Author: L. Crankshaw

On Saturday morning, 9 April, the Union rugby teams travelled down to Kariega to take on Muir College in the annual derby day.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗫𝗩 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗠𝘂𝗶𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲.

The match started at a frantic pace, where possession was often exchanged by the two sides.

The Union boys exerted ample pressure which led to a kickable penalty slotted by Sisipho Arnols resulting in Union taking a 3-0 lead. Muir College bounced back quickly, scoring the first try of the match to take the score to 3 – 7.

Muir then scored another converted try extending their lead to 3 – 14. The Union boys started to fight back just before half-time, but a brilliant cover tackle by the Muir College full back kept Union at bay. Muir led 3 – 14 at half-time.

Union started the second half well, putting their bodies on the line, refusing to back down. Muir College received a yellow card which the Union boys capitalized on, to score a driving maul try through Ivan Murray, closing the deficit to six points.

Union created a few more scoring opportunities but failed to convert, in turn, Muir ran in another try in the last minute of the match to take the spoils 8 – 19.

Well done to Muir College on winning the match.

“𝘈𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺, 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥. 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘛𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘒𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘨𝘢, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘵.”– Mr Christopher Felix, Union High School 1st XV Coach.

𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀:

• 2nd XV lost 8 – 10

• 3rd XV win 15 – 10

• u/11s lost 5 – 31

• u/13s lost 7 – 20

• u/14s won 28 – 21

• u/15s lost 0 – 20

• u/16s lost 8 – 17.

Union High School’s u/13A rugby team and 1st Junior hockey girls are very grateful to the sponsors of their 𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗦 𝗞𝗜𝗧𝗦, Botha’s Garage.

Mr Shawn Botha, of Botha’s Garage visited the school today (Friday, 8 April) to present the items to the respective teams.

Mrs Jacqui Heunis-Jones, the 1st Junior hockey team’s coach, commented “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘫𝘰𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘉𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘢’𝘴 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵.”

Seen here in the accompanying photographs are Union’s 1st Junior hockey team and the u/13A rugby team, accompanied by their repective coaches, Mrs Jacqui Heunis-Jones and Mr Sean Koeberg with sponsor, Mr Shawn Botha.

For many of the girls, these matches were their very full-field encounters ever, as some of them last took the field in a competitive match when they were in Grade 2!

The 𝟮𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 were the first to compete, drawing their match 0-0, after which the 𝟭𝗦𝗧 𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥𝗦 (who made their debut appearance in their new kit) took the field, losing 3-2 against their more experienced Sunridge counterparts.

𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 must be made of Mia Botha and Abonane Matushe (who scored brilliant goals) and Nadine Murray, who worked exceptionally hard throughout the match and made many game-changing tackles and passes.

𝗕𝗜𝗚 pat on the back to all the girls who played their hearts out! 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀.

𝘉𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯!

• Union High School will welcome Sunridge Primary School to our campus for a morning of 𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥 𝗛𝗢𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗬 encounters on the AstroTurf;

• The 𝗥𝗨𝗚𝗕𝗬 teams will be travelling to Kariega to compete against Muir College Boys High School and;

• The 𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥 𝗛𝗢𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗬 girls will be heading to Gqeberha for their fixture against Hoërskool Pearson High School.

𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴!

𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗟 𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗘 to Union High School, Graaff-Reinet Grade 10 learner Angus McLaggan and his mom, Lynette, who completed the 𝗜𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 this past Saturday, 2 April, in Gqeberha.

They were joined by another Graaff-Reinetter and Union parent, Dave Neill, who also successfully completed the course.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘰𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 380𝘮 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘮 𝘢𝘵 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩, 𝘢𝘯 18𝘬𝘮 𝘣𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘋𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 4.2𝘬𝘮 𝘳𝘶𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥/𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩.

The 45th annual Biathlon SA Championship was held in Gqeberha this past weekend, 1 and 2 April.

This year’s event enjoyed record attendance, with over 800 biathletes participating.

Union High School Grade 8 learner, 𝗕𝗲𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗺𝗸𝗲, was selected to represent EP Biathlon and he participated with pride. There was tough competition out there, with strong teams from the likes of Free State, Border, North West and, reigning champions, Western Province, to name but a few.

𝗕𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲!

• Ben’s dad, Grant, also competed, coming second in his run in his age category, and knocking four seconds off his swim to make it his best biathlon yet.

All in all it was a wonderful event, confirming once again that, aside from competing against the clock, making friends and renewing friendships is also an important part of what Biathlon stands for.

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲?

Biathlon is a multisport discipline that involves running and swimming over various distances for the different age groups.

The next season kicks off in September 2022. Anyone interested in becoming involved in biathlon, or who just want to get a feel for what the sport is like, can contact Claire Lemke at 076 965 5914 to find out more.