This past weekend, the Union High School Junior Sports Department hosted its 20th annual Anne Beagley Junior Rugby & Hockey Festival sponsored by Caltex and College Motors in Graaff-Reinet, which proved to be yet another success, with many schools gathering in the name of sport. The festival was held over four days – Friday, 14 June, to Monday, 17 June.
Thanks to the school’s estate manager Mr. Donald Kingwill and the rest of the ground staff, the fields were in perfect condition, adorned with the colourful sponsors’ banners, welcoming parents and the public to enjoy a weekend of fun, sport and good company at Union High School. As always, the school hosted a cocktail function on the first day of the festival, Friday, 14 June, in the Tony Burrell Union, to welcome all visitors to the festival and to pay homage to the title sponsors, Caltex and College Motors, as well as coaches and staff, for their valued contribution to this sports festival.
The generous sponsorship of Caltex and College Motors has afforded the school and all who attend it, this wonderful annual opportunity in sport, and for this, Union thanks them most sincerely. “It is always a privilege to be able to host an event of this nature and to extend a warm welcome to all guest schools, parents and supporters,” said Mr. William Pringle, Union High School’s headmaster, during his welcoming address on Friday evening. Mr. Pringle also took the opportunity to thank valued sponsors, Hyundai, Pick n Pay, Mica, Desert Springs Spur, Supa Quick and Merino Pharmacy, for their contribution in making this sports festival possible.
Mr. Vuyani Ngcete, Caltex Eastern Cape Business Consultant, who represented Caltex Eastern Cape Marketer at the event, then delivered a short speech, in which he highlighted the transformative and unifying power of sports.
Thanks were also extended to the superintendents, matrons and staff of Herby Arnott House, Max Kroon House and Arthur Kingwill House, the hostel staff of Hoër and Laer Volkskool, Mr. John Crankshaw and the Old Unionite Association for the running of the Tony Burrell Union, all the visiting coaches, managers, headmasters and players for their attendance, the Union staff and learners and all paramedics and first aid personnel.
“All the coaches and managers in attendance need to be complimented on their willingness to give up some of their free time to extend the educational horizons for those in their care. The Union High School Junior Sports Department, teaching staff and coaches have put in a tremendous effort towards organising this festival, which deserves our heartfelt praise and gratitude.
A special word of thanks is also extended to all the parent volunteers working behind the scenes this weekend for their dedication and continuous support,” concluded Mr. Pringle.
The festival was then officially opened on Saturday morning with a moving ceremony in which all participating teams from the 21 visiting schools marched across the Puttick Field, proudly displaying their school banners, during which they were welcomed by Mrs. Yvette Cloete, head of Union High School’s Primary Department.
Both rugby and hockey of the highest standard were played over the four days, with every inch of Union High School’s sports fields occupied with teams from, among many others, Grey Junior School, Collegiate Junior School for Girls, Graeme College, Laer Volkskool, Lilyfontein Primary, Lorraine Primary, Hudson Park Primary, Stirling Primary and Queen’s College.
All participating teams played with spirit and enthusiasm with nobody giving an inch in trying to come out as victors. “The objective of the festival is for young sportsmen and women to play competitive matches while forging friendships and developing character,” said Mr. William Pringle, Union High School’s headmaster. “True sportsmanship was certainly the winner of this festival.”
“We appreciate every team that participated, all the officials and the many spectators who supported,” said Mr. Floris Steenkamp, organising convener of the festival. “There were some very close matches, as well as wins by bigger margins, but it was pleasing to see how teams on the losing side never threw in the towel.”
Local teams’ results
On the rugby field, the Union team enjoyed a run-away 55 – 0 victory against St Patrick’s College in their first encounter on Saturday and beat Cambridge Primary 19 – 12 on Sunday. On Monday, they, unfortunately, went down 12 – 27 against Stirling Primary in the last game of the festival.
The other participating school from Graaff-Reinet, Laer Volkskool, lost against 12 – 34 against Grey Junior School on Saturday and 14 – 17 against Gonubie Primary on Sunday but won against Westering Primary 21 – 7 on Monday.
On the UHS AstroTurf, the Union junior 1st team lost 0 – 1 to Stirling Primary, 2 – 3 to Cambridge Primary, drew 0 – 0 against Stutterheim Primary, beat St Patrick’s College 3 – 0 and drew 0 – 0 against Hudson Park Primary.
The Union Inv team, lost 0 – 3 against Lilyfontein Primary, drew 0 – 0 against Stutterheim Primary, lost 0 – 1 against Gonubie Primary and 0 – 3 against Charlo Primary.
