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‘A’ division. Presumably there is a rationale behind such a classification. The segregation is as follows:
Each team will compete within their respective group in the division for the first round. After the completion of the first round, the top four teams in each group will qualify for the second round where the top four teams in one group will play against the top four teams in the other group.
The team with the highest points aggregate at the end of the second round will be declared the League winners. The four teams in Division “A” that fail to qualify for the second round will play against the top four teams picked from the ‘B’ and ‘C’ divisions for the Plate Championship.
The top four teams in the Plate championship will be promoted to Division “A” along with the eight teams that qualified for the second round to feature in the following year’s twelve team Division “A” league.
Fortunately Royal and Trinity are in the same group if not the Bradby encounter would have lost a sense of importance. Whatever the reason may be for the format change, we sincerely hope that the quality of rugby is of a high level. For the 2014 season we will see a few high profile changes in the coaching staff with some schools rumoured to have secured the services of foreigners, the quality and effectiveness of which will be apparent as the season unfolds.
In the last stages of the club season we saw the introduction of expatriate referees and we believe that the same was at the insistence of certain clubs. Whilst the introduction of expatriate referees has its merits and demerits, it may now leave the door open for certain schools to demand the same for certain important fixtures. We have in the past witnessed this especially in the Bradby encounter and if this trend continues, the wrong message will be sent to those who wish to take up the whistle as well as those already in the fray. Having said that, there has been a number of glaring bloopers made by the local referees and that has led for the call of competent referees.
The crowd support at the school games is a lot more energetic and patriotic as compared to the club encounters resulting in the supporters at times taking the law into their own hands. Add the clout of the old boys who now hold high and important positions in the local social ladder, and the whole process of referring a school game assumes a new dimension.
The games scheduled for the first week will be power packed with each team attempting to set the tone for the season. The Pathana/Royal game at Longdon place should be a game worth watching as traditionally both teams have served up some swashbuckling and bruising rugby, not to mention the fair share of controversy.
(The writer can be reached via [email protected])
