Cradock batted first and scored 88 for 3 in 20 overs. Kyle-Luke du Preez took 1 wicket for 8 runs in 4 overs, Rogan Odendaal 1 for 11 in 4 overs and Kwande Mhlabeni 1 for 16 in 3 overs. Union replied with 93 without loss in the 13th over.
Kyle-Luke du Preez 56*
Sisipho Arnold’s 25*
Union High School won by 10 wickets.
On Thursday 6 September, the 1st XI cricket team left to take part in the annual Pearson Cricket Festival. Owing to the rain, the boys played just one match. Despite this, the boys made use of every opportunity to enjoy the outing and put together some fun-filled team building experiences.
Results from the T20 vs Muir on Friday.
Union won the toss and sent Muir in to bat, hoping to take advantage of what appeared to be perfect bowling conditions. Union were met with some very good patient batting upfront from the Muir openers who put together a solid partnership. This was finally broken by some fine fielding which resulted in a run out. This allowed the Union boys to put pressure on the new batsman and they managed to curb Muir’s run rate. Union continued to take wickets at regular intervals, but it proved too little too late and Muir managed a well-played 139 in their 20 overs. Union went in to bat and could just not find any rhythm, struggling to get the scoreboard ticking over or put together any form of a partnership. The Union boys lost early wickets and could just not recover ending their innings on 64/6 – losing the match by 75 runs.
Bowling figures: Jaden Brotherton took 1 for 33 in 4 overs, James Pienaar 1 for 40 in 4 overs, Caerwyn Spence 1 for 13 in 4 overs and Khwezi Simon took 1 wicket for 8 runs in 2 overs.
The best batsmen were James Pringle top scored with 19 not out and Peter Watermeyer 11 not out.
On the 1st September students from the Karoo OGKK (Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Kyokai) dojo based in Graaff-Reinet attended the 35th Annual Southern Cape and Eastern Cape Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Tournament held in the picturesque town of George in the Western Cape.
The Tournament, hosted by Jannie Le Grange Sensei (7th Dan), saw teams from George, Uniondale, Port Elizabeth and Graaff-Reinet compete across 26 different divisions based on age, gender and rank in elimination stages. The categories for this tournament were Kata (detailed pattern of movements) and Kumite (freestyle sparing).
Having never attended a karate tournament before, our learners elected to compete in the individual Kata category with approximately 110 other entrants.
They returned home with two gold and two bronze well deserved medals, with James Rose-Innes and Max Price each achieving a bronze medal and Max Wright and Tyra Binney bringing home gold.
On Friday, 7 September, twelve rugby players, coached by Mr Felix and Mr Sparrius, travelled to Port Elizabeth to participate in the EPRU under 17 Sevens qualifiers. This was the first experience of 7’s rugby for the Union boys, and after the first match, the team realised what fitness levels are required of them to perform at optimum level, and to enjoy the game.
Union’s players were devastated to lose three of their matches on the stroke of the final whistle. However, through positive reinforcement and self-belief, they knew that a victory in the final match was inevitable. In a free-flowing match, displaying all their skills, the Union boys were extremely tenacious and outplayed their opponents, ending their campaign with a well-deserved victory.
This was an enjoyable tournament, with many positives taken and lessons learnt about this wonderful game. We commend the team on their great sportsmanship and being fine ambassadors for our school.
Results: Lost 0 – 33 to Framesby; Lost 5 – 12 to Andrew Rabie; Lost 5 – 12 to Humansdorp;
Lost 7 – 12 to Ndzondilelo; Won 29 – 10 against Arcadia.
Friday, 31 August
UHS 1st XI (T20): UHS won by 7 wickets
On Friday the 1st XI got their season under way playing a T20 against Pearson. Union won the toss and sent Pearson in to bat. The bowlers immediately found their straps with maintaining a perfect line and length and put Pearson under pressure from the get go, striking with two quick wickets. The Union boys continued to build great pressure with the ball and had Pearson struggling at 76/5 after 17 overs. Unfortunately they were unable to capitalize on all their opportunities, which allowed Pearson to reach a total of 125 in their 20 overs. Pick of the bowlers were Matt Harpur finishing with figures of 3/22 and Brett Amsterdam 2/18 off their allotted 4 overs respectively. Union went in to bat and got off to a perfect start with a wonderful 36 run opening partnership between Brett Amsterdam and Luke Mc Naughton. Despite losing both openers in one over Matt Harpur and Cowan Swartz showed great maturity and batted with tremendous intent putting together a very well-played 56 run partnership, which then allowed Bowen Langmead to come in and play a blistering innings of 19 to take us across the line winning the game by 7 wickets. Special mention must be made of Matt Harpur who had a wonderful all round performance and finished on 50 not out with the bat.
Best bowling figures: Matt Harpur 3/22 in 4 overs; Brett Amsterdam 2/18 in 4 overs
Best batting scores: Matt Harpur 50 not out; Luke Mc Naughton 25; Bowen Langmead 19 not out
Saturday, 1 September
UHS XI (50 overs): lost by 8 wickets
On Saturday the 1st XI took on Pearson again in a 50 over match. Pearson won the toss and sent Union in to bat. Despite being full of confidence after their performance the previous day Union were unable to carry on where they left off with the bat. They were met with some wonderful accurate bowling and were never allowed to put any substantial partnerships together after the well grinded 40 run partnership between Brett Amsterdam and Matt Harpur. Union continued to lose wickets at regular intervals and could only manage a less than modest 108 all out.
Pearson went in to bat and Union immediately found their line and length striking in the very first over. They continued to bowl with great accuracy and were able to keep Pearson under pressure, however missed some chances which allowed Pearson to knuckle down and with little scoreboard pressure they were able to manage Union’s score with only two wickets down winning the match by 8 wickets.
Best batting scores: Brett Amsterdam 25; Cowan Swartz 15
Best bowling figures: Cowan Swartz 2/34 in 8 overs
Despite the loss the Union boys must be commended for the way in which they played their cricket this weekend and even when their backs were against the wall they never gave up and maintained a positive approach to the game. All in all it was a great start to the season.
2nd Team (50 overs): lost by 181 runs
Pearson batted first and scored 239 for 5 in 40 overs. Sintu Nkosinkulu took 2 wickets for 39 in 8 overs. Union replied with 58 all out. Union lost by 181 runs.
U/15A Team
Union batted first and scored 51 all out in 22 overs. Pearson replied with 52 without loss.
Union lost by 10 wickets. U/15A (50 overs): lost by 10 wickets
On Saturday, 1 September, three Union High learners took part in the Angora Classic held in Jansenville.
James Potgieter came 3rd in his age group, finishing his 25km mountain bike race in 1:20:05. Keanu Nel also finished 3rd in his group with 1:37:35 and Megan Nel did a 10km race in 1:27:45, finishing in first position in her age group.