Union High School won the toss and elected to bat first. Despite a positive intent, the team lost early wickets during the powerplay and was forced to consolidate. We managed to post a total of 92 runs.
Top scorers for the innings were:
Sibabalwe Mbotye โ 28 runs
Callum Jacobs โ 27 runs
Victoria Park chased down the target in 13 overs, winning the match by 6 wickets.
Declaration Match vs Daniel Pienaar Technical High School
(Played in Kariega on Friday)
Union High School once again won the toss and chose to bat first. Unfortunately, the batting unit struggled to build partnerships and the team was dismissed for 73 all out.
Daniel Pienaar responded strongly, surpassing the target and enforcing a follow-on. In the second innings, Union High was bowled out for 39, giving Daniel Pienaar victory by an innings and 5 runs.
The standout performance came from Yaseen Kazi, who delivered an impressive spell with figures of 5 wickets for 35 runs in 9.5 overs.
Match vs Alexander Road High School
Unfortunately, the scheduled fixture against Alexander Road High School was abandoned due to rain.
Summary
While our fielding department showed great effort and energy throughout the festival, the batting departments fell short of expectations. Key areas have been identified for improvement, and we are committed to working hard as we move forward.
It’s back to the drawing board with a clear focus on consistency, resilience, and discipline in all aspects of the game.
We are so proud to announce that some of our very own Union High School learners have been featured in the Imibala Trustโs first official book, ๐ฉ๐ผ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ!
The book is more than just a creative showcase – ๐ถ๐โ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐, ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐. It was launched earlier this year as part of the 2025 Indie Authors Rise Up – Fire Fringe Book Festival, highlighting culture and heritage from across the country.
A huge ๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ to our talented learners whose work was selected for publication: Lina Tadesse, Amber Slater, Jade Slater, Clea Clark, Gerda Clarke, Saskia Strydom and Jourdon-Bethany Koeberg.
This past term, our learners have been channeling their creativity and skill into a range of ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง๐๐ก๐ ๐ฃ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐๐ง๐ฆ.
Featured here are some of our Grade 7s โ ๐ง๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐พ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ป, ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป, ๐๐ฒ๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐๐ฑ๐๐ผ๐ป and ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐ค๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ถ โ with their hand-crafted crane. Complete with hydraulics and a pulley system, their creation impresses with its smooth rotation and sturdy design.
Union High Schoolโs Primary Department is delighted to invite you to their annual ๐ ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ก๐๐ก๐, taking place on Tuesday, 30 September.
Themed โ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ช๐ค ๐ฐ๐ง ๐๐ช๐ด๐ฏ๐ฆ๐บโ, this year’s showcase promises a magical night filled with songs that will have you humming along and tapping your feet.
๐ง๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต and will be available from the Union High School foyer starting Monday, 15 September.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐ ๐ฐ๐น๐๐ฏ๐ต๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ด๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฎ ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ-๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ป ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ – all thanks to the incredible generosity, hard work and vision of our 1st team tennis parents.
The clubhouse has been beautifully transformed into a true recreational space that celebrates Union High Schoolโs love for tennis.
Spectators can now enjoy the matches from the comfort of lovely new benches added in front of the clubhouse, while ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ด๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ผ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ.
The upgrades also include a fresh coat of paint, a new fridge and urn, ensuring refreshments are always on hand, as well as Union tennis-themed mugs that add a personal touch.
Proudly adorning the walls are new honours boards, alongside updated 1st team photos dating all the way back to 1940, offering a rich glimpse into our schoolโs sporting history.
We are deeply grateful to our 1st team tennis parents for their dedication and generosity in creating this ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐๐น ๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ณ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐.
At the start of this term, we were delighted to put our brand-new ๐๐จ๐ก๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ’ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ข๐ into use – a space created especially for our Grade 5 to 7 girls, who have thoroughly enjoyed having their own facilities.
Our ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ณ๐ฒ๐น๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ๐ go to Montego Pet Nutrition for their generous contribution in helping us meet this need at our school.
A big well done to Unionโs talented u13 cricketers, ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ and ๐๐ผ๐๐ต๐๐ฎ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐๐ถ๐น๐น, on being drafted to compete in the Eastern Province Cricket League (EPL) in Gqeberha!
Both boys proudly received their caps at the EPL Draft Ceremony at St Georgeโs Park on Friday, marking a special milestone in their cricketing journeys.
Union High School vs Pearson High School, 6โ7 September 2025
The first match of the new cricket season got underway at Union High School on Saturday morning on a perfect spring day for cricket.
Before the start of play, Pearsonโs captain, Sulaymaan Gangat, together with Unionโs captain, Shaakir Kazi, had the honour of ringing the ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป ๐ ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น – a special tradition at Union that signals the imminent start of play.
1st Team โ Friday T20 Match Report Union High Schoolโs 1st Team won the toss and elected to bat first in Fridayโs T20 encounter against Pearson High School. Despite a positive start, early pressure from Pearsonโs disciplined bowling attack saw Union lose two wickets during the powerplay, which ultimately restricted them to a total of 85 for 6 after 20 overs.
