Delaney: Rivalry games not always good

The Hamilton-Poland boys soccer game on Friday (Sept. 19) reminded me of another rivalry match I saw earlier in the week.

 

Like Whitesboro-New Hartford on Tuesday, the Class D game at Poland didn't start out with a lot of clean soccer. The ball bounced around more than it was controlled on the Poland field at least in the early going. It was a big match, the first between league rivals vying for a league title, as was Whitesboro at New Hartford. And the players knew it. Poland got a yellow card and Hamilton did, too. The play was physical, just like at New Hartford where the officials issued four yellows - two for each team.

 

At least 175 people stood along a sideline at Poland to watch the game. The turnout at New Hartford the other day wasn't close to that, but it was a weekday so that's understandable.

 

Rivalry games are great. They are a lot of fun to watch and with good history between the teams and the fans, such games are what high school sports are all about. But give me a clean game between two unfamiliar teams any day.