (1 penalty) in their second game last week. It will be interesting to see how the Police and Air Force match up to the Navy in their coming games, as they all appear to be of the same wave length.