The restart of the traditional inter-school rugby season after two years got off to a rowdy start when the referee was assaulted after S. Thomas’ College beat Trinity College 17-14 at Havelock Park in Colombo yesterday.
Soon after the unnamed referee blew his final whistle three Trinity players surrounded him questioning his decisions but the worst was to happen when a female supporter and at least two men from the Trinity crowd section hit and manhandled him as he was walking back to the dressing room in the commotion that followed.
The scenes involving Trinity supporters who could not stomach defeat were akin to street violence and rowdysm unbecoming of the image of a school that prides itself on decency that went viral of social media depicting the opposite. The Trinity supporters also abused the three match officials in foul language.
Trinity led the game 14-3 at half time but the Thomians hit back in the second half to score two successive tries that were converted to seal the result 17-14.