Saturday, June 04, 2005

Rugby Rivalry

What? A High 3rd XV is still around? And a Grammar 4th XV? Hmmm...At least the rivarly is still there.

Rugby dad hit me, says student

A Sydney Boys High student who alleges he was bashed on the sidelines of a GPS rugby match has told police the attack was carried out by two adults, including a father from the opposition school.

The year 12 student went to police last Sunday to report the episode, which allegedly occurred the morning before.

In a statement, the 17-year-old said he was punched in the back of the head by a 19-year-old Sydney Grammar supporter, then held down and kicked in the face by an older man, who he believed to be a Grammar father.

Rose Bay police have confirmed they have statements from witnesses and are investigating.

The violence erupted early in the second half of a game between the Sydney High Third XV rugby team and Sydney Grammar's Fourth XV at Grammar's home ground, Weigall Oval.

But the alleged victim told police that hostilities had been triggered earlier in the game when he was deliberately rucked by a Grammar player. Punches were thrown and he was sent to the sin bin, where he became involved in an argument with a group of Grammar students and supporters.

According to his statement he suffered a split lip and a bruised head in the fight that led to the referee calling the game off early.

The chairman of the GPS headmasters' committee, Robert Iles, said the headmasters from the two schools were very concerned about "an off-game incident that involved some spectators". He was not aware yesterday whether the schools had taken any action.

During the week Grammar Fourth XV players told the Herald that media reports had given a one-sided and exaggerated account of what happened.

One said: "We were playing down the other end of the field, but it just looked like two people pushing and shoving. We've heard nothing about a parent being involved."

Another added: "The High guy had been causing trouble from the start of the game. First he pushed one of our players over, then he punched another guy and gave him a bloody mouth."

A Sydney High parent, who asked not to be named, said the schools had developed a bitter rivalry.

"The kids there turn their noses up because we're a public school. The boys chant that we don't have any money - it's quite disgusting," she said.

Sydney High and Grammar declined to comment.

6 Comments:

Blogger Sam Ngai said...

Hehe, funny things happening in the schools. Hard to ascertain what happened though, it's all "he said" and "she said".

6/05/2005 6:04 PM  
Blogger Jeff said...

Yah, but it's good to read stuff about your school - be it good or bad

6/05/2005 7:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hmmmm.... interesting, rivalry on the rubgy field; and next to it too it would seem

you would think that a parent of a sydney grammar student would have enough money and education to realise that physical violence just is not the answer

they should have just called the cops they pay (under the table) to come around and book the kid for assault

proves to you how stupid grammar boys are - like father, like son

i just wish i was there to incite the high boys by singing the first line of the school song "Come rally round boys young and old...!!!!" :D

6/08/2005 1:49 PM  
Blogger Sam Ngai said...

I'm a grammar boy and I'm not trying to take sides. But I think you should be careful not to stereotype a group of people based on the action of a few. For example, I know that my father certainly can't afford to pay cops under the table, neither would we resort to physical violence. Based on my knowledge of the people at school, I'd say that indeed most would not resort to physical violence. So your statement that "how stupid grammar boys are" is flawed in the sense that you did not qualify the statement by saying "some of the".

It remind me of other incidents such as:

- Recent incident involving a few rowdy bus passengers from a Catholic School of which I don't remember the name. Although it was based on the actions of a few students who were not representative of the whole school, you hear on talkback radio that the listeners and even the radio announcer put the entire school to shame on this incident, when in fact they should shame those students responsible.

- People who donated money to the Tsunami Appeal and, after the sentencing of Schapelle Corby as guilty, decided to ask charity organisations for refunds because they don't want their money going to Indonesia (to help tsunami victims who in no way took part in the Schapelle Corby court case).


Anyway, I'm not trying to piss you off or anything, although I realise that what I have said may have that effect. But what I'm saying is, be careful not to judge an entire group of people by the actions of a select few. Or in the case that you didn't intend to do that, use more precise language.

6/10/2005 3:20 AM  
Blogger Sam Ngai said...

At the same time, I should add that I'm also guilty of stereotyping. For example, from my 6 years of experience on the road, I have noticed that about two-thirds of the dangerous situations I have observed are caused by people in 4 Wheel Drives. And a majority of these drivers are middle-aged mothers with children who "need" these cars. (I reckon they just "need" a family wagon, like those long Volvos.)

But anyway, as a result of my observations, I have stereotyped and developed a hatred for stupid middle aged mothers who drive 4 Wheel Drives. In fact, I don't see why anyone who lives in the city actually "need" a 4 Wheel Drive, and so if they buy one, I don't like them =P

6/10/2005 3:32 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

my apologies to sam...
i guess my stereotype is a product of having gone to sydney high and our competitiveness (to put it nicely) with all the other GPS schools :D
and to think that i'm normally very careful with my words as well
since you mentioned something recent about a catholic school, hows about i bring back the story involving trinity grammar... need i say more
and on a final note, hear HEAR!!!!!
i totally agree with you on the 4WD debate, absolutely no reason for 4WD for the average mother - or the below average mother, or the above average mother for that matter :P, station wagons (that's what i call it, same shit different smell) have as many seats and can basically store as much stuff. it's not as if they have to move furniture that often or anything

6/16/2005 7:55 PM  

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