Questions have been raised over an outrageous act committed at last week’s inter-school League rugby match between Royal College and Trinity College where the referee disregarded the rules that he was supposed to enforce and recalled a player he red-carded.
The serious lapse in authority on the part of referee Dilum Deesham occurred when a Trinity player was red-carded over a fowl deed and then recalled which had never happened before and was contrary to the rules.
Trinity won the match 21-20 with a last-minute try scored by forward Yasiru Ariyawansa at the Royal Sports Complex.
Referee Deesham also pulled out three yellow cards in addition to the red card on Trinity centre wearing jersey number 13. Royal’s famous rolling maul was not up to the mark, as Trinity’s forwards counter it very well throughout the entire match.
Trinity’s two tries were scored by centre Anuhas Kodithuwakku and forward Yasiru Ariyawansha with place kicker Kovida Wickramasinghe putting over three penalties and the solitary conversion.
For the unfortunate losers Royal College, Rahil Wijesekara and their scrum half Hansaka Higgoda scored the two tries and full back Nabil Yahiya slotted in the two penalties and the two conversions.