Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Tuesday, 27 May 2014 00:11 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The first half was an exhibition of kicking by both sides without any particular gain. RC played a rather different game to that of the first leg as they chose to use their forwards to drive the ball forward. As to what extent the ploy was successful is debatable, as on most occasions they moved sideways and did not go past the gain line.
As and when they did spin the ball wide the execution by the three quarters was poor and the efforts of the forwards were wasted. In the pre-match interview the Principal of TCK proudly proclaimed that not a single player in the last season as well as the current season had been yellow carded.
It was an error in judgement by the referee that a TCK player was not given a yellow card for what was observed as a dangerous tackle as he lifted the player above the horizontal. Had the player been yellow carded the Principal would have looked rather inane. TCK made an important change in moving their skipper to the fly half position which I firmly believe is his rightful place. He is able to direct traffic and control the three quarters well and his line breaks was sublime.
Overall the game did not reach the standards that are expected of the two teams and TCK was maybe a tad guilty in believing that the 12 point cushion that they carried from the first leg would see them through. The Trinity Haka was in evidence although RC barely paid any attention to it and the Haka looked a little limp and flimsy.
The sponsors of the two school teams have thrown in vast sums of cash over the past years and if the numbers mentioned are to be believed, they are pretty colossal. Whilst the hype of the game is high and the game is considered a must see game for past players, old boys and others who want to lay claim to the fact that ‘I was there’, whether the quality and the standard of the game has improved is questionable.
This is true for most school teams that enjoy large sponsorships. The school teams are now equipped with various support staff, the head coach, the forwards and three quarters coach and the physical trainer at a bare minimum. Is this the right approach is a topic that has been debated in many rugby circles. Most of the overseas teams now employ an attack and a defence coach. As to whether this is required at junior school level is yet to be gauged.
Sponsorships
The number of players who do not continue the sport after school is quite large for a variety of reasons. Thus pumping in cash at such a stage may not necessarily have the desired results in terms of development of the skills set of the players.
Would then the sponsors be doing a greater service by breaking up the sums allocated into rugby costs per season and the balance towards the further education of top students? For top students the yardstick should be excellence in sports and studies, and then absorb them into the corporate world and provide them with on-the-job and a professional education. I think the time is right for all stakeholders to think this through carefully and ensure that the cash is spent where it has the maximum effect and benefit.
(The writer can be reached via [email protected].)
