Friday Nov 15, 2024
Friday Nov 15, 2024
Friday, 10 April 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Once again the Petes appear to be reliant on two or three key players to pull them through. Whilst it may have worked for them on the past, the other teams are strong enough and adequately street smart to capitalise on such frailties of the opposition.
Once again the top teams in group one is divided into two segments and in Segment A, Pathana and the Joes are riding high and are unbeaten. In Segment B, Trinity and Royal are unbeaten and the clash between these two fine teams will be eagerly anticipated sometime in May.
This week Pathana take on the Joes and thus there is the likelihood of one of them being relegated to the beaten category. No prizes for guessing who that will be, but then strange things have happened and will continue to happen in the field of sport. Hence till the final whistle is blown, it’s a matter of having your fingers crossed.
Wesley will take on the Petes who are confident after their last win in Kandy despite some spirited opposition and will look to build on this momentum. Wesley has nothing to lose and have been great party spoilers and the Petes would do good to be circumspect of them. The Zam Zam Zaki war cry will be loud and clear at Longdon Place on Friday.
The Thoras will take on Trinity at Havelock Park whilst Royal will be in the hills taking on Dharmaraja. Science will also be in the hill capital as they take on the Anthonians. It points to a very interesting week of rugby with the stronger teams maintaining their momentum and making a bid to muscle their opponents into submission.
The rugby budgets of the schools this year have risen considerably over the past few years. It has been a struggle for the Rugby Foundation of these schools to source the requisite funding and it will be a matter of time before it becomes unaffordable and flop sooner than it started. Some of the schools have opted for expatriate coaching staff and whilst there is some merit in such a move, is it required at that level is an oft asked question.
We must not forget that these players are schoolboys and their primary objective should be to excel in the field of academics. Hence the pressure of the kids to balance both is a tough one. Certain schools have requested that the kids chose only one sport as some of them are talented enough to represent the school in two or more sports. Hence the school principals have a tough job on their hands to undertake this delicate balancing act not helped by the attitude of certain parents.
My sincere hope is that whilst the competitive nature of the sport must be encouraged, let us not forget to foster and spur the softer skills of participating and not winning at all costs. If not, the mere word of sportsmanship could be lost forever at such a nascent stage of the players.
(The writer can be reached via [email protected].)
