Author: L. Crankshaw

Union High School, Graaff-Reinet had the pleasure of hosting Newton Park today for a match between the schools’ respective u/13A sides.

Union lost the toss and were asked to bat first.

Initially, Union encountered difficulties, losing four wickets with only 36 runs on the scoreboard. 𝗛𝗼𝘄𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿, 𝗢𝘄𝗲𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝘅𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝘂𝗱𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝟵𝟳 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝘀, allowing Union to finish their innings with a total of 133 runs for the loss of four wickets.

Paxton demonstrated impressive play, scoring 61 runs off 50 balls, while Hudson contributed 43 runs off 45 balls.

In the second half, Union’s performance was outstanding as they successfully bowled out Newton Park for a mere 20 runs.

Murray Hope delivered an exceptional spell, taking five wickets for only four runs in three overs. Keenan Jafta also contributed greatly, securing three wickets for 11 runs in three overs.

𝘼𝙨 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩, 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙗𝙮 𝙖 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙛 113 𝙧𝙪𝙣𝙨.

The Union High School’s 1st XI cricket team once again had the privilege to attend the prestigious Cape School’s Cricket Week hosted by Paul Roos Gymnasium from the 29th of September until the 3rd of October 2023. 

Unfortunately the first game against Paarl Gymnasium was called off due to a wet pitch and outfield. The boys then spent some time in the Paul Roos indoor centre for a practice session. 

On Sunday we played our 1st match again Paarl Boy’s High School. Paarl went into bat first and managed to score 143 runs after being bowled out. Special mention must be made of Shaakir Kazi who took 5 wickets. Union then went in to bat and could only managed to put 40 runs on the board. We lost the game by 103 runs

Our second game was against Parel Vallei High School from Somerset West. Union went in to bat first and set a target of 96 after getting off to a brilliant start but a continuous loss of wickets led us to not being able to put a defendable score on the board. Union managed to get five wickets before Parel Vallei eventually managed to get the score. Union lost the game by 5 wickets 

Our third and final match was against Bishops from Cape Town. Union were put in to bat first once again and only managed to score 49. Bishops passed the target with the loss of no wickets. Union lost the game by 10 wickets. 

A lot of valuable lessons were learnt throughout the week. We will definitely return as a stronger team next year.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to Grade 12 cricketers 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸, 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗵𝘂𝗮 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲, 𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗱 and 𝗛𝗹𝗮𝗸𝗶 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗽𝗲 for their outstanding dedication and contribution to cricket at our school.

These four talented individuals took to the field for the very last time as part of Union’s 1st XI at the prestigious 2023 edition of the annual Cape Schools’ Cricket Festival.

𝘋𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴, 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

We want to thank Brent, Joshua, Jude and Hlaki for the memories, the victories, and the moments of camaraderie they have gifted us during their time at Union. 𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢.

Union High School, Graaff-Reinet learner 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗶 𝗞𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘇𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗻 competed in the Paardepoort Rally, the second round of the Algoa Rally Club’s regional championship, on Saturday, 30 September.

Assisting her father Deon as navigator in his speedy Toyota Etios, Demi performed exceptionally well.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝟰𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀.

Demi’s remarkable ability to remain composed under pressure showcased her distinctive talent, leaving us immensely proud of her achievements.

𝘞𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘯𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳.

Congratulations to Union High School, Graaff-Reinet learner 𝗕𝗲𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗺𝗸𝗲 and his teammate, his dad Grant, for their incredible performance at the 2023 Fish River Canoe Marathon contested in Cradock this past weekend!

Participating in this exciting 2-day race, covering 82km of fast-flowing, technical river, is no easy feat and requires not only speed and fitness but also excellent river skills.

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝗕𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁! 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻!