What the Green Machine is made of was amply proved

In a recent address US Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal said “However, past achievements do not in themselves translate into present-day accomplishments. Success does not come automatically. A long and terrible civil conflict and a tragic natural disaster all combined to keep Sri Lanka on the margins of the global economy for many decades. That is no longer the case. Sri Lanka once again has the opportunity, the will, and the support to achieve what has eluded it for so long.”

If Nisha Biswall could have walked to the Race Course on Wednesday, she may have wondered on what she was talking. Is the conflict on or off ? The security arrangements around Race Course was such that one could have wondered whether this was protection needed to play a school rugby knockout final: what hope lies for Sri Lanka. The post-match cordon was so tight that it looked impossible to get on to the field. That held on for a couple of minutes but the heavily armed could not stop the children from different corners running in. Proving that the presence of heavily armed men alone cannot stop and will do little, as it is not a mob. Schools need to take look at the broadcast footage and ping if any pupils that are identified. They need to be educated as fast as you can or else the sport will be a war.

Though the crescendo of voices rose a few decibel points every time the referee made a call, which was not to their liking, there was little they could do. Even if they wanted to get to the pitch. Security was tight. It is time those in charge of education and government addressed the issue, as sport must be an opportunity and a part of the whole education requirement to build a citizen for tomorrow. Many schools-masters on duty at the match were skeptical in their comments on why this has to be when it is two schools teams vying for a trophy.

In playing a sport in the spirit of the game, the players have been a good example. This has been there through the season and with no exception in the knockout final. The yellow cards in the final was for technical breaching of the laws repeatedly such as not releasing at the tackle or going over. That will occur and is part of rugby. The Isipathana schoolchildren deserve the win as they played most times under pressure and under the microscope because of the behaviour of adults. On Wednesday, they were on song.

Isipathana proved that they are the solid force in school rugby by winning both the league and the knockout. The scores were wide as they romped home by 47 points to 12. Pathana was at most times in the game running with the ball and changing their play. Royal who had dominated for over 10 minutes at the start lost it around with the dependence of one game style, which has brought them victory during the season. The second try by Pathana was a display of good ball handling playing wide and many involved. Two early penalties that Royal opted not to kick