“UNFRIENDLY RIVALRY”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 418, 28 July 1928, Page 11

“UNFRIENDLY RIVALRY”

TROPHIES DO NOT HELP PRIMARY SCHOOL RUGBY EXPERIENCE AT HAURAKI PLAINS (From Our Oivn Correspondent.) NGATEA, Friday. Verj r decided views on the question of school children playing games for trophies were expressed by the school teachers who comprise the officers of the Hauraki Plains Primary Schools’ Rugby Football Union, and it was agreed that should any well-meaning supporter of school football offer to replace the inter-school competition cup which has now been won outright, the offer would be politely but firmly declined. Experience in the past three years has proved to the teachers that the inter-school cup competition has not been productive of the best sportsmanship but has created some unfriendly rivalry and even bitterness. The boys’ matches are followed very keenly by some parents and, on occasion, matters have been brought up. which, while quite relevant to the business of cup winning, do not tend to encourage young players to play for the sake of the game but rather encourage them to work points and take advantage of technicalities. The Primary Schools’ Union determined to organise just as many games as hitherto played, but they would be friendly games in which it was hoped the spirit of sportsmanship, team-work and friendliness rather than of matchwinning would predominate. The donation of medals for individual players will also be discouraged for the reason that they give the recipient an exaggerated idea of his own qualifications with the result that he becomes a selfish player of little use to his team.