Pearson responded confidently in their run chase, showing composure with the bat. Union’s fielders worked hard to apply pressure, and standout bowling from Yaaseen Kazi (4 overs, 23 runs, 2 wickets) helped keep the opposition in check. However, Pearson reached the target in the 15.4th over, securing victory by 6 wickets.
Despite the result, Union takes several positives from the match, especially in the bowling and fielding departments, which showed great intensity and teamwork.
1st Team โ Saturday 50-Over Match Report On Saturday, Union High School’s 1st Team took on Pearson High School in a 50-over clash. After losing the toss, Union was asked to bowl first. The bowlers responded with energy and intent, reducing Pearson to 105 for 5 after 16 overs, thanks to a fearless and attacking bowling display.
It was a proud moment for ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐ฒ, who received his white cap ahead of his 1st XI debut against a visiting Pearson High School side.
However, Pearsonโs middle order stabilized their innings, with their number 5 batsman scoring a quick-fire 81 runs to shift the momentum. Pearson eventually posted a formidable total of 328 runs, all out. Unionโs fielding performance unfortunately fell short, missing key opportunities that could have limited the total further.
In response, Union struggled with the bat, losing two early wickets. However, Yaaseen Kazi showed exceptional grit and skill, scoring a courageous 68 runs under pressure. The team was eventually bowled out for 149, resulting in a 179-run win for Pearson.
A special congratulations goes to Yaaseen Kazi, who celebrated a significant personal milestone by taking his 100th wicket for the Union High School 1st Teamโa remarkable achievement.
2nd Team Match Report Union High Schoolโs 2nd Team won the toss and chose to bat first. However, Pearsonโs bowling attack proved too strong, dismissing Union for just 40 runs. Pearson chased down the target without losing a wicket, winning by 10 wickets. While the result was disappointing, it serves as a valuable learning experience, and the team will be looking to bounce back with renewed determination.
U15 Match Report On Saturday, 6 September, Union High Schoolโs U15 team faced Pearson High School in what proved to be a challenging fixture. After losing the toss, Union bowled first against a powerful Pearson batting lineup.
Pearson capitalized on scoring opportunities, finishing on 325 for 5 in their allotted 50 overs. Despite the best efforts from Unionโs bowlers, containing such a strong batting performance proved difficult. In the second innings, Unionโs batsmen faced a relentless bowling attack and struggled to build momentum, ultimately resulting in a 250-run loss.
While the result didnโt go in Unionโs favor, there were glimpses of potential throughout the game. The experience gained will be invaluable for the teamโs development going forward.
Union High School Grade 5 learner, ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐, proudly represented the school at the recent Madibaz Swim Meet held at the Newton Park Swimming Pool in Gqeberha.
After being out of the water for two months – ๐ต๐ฉ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ถ๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฏ๐ฐ ๐ง๐ข๐ถ๐ญ๐ต ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฏ, ๐ฃ๐ถ๐ต ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ช๐ค๐บ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ญ ๐ต๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ข๐ต๐ถ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด – and with just three days of training last week, Catie still managed to deliver an incredible performance.
She secured 2nd place in the 11- 12 Girls 200IM Relay, as well as 3rd place in both the 11-12 Mixed 200IM and Mixed 200 Free events.
๐๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐, Catie swam a personal best of 1.96 seconds on her 100m Breaststroke and, most impressively, qualified for SA Level 2 with her outstanding 50m Backstroke time!
The Levels competition will take place in March 2026 and we cannot wait to see her shine on that stage.
For more than a decade, Union High Schoolโs ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ has stood as one of the most powerful, transformative experiences in the journey of our learners.
Hundreds of Unionites have stepped into the vastness of the Karoo with little more than their backpacks, tents, courage and the guidance of two extraordinary people: ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐บ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ.
The Odyssey is no ordinary school outing. It is a rite of passage – one that strips away comfort, demands resilience and challenges every learner to discover their own strength.
From flash floods and stomach bugs to blisters and aching bodies, the Karoo landscape tests the mettle of even the bravest. Yet it also rewards with sights and moments of pure magic – ๐ค๐ณ๐บ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฎ๐ด, ๐ณ๐ถ๐จ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ค๐ญ๐ช๐ง๐ง๐ด, ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ช๐ป๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ด ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ข๐ถ๐จ๐ฉ๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ฆ๐ค๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ถ๐จ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ข๐ฏ๐บ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ด. ๐๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ๐บ ๐๐ณ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฆ 10 ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ฐ ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ต๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ซ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐บ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ณ๐จ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ค๐ฉ๐ข๐ฏ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฅ.
๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฑ – the engine that keeps the Odyssey alive and thriving. With their love for the outdoors, deep passion for young people and zest for life, they have sown wisdom, grit and courage into the next generation.
What makes their contribution even more remarkable is that, with their own three children long graduated from Union, Bronwen and David continue to give tirelessly to other peopleโs children. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ถ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฑ๐๐๐, ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ โ ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐น, ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ.
The Union Schools considers itself profoundly blessed to have such stalwarts in our midst. The legacy of the Odyssey is written not just in the dust of Karoo trails, but in the character and spirit of every learner who has taken part – and at the core of that legacy, stand Bronwen and David Langmead.
From the entire Union family: ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ ๐๐ผ๐, ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฑ . You are changing lives and your impact will echo for generations
