Petes in semis as Isipatana keeps off
By Ranjan ANANDAPPA
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The jubilant Peterites after being declared finalists in their
Milo Trophy knock-out tournament.
- Pic: Kavindra Perera
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A sad chapter in the annals of school rugby was unfolded yesterday at
Longden Place when the key semi final match between St. Peter's and
Isipatana for the Milo trophy became a none-event as Isipatana did not
take the field in protest over the decision taken by the Sri Lanka
Schools Rugby Association to continue the match which was played last
Wednesday.
The disappointed crowd which gathered in numbers to witness the
replay walked back in disgust as the Peterites came out on to the field
and the Isipathana confined to their dressing room did not appear.
Last Wednesday the first semi final between St. Peter's and Isipatana
was abruptly stopped due to a section of the crowd disrupting the match
by unwarranted behaviour that compelled referee Priyantha Gunaratne to
abandoned the match with thirty minutes of play possible and the
Peterites taking a 14-0 lead.
The SLSRFA Committee had taken a decision the following day to
continue the game from where it stopped which the Isipathana rugby
authorities was not in favour. The Chairman of the Isipathana Rugby
Committee Hasan Singhawansa said that the Minister of Sports had issued
an order to play a fresh match, since the SLSRFA has not complied with
it the school had decided not to take the field.
Singhawansa also said that according to the IRB Laws a game should be
played atleast till half time to continue a match, and the previous
match was stopped ten minutes before the half time with Peterites
leading 14-0.
Referee Aruna Rankothge who was to officiate the new match instead of
Priyantha Gunaratne who blew the whistle in the earlier game, walked in
and found only the Peterites present on the field and blew the whistle
to award the match to the Peterites. The Peterites will now meet Royal
in the final on July 23 at the Royal College Sports Complex grounds.
The Isipathana rugby authorities blamed the SLSRFA and not their
opponents for the match becoming a none event as the Schools Rugby
Association should have taken a firm decision on the replay of the
match.
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