Army’s brave soldiers bring CR close to defeat!

Caltex “President’s Trophy” rugby battles on!:

Ken de Joodt

RUGBY: Perhaps many of the Sri Lanka Rugby/Sports fans would have had their ‘cups overflowing’ with scintillating Sports on their televisions at home, watching the World Cup Rugby 2007”, currently been held in France - and “Twenty20 World Cup Cricket” from South Africa, last Saturday. One TV Channel showed Sri Lanka playing New Zealand, from 5.30 p.m. in Johannesburg, to win the second round ICC Twenty20 Cricket match.

At the same time, on the other TV channel showed New Zealand making ‘mince-meat’ out of Portugal, by scoring 108 points to 13, in their “World Cup Rugby” encounter in Lyon, France!

This could be the more poignant reason for the poor turn-out of spectators at the Caltex “President’s Trophy Knock-out rugby tournament” quarter-final game, between Army SC and the CR & FC played at 4.30 p.m. on the Longdon Place grounds, in Colombo.

With no regrets of taking the time and making the effort to find their way to the picturesque rugby grounds, it was good to catch a few breaths of fresh air!

Those who were present certainly desired to witness a game that comes ‘alive’ with excitement, instead of sitting in front of an ‘insensitive’ television, which cannot present the exciting Rugby atmosphere, as it actually happens!

In fact, there were certain similarities of a ‘mini-minor’ ‘World Cup battle’ - that displayed to the sparse set of spectators, the hard ‘hits’, fierce rucking and ‘mauling’ and ‘open’ play! Even ‘working the line’ exhibited the clear intentions of the ‘three-quarters’ trying to get over the ‘gain-line’ and make as many ‘touchdowns’ as possible!

Mistakes do occur, so there were seen ‘many a slip between the hands and the ball’, which players of both teams made unintentionally, thereby adversely affecting the joy of seeing good ‘open play’!

With these basic errors being made, be it ‘forced’ or unforced’, the continuity and the ‘flow’ of the game was disrupted occasionally, proving to be less productive and profitable to both teams, in terms of scoring tries and gathering the vital points.

Inconsistency in positional play and the use of ‘right options’, was also observed as some of the reasons for not piling up the points, which could be applied to both teams.

With the super players that the CR & FC have in their forwards and back divisions, many more scoring opportunities were at hand, if only they were more accurate in their passing and handling of the ball and when in possession.

It was quite evident that the Army ‘contingent’ had in their ranks, some players of good ability, such as the experienced Full back Kapila Knowlton, Wing three Saliya Handapangoda and Duminda Wickramaratne as inside three, to name a few, that could make the difference in the outcome of the game!

There were also those who exposed their ‘newness’ to the game, by their limited knowledge and understanding of the rudiments of good Rugby. Some seemed uncertain of correctly positioning themselves for ‘attack’ and in ‘defence’, to the extent of knowing for sure ‘when to pass’ and ‘where to pass’!

As it happens, when a competent team like the CR & FC, who play ‘orthodox’ Rugby, comes up against a team that thinks ‘differently’, it could upset the ‘flow’ and their ‘game-plan’ - and the chances of the other side scoring against the run of play, is highly likely!

In the first half, the CR forwards gained ‘good ball’ from the line-outs, rucks and mauls, to move forward with purposeful play and penetrate the Army defence. This resulted in two splendid tries being scored, through the fine understanding of the CR halves combination of scrum half Zulki Hamid and Fly half Senthil Kumar.

However, in the second half the Army recouped and were ‘going great guns’ as they worked well together and had CR ‘on the run’! One particular move was excellently executed when their ‘hardy’ pack ‘consolidated’ and moved forward to gain ground and attack the CR goal line.

Subsequently, openings were created for the three quarters to run down the left flank. Some quick thinking by the Army left-winger had him kick diagonally across the field to his right winger who was in position to collect the ball and score.

It certainly took the CR by surprise! With a few more good moves the CR found the Army close on their heels, towards the end of the game by scoring two tries and showing that fitness plays an important part in any game. At the finale whistle Army had piled up 20 points as against CR’s 24 pts.

It was a ‘match’ that was played in a ‘gentlemanly’ manner, although Rugby could be considered a ‘rough’ game fit to be played by ‘the tough’! Referee Pradeep Fernando did well with the whistle to exert good control during the game.

By this win CR & FC qualify to meet Havelocks in the semi final match on Wednesday 19 and CH & FC will take up the challenge of this year’s ‘Champion’ team Kandy SC, on Thursday 20 instant.

The winners will play in the final, which will take place on Sunday 23rd September. All matches will be played at the CR & FC Rugby Stadium, Longdon Place - with the ‘kick-off’ scheduled for 4.30 p.m.