Gentlemen, Honour and Victory

Home team advantage. Hardly any. Yes it was played along Saint Andrew’s Road, yes they had their Cathedral across the road, but they did not have 2 tries, a conversion and 3 penalties scored. 21-8. Just numbers. Numbers that differentiated the victors and the losers. Some say there are no losers. I disagree. To say as such would be to relegate the effort and the industry of the players adorned in the AC colours. But to label the Saints Losers would be too harsh. One of those conundrums. Its brilliant to win. Congratulations to the blokes. The second try was brilliant, the run, the acceleration, the craftiness. Brilliance personified. The spirit and what makes it memorable is the dignity and the pride in which all 31 players played with. Victory is sweet, but it is even more memorable, when the opponents worthy. I remember the defeat last year, to RJC. There was pride even though we had lost. In the eyes of the boys in white and blue, I saw the same. It was the manner in which even having lost, they remained true to their game, the way in which they pushed on, they maintained their defence even in the face of the broad yellow and blue stripes, impending on them. They did not bemoan their lost, they congratulated the winners, there was rivalry but there was no bad blood. For that I commend them. I’m told Rugby is a gentleman’s game. I did not see that last year and in the semi-finals. But yesterday, just as the Padang was nostalgic, the two teams honoured the sport, and hopefully, when people think back, they remember this game. The game in which all the boys played as gentlemen. In victory, there can be respect. The best is yet to be,