So, the long awaited interschools clash of the season has come and gone. And what a “biggie” it was.
It was very refreshing to see an influx of visitors into our town and a true festive atmosphere after an interschools drought of two years. Interschools is definitely the highlight on Paarl’s yearly calendar.
Unfortunately messages spread like wildfire with claims about a try which shouldn’t have been awarded.
Television replays do show that the try was controversial, but it is not the player or school that is to blame.
The various Interschools and Derbies which take place in our valley each year have for more than a century now been a proud example of true sportsmanship.
The past week’s negative accusations which have been flung far and wide are everything but sportman-like. Even in some of the biggest international rugby or cricket test series’ there have been controversial decisions by referees and umpires.
And it is also not a given that if that controversial try was not awarded that the other team would have won. The match would have taken a different turn, but nothing would have been carved in stone.
We would rather like to remember this Interschools clash as a titanic rugby clash between two great schools and in which both schools’ players shone on the field.
Don’t tarnish this great event with sour grapes.
