IT isn’t always about winning, but how you play the game.
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The Bathurst Panthers under 11s team learned that lesson after they competed at the National Primary Games held in Tamworth earlier this month.
The Panthers squad ended up taking part in the under 12s rugby league competition at the Games, a large sporting festival that includes 15 events and aims to celebrate enjoyment just as much as results.
As far as their performance goes, they did an outstanding job even allowing for the fact that they were playing in a higher age group, making the grand final before losing to Kootingal.
St Pat’s also sent a team to the Games, their own under 11s team faring equally well to finish runners-up like their cross-town counterparts.
But it was the way Panthers went about things that drew attention, and they were given the Macquarie Spirit of the Sport Award at the conclusion of play.
“Basically, in each of the sports, across all the age groups, one team will be given that award and it happened to be our kids in the rugby league,” Panthers Juniors president Craig Glawson said.
“There are teams at the competition from all over the place, and they play sports like league, tennis, AFL, basketball and others.
“Our club didn’t have a 12s team but our 11s got bumped up and did really well to get as far as they did.
“The award came from the way they played the game, the way they presented themselves and handled themselves on the field and before and after their matches.”
Panthers coach Mick Carter stressed to his team the importance of acknowledging the opposition, clapping them onto the field as well as off it, and cheering them after their games.
Respect for officials also came into the equation, something not lost on Glawson in light of recent events such as the current scandal involving NRL brothers Andrew and David Fifita and their run-in with a local referee in Penrith.
“What happened with the Fifita boys isn’t a real positive look for the game. I know that as a club we have a pretty strict code of conduct when it comes to being respectful and not having any incidents with match officials,” he said.
“It is really hard to get hold of younger referees and to train them. Keeping them in the game is a big problem, so we like to stress that they need to be respected and that is hopefully rubbing off on the kids.
“We were really proud of that award and of all the kids for earning it. We didn’t get much time to get the side together and head up there; all the parents as well as the coach did a great job.
“It is a nice reminder that winning isn’t necessarily everything.”