LET’S GET READY TO DREAM POSITIVELY – SRI LANKA SCORES 10 RUNS AGAINST NEW ZEALAND
May 05, Colombo LNW:
In the under-85 kg category, New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka 50–
10 in the rugby match between the two nations.
Despite the loss, playing against a world-class rugby nation like
New Zealand holds great value for Sri Lanka. With fewer errors
and more experience, the outcome could have been more
favorable for the Sri Lankan side.Sri Lanka put unexpected pressure on New Zealand in this match.
It is an important omen. Even in the heat of the Kandy match, the
New Zealand players suffered some. These conditions can also be
turned into a further advantage for Sri Lanka if they are careful.Dahan Wickramarachchi scored a try against New Zealand in a
display of modern rugby spirit. His successful conversion and
goal, with support from Nigel Ratwatte, brought Sri Lanka 10
points.
Pacia Asiata opened the scoring for New Zealand, scoring another
try. Apart from Asiata, Francis Morrison also scored two tries.
The remaining four tries were shared between Jamie Petford, Ben
Megson, Jack Leighty and captain Jared Percival. Five of the
eight tries scored were converted, with Jared Percival converting
four of them. The remaining successful conversion was scored by
Tane Cordell Hull.
In a country like New Zealand, which has a top rugby game with
a wide range of resources, Sri Lanka’s rugby composition is
limited to eight teams to face players from different parts of the
country. The teams are permanently based in those places. Apart
from the Tri-Forces and the Police, three of the remaining four
teams are based in Colombo, with one team coming from Kandy.
While their contribution to national sports is significant, there is
a pressing need for the game to grow and for the competitive
standard to rise. This tournament presents an opportunity to
consider a more dynamic structure one where the eight teams are
not fixed, allowing for promotion and relegation, and creating
space for new sports clubs to enter the scene.The reason why a very limited number of people have the
opportunity to compete at a high level at the national level is that
only a limited number of sports clubs have access to these
facilities. These sports clubs have been able to enjoy high-value
land plots under high tax concessions. Also, the sale of alcohol
and other forms of property rental have also taken place in
connection with these sports clubs.
Although not to the same level as A, the status of B and women’s
rugby should also improve. A club player playing in B should
wait for a vacancy to play for that club. Not all talented players
among the 15 will be allowed. Sometimes a talented person may
have to end his rugby career without ever leaving a national club
and having a chance at a national championship in A. When these
differences, which can be considered privileges, are shown to
others, A clubs will come forward to use them and share them.
In the same way, with a major intervention on our website (as
evidenced by the Director General of Sports and the head of that
sports club, Dr. Kelum Sujith), the Sri Lions Sports Club also
entered the competition to play in that category. They managed to
finish the tournament well. They also enjoyed very basic sports
fields and were privileged to have a super space in the middle of
Colombo. One of the suggestions that made the sports clubs in
that category unsuitable was the lack of a sports field. It is a low
status that does not consider the ability of those who have it or do
not have it and humiliates them. (It is a tragedy that plans are
being made to provide state political support to these clubs at this
time)If the current administration recognizes these realities and is
willing to challenge the status quo of existing sports clubs, then a
promotion-relegation system should be introduced where the
champions of division B move up to division A, and the bottom
team of Group A moves down. This would not only enhance the
competitive standard of one of the country’s most important
sports, but also ignite a deeper passion for the game. The Sports
Minister must look beyond the narratives presented by advisors
about club expenses and demands for fairness. Instead, he should
also consider the tax exemptions granted to these clubs at the
diplomatic level, intended to support their financial needs.
A division sports club offers to maintain talented players without
any of these. The minister is also praised as a person who was
born to walk, but he does not know how to find the places where
he was born. Therefore, he says that going on the same wave and
defeating Malaysia is like defeating New Zealand.
Meanwhile, the middle section is convincing to a person with a
general sense that the energy and speed of Sri Lankan bodies
can be transformed into a rugby-like form, based on the situation
of the match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Especially
for the seven-a-side rugby game, it is very good to say it simply.
But this composition is formed with a shrunken rugby spread.
When taken as eight sports clubs, those eight clubs are limited to
two provinces. Seven of them are in Colombo.Only Colombo and Kandy (including the tri-forces and the
police) maintain rugby at the school level and at the national
level. Even in urban areas that are ahead of cricket like Galle,
Kurunegala, Matara, rugby is hardly heard of.
So, while it is true that the players in this representation are
excellent, we must understand that only a limited area has been
used to measure that excellence. If there were no widespread
system to find women’s representation in a game like cricket,
Chamari Atapattu would still be in Ibbagamuwa. If that is true,
there are many more examples. It is unwise and impractical to
manipulate rugby for the sake of those who, with political favor,
have committed crimes against Sri Lanka and gone international
with impunity.
There are talents who are not tested due to lack of these talents
and programs. Provincial level administrations should be
strengthened for the sake of sports in the country to find and keep
those talents alive. If the politician examines this player from the
player and observes the journey of his talent from birth to now,
he will be able to draw some conclusions about its limitations and
opportunities for development.
We reiterate that Sri Lanka’s performance against New Zealand
was excellent. If the opportunity to perform better had not been
missed in the match itself, it seems that they could have scored at
least 20 runs against this 50. Drop goal attempts are also worth
considering in future matches.It is also important if Sri Lanka has the ability to slow down the
rhythm a little when the ball is in their hands, rather than trying
to adapt to New Zealand’s pace. Even if we win, we cannot.
Although not the top team in New Zealand, considering the
distance between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in the rugby media,
the style of play they built against New Zealand is a win. But if
rugby develops to a point where the test of the composition that
will line up for this win can be tested from a wider area spread
across the country, we may see even better 15s on the field. Don’t
miss out on positive dreams. We can dream your assumptions
again and again. They are positive dreams. When considered in
the light of the facts, they do not fall into the category of dreams
that cannot be realized.
Below is the group that contributed to the positive dream
machine.
Front row
01) Vimukthi Gamage
02) Shamika Kaushan
03) Tanuja Jayaweera
04) Naveen Marasinghe
05) Thilina Bandara
06) Nisran Nilar
07) Lahiru Thilakaratne
08) Dahan WickramarachchiBack row
09) Mohamed Rifan
10) Nigel Ratwatte – (Captain)
11) Kavindu Perera
12) Hirantha Perera
13) Shahid Sumri
14) Jayatu Rajaratne
15) Pasindu Bandara
Finishers
16) Venura Kodagoda
17) Janindu Fernando
18) Hafeez Thabeeth
19) Senura Perera
20) Chathurana Zoysa
21) Dinesh de Silva
22) Sudesh Jayawickrama
23) Srinath Suriyabandara
24) Nirosh Perera
25) Thenuka NanayakkaraTeam Officials:
1. Mr. Udaya Hettiarachchi – Chef de Mission
2. Mr. Rohan Chinthaka – Team Manager
3. Mr. Sanath Martis – Head Coach
4. Mr. Dushanth Lewke – Forward Coach
5. Mr. Saliya Kumara – Back Coach
6. Mr. Tharaka Algama – Strength and Conditioning Coach
7. Dr. Pradeep Kiriella – Team Doctor
8. Mr. Shafin Majeed – Teamq Physiotherapist
9. Mr. Manoj Silva – Masseur
10. Mr. Sankha Dilshan de Silva – Masseur
11. Mr. L.P.P Sameera – Masseur
12. Mr. Spencer Lyon – Data Analyst
13. Mr. Kamal Jayathilaka – High Performance Manager
