๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ to Grade 7 learner ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต who, following another stellar performance on the athletics track, will be representing the Eastern Province at the SA National Primary Schools Track & Field Championships!
Click here to watch Keanu claiming a silver medal in the 200m event during the recent Eastern Cape Athletics Championships.ย Keanu came second in the 100m event as well.
UHS 1st XV vs St Andrews
On Saturday, 12 March, the 1st XV played against Bloemfonteinโs Saint Andrewโs School at home.
After 5 minutes, Union won a free kick at a scrum on the half way line. Quick play by Kwande Mhlabeni saw the ball shifted to Sisipho Arnols who put Alutho Cekiso into space.
Sisipho ran a very good supportive line and received the inside pass back from Alutho to dot down for the 1st try.
Ill-discipline and unnecessary mistakes kept the score 5-0 for about 26 minutes. Sisipho broke the defence from a scrum and carried on scoring a fine try. This was converted by Hlaki Skepe. Union led 12-0 at half time.
A poor start to the second half, saw Saint Andrewโs score their first try after some miscommunication on defence. Hlaki Skepe converted a penalty to take the score to 15 – 7.
Union scored another try from the restart with Sisipho Arnols completing his hat-trick to take the score to 20-7 in our favour. Some terrible defence and perhaps poor decision-making saw Saint Andrewโs run in two quick tries to lead 21-20. Hlaki Skepe converted another penalty kick leading 23-21.
With 5 minutes to go, the Union boys had a chance to score after Sisipho Arnols broke the line once more. The team, however, failed to capitalize on this wonderful opportunity. In turn, Saint Andrewโs breached Unionโs defence one more time to snatch it at the end and win the match 26-23.
โAlthough the loss was heart breaking, the lessons learned from it will be invaluable towards building the team for the season ahead,โ said coach, Mr Christopher Felix. โI am proud of the boys, and I believe we can only get better from here onwards. I wish to congratulate our junior teams with some fine results achieved, well done to the players and coaches. Lastly I wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to our super crowd, the team sincerely appreciates the support.โ
2022 Spar Schoolgirlsโ Hockey Challenge
This past Sunday, 6 March, saw Union High Schoolโs 1st team hockey girls participate in the annual Spar Schoolgirlsโ Hockey Challenge hosted by DSG in Makhanda.
The opening match saw Union take on DSG in what was a heated encounter.ย ย The match started at high speed with DSG putting Union under early pressure, however, they couldnโt find the back of the net.ย ย The Union team showed great determination and stuck to its defensive principles. They created seven counter attack opportunities, but DSGโs goal keeper had a good performance and kept a clean sheet.ย ย The match saw DSG beat Union 1-0.
Unionโs next match was against VGHS.ย ย Due to lack of concentration, and underestimating the opposition, Union started the game poorly. With Kendall Krige injured in the first match the girls struggled to adapt to new positions. VGHS pounced on this and scored early in the first half.ย ย Throughout the match Union created a lot of opportunities – 14 short corners and 34 circle entries – but couldnโt score.ย ย VGHS struggled against the pace and skill of the Union player.ย ย The match saw lose 0 โ 1 to VGHS.
Unionโs final match was against Brandwag.ย ย Based on the previous gameโs result, the girls had a point to prove. Union created numerous goal scoring opportunities but could not find the net.ย ย The second half saw the girls focused and determined to win. They were rewarded with 4 great goals.ย ย Union won this encounter 4 โ 0.
Well done to Kendal krige for winning the Bravery award and Misha Newton for winning a Spar gift bag.
Captain Chloe Shires and her team must be commended on their performance throughout this tournament. ย
UHS 1st XV vs Andrew Rabie: 5 March 2022
On Saturday, 5 March, Union High Schoolโs 1st XV travelled to Somerset East to participate in the Gill College Sports Day.
After two years of Covid, fifteen boys finally played their very first match in the treasured white jersey.
After a slow start to their match against their Andrew Rabie counterparts, Union found their rhythm and produced waves and waves of attack, which they, unfortunatelty, couldnโt convert.
Twenty minutes in, Andrew Rabie scored the first points of the match. This, however, fired the Union boys up and they responded almost immediately with a try through JJ Liebenberg, leaving the halftime score to stand at 5-5.
The Union team enjoyed a much better start to the second half.
They were relentless on attack and resolute in defence. After a brilliant passage of play where captain Sisipho Arnols broke the line, a ruck was set up just outside the 22 of Andrew Rabie. Alutho Cekiso produced a moment of magic, dancing around the defenders, which resulted in a try being scored by Xhamla Magubeni.
Union ran in another two tries through Siya Badiwe and JJ Liebenberg.
Well done to the 1st XV on winning the match 20 โ 5.
Unionโs u/16A team also participated in the Gill College Sports Day, winning their match against Cradock 8 โ 7. Well done, boys!