Leamington School student Dallas Kara-Potter lines up a Matamata Primary School dodgeball opponent.
About this time every year, Cambridge resident and Matamata Primary School principal Glenn MacPherson undergoes an Incredible-Hulk-style transformation, morphing from a kind and supportive father into a man who puts victory above his own flesh and blood.
The reason: Matamata Primary School and Leamington School’s annual one-day sports exchange.
Would Glenn ever let a silly little thing like DNA get in the way of winning? He would not. Neither would daughter Jossy, who is in year 5 at Leamington School.
“There was a real good rivalry at home last night with Jossy,” Glenn said on the day of this year’s event. “No dinner for her last night and no talking to her this morning.”
Tensions always rise in the MacPhersons’ Cambridge home as the day of the exchange approaches.
This year Glenn made up a song to taunt Jossy. Its lyrics cannot be repeated in this reputable publication, but it implied her team had an unpleasant odour.
The 10-year-old simply ignored her father, certain her school would lift the Maisey Shield this year.
The coveted prize has been on offer since 2018 when the schools launched the sports exchange for year 3-6 students. The contest was drawn in 2018 and 2019 but the pandemic won in 2020 and 2021, when Covid had its name engraved on the shield.
Then, last year, Matamata won and Jossy had to suffer the bitter sting of defeat.
But this year it was her turn for glory.
After the final event of the day, an epic dodgeball showdown, Leamington School sports coordinator Lara Connors read the results.
Leamington had won the year 3 /4 rugby, netball and hockey and the year 5/6 netball, football and hockey. The miniball, dodgeball and year 3/4 football were drawn.
The Leamington School team erupted in cheers and two students lifted the Maisey Shield.
Glenn was philosophical about the fact Jossy now had bragging rights for the next 365 days – but netballer Jossy was ecstatic.
