Homework pays off for West Terrace

A culture of striving for excellence and success has borne fruit for West Terrace Primary School yet again.

Physical education teacher Roderick Harmon accredits such thirst for the team’s achievement last week in becoming champions of the COB Credit Union Herman Griffith Primary Schools Cricket Competition.

“It is a culture, it’s an ethos. Our motto is, ‘Excellence and success come only through diligence’, and we believe in putting in the hard work,” he said. “Over the years, we’ve seen that players who allow you to push them and allow themselves to become disciplined to the skills that are necessary reap the dividends. And, by extension, so do the school and the community,” the multi-talented PE teacher of over 20 years told Sun Sport 24 hours after the school enjoyed its latest sporting triumph.

The Williams Industries West Terrace Tigers swept to their second title in the annual competition coordinated by the National Sports Council, which is recognised as the symbol of supremacy at the primary school level.

They whipped Wesley Hall, the most successful school in the tournament’s history with 11 titles, by 161 runs in a onesided final at Friendship Sports Facility, St Michael last Tuesday.

Spurred by a stellar 165-run opening stand between captain Roni Watson and Tournament MVP Neymar Forde, the Tigers roared their way to a massive 214-3 before their bowlers dismissed Wesley Hall’s batsmen for 53 runs in 17.1 overs.

Harmon, who has overseen many championship victories in all the sporting disciplines contested by the school, admitted his job has been made easier by the boys’ involvement in development programmes outside of the school.

“Most of the boys, almost 90 per cent, are in clubs and you could see the development over the years because they’ve been together for about three years now. So my process was, I would say, relatively easy.

“It was just a matter of reminding them of the basics and keeping them on target to produce the best that I know they could. But they know the cricket, they know how to bat and bowl [and] it is just the discipline to stay focused and execute, that was my job.”

He listed the Franklyn Stephenson Academy and Carlton Club as among those helping with the preparation. He particularly highlighted the part played by the Youth Development Programme run by youth development commissioner Peter Skeete at Haynesville.

“Over the years, we have benefited so greatly from the community programme. Almost 80 per cent of the athletes – no matter the discipline – who have brought honour to the school have benefited from that programme,” Harmon said.

By his admission, this year’s contingent has been one of the easier ones to manage and played an exceptional brand of cricket.

“I’ve been telling the youngsters that I have been doing this for over 20 years now and I think the display of talent and consistency for, especially the last four, five games, seeing the first three batsmen stand up and consistently make hundred runs and looking easy, I would have to say, of the best rides I have had journey.”

Harmon made special of the individual efforts all-rounder Forde, finished as joint-highest overall and scored runs for the team.

He described him as “one Haynesville prodigies. Just natural talent, obviously from a family with a cricket background and having support from them”.

The coach was also quick point out the parts played two others with a family in cricket – Watson and Corbin.

He said Corbin was “a discovery” who added strength to the bowling department joining the school for the make over a looking really say, it’s one had in my mention of lefthanded Forde, who highest wickettaker scored the most one of the Just raw, obviously coming cricket dedicated quick to played by family history and Kailen

strength department after the first time this year.

“It was all a well-rounded team and a whole team effort that pulled it off,” he added.

Harmon expressed the school’s gratitude for the sponsors and the support from the community for the school, which has constructed a virtual sporting legacy over the years.

“[On behalf of the] principal, management, and administration, I cannot help but give kudos to the sponsors, Williams Industries, who have backed us over the last two years. They have sponsored the track team for a while, but they have kindly consented to extend that support to include the cricket.”

About his future involvement, the dedicated servant would only say “God has been good and as long as He gives strength, we will continue to do what we know how to do.” (WH)

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