Laer Volkskool’s hockey team lost 0 – 1 against Collegiate Junior Girls’, drew 2 – 2 against Riebeek College, drew 1 – 1 against Charlo Primary, beat Lorraine Primary 2 – 0 as well as Erika Girls’ Primary 2 – 0 and lost against Sunridge Primary 1 – 2.
The festival’s full results are as follows:
FRIDAY:
Hockey:
Union Inv 0 vs Charlo Primary 3
Collegiate Junior Girls’ 0 vs Cambridge Primary 1
Charlo Primary 0 vs Hudson Park Primary 3
Collegiate Junior Girls’ 1 vs Laer Volkskool 0
Lorraine Primary 3 vs Stutterheim Primary 0
Clarendon Park Primary 1 vs Cambridge Primary 1
Union High School 0 vs Stirling Primary 1
SATURDAY:
Hockey:
Collegiate Junior Girls’ 1 vs Hudson Park Primary 1
Westering Primary 3 vs Stirling Primary 0
Clarendon Park Primary 5 vs Victoria Primary 0
Sunridge Primary 0 vs Cambridge Primary 2
Erica Girls’ Primary 0 vs Gonubie Primary 0
Lorraine Primary 0 vs Lilyfontein Primary 0
Union High School 3 vs St Patrick’s College 0
Charlo Primary 1 vs Laer Volkskool 1
Riebeek College 0 vs Stutterheim Primary 2
Collegiate Junior Girls’ 0 vs Stirling Primary 2
Westering Primary 3 vs Victoria Primary 0
Erica Girls’ Primary 0 vs Lilyfontein Primary 1
Sunridge Primary 5 vs Gonubie Primary 0
Union High School 0 vs Hudson Park Primary 0
Lorraine Primary 3 vs St Patrick’s College 0
Union Inv 0 vs Lilyfontein Primary 3
Rugby:
Claredon Park 27 vs Queen’s College B 27
Westering Primary 5 vs Cambridge Primary 12
Stirling Primary 32 vs Graeme College 20
Gonubie Primary 12 vs Queen’s College A 54
Laer Volkskool 12 vs Grey Junior School 34
Lorraine Primary 24 vs King’s College 29
Hudson Park Primary 21 vs Muir College 27
Union High School 55 vs St Patrick’s College 0
SUNDAY:
Hockey:
Charlo Primary 1 vs Stutterheim Primary 0
Riebeek College 2 vs Laer Volkskool 2
Collegiate Junior Girls’ 0 vs Victoria Primary 0
Westering Primary 0 vs Cambridge Primary 0
Sunridge Primary 1 vs Lilyfontein Primary 1
Clarendon Park Primary 2 vs Gonubie Primary 0
Erica Girls’ Primary 0 vs St Patrick’s College 0
Lorraine Primary 0 vs Laer Volkskool 2
Charlo Primary 2 vs Stirling Primary 1
Riebeek College 1 vs Hudson Park Primary 2
Union High School 2 vs Cambridge Primary 3
Clarendon Park Primary 3 vs Lilyfontein Primary 0
Erica Girls’ Primary 0 vs Laer Volkskool 2
Sunridge Primary 7 vs St Patrick’s College 0
Riebeek College 0 vs Victoria Primary 2
Union High School 0 vs Stutterheim Primary 0
Union Inv 0 vs Gonubie Primary 1
Rugby:
Queen’s College B 0 vs Muir College 57
Graeme College 52 vs St Patrick’s College 0
Westering Primary 0 vs Queen’s College A 59
Lorraine Primary 12 vs Hudson Park Primary 15
Laer Volkskool 14 vs Gonubie Primary 17
Grey Junior School 19 vs Stirling Primary 10
Clarendon Primary 22 vs King’s College 34
Union High School 19 vs Cambridge Primary 12
MONDAY:
Hockey:
Sunridge Primary 2 vs Laer Volkskool 1
Clarendon Park Primary 4 vs St Patrick’s College 0
Westering Primary 2 vs Stutterheim Primary 0
Erica Girls’ Primary 0 vs Hudson Park Primary 0
Lorraine Primary 0 vs Stirling Primary 2
Charlo Primary 1 vs Victoria Primary 1
Riebeek College 0 vs Gonubie Primary 1
Westering Primary 3 vs Lilyfontein Primary 0
Union Inv 0 vs Stutterheim Primary 0
Rugby:
Hudson Park Primary 50 vs Clarendon Park Primary 5
Laer Volkskool 21 vs Westering Primary 7
Graeme College 5 vs Queen’s College A 37
Queen’s College B 27 vs St Patrick’s College 5
Lorraine Primary 10 vs Cambridge Primary 14
Muir College 17 vs King’s College 17
Gonubie Primary 12 vs Grey Junior School 12
Union High School 12 vs Stirling Primary 27
Photo above: Alutha Wesi running with the ball in Union’s match against Westering Primary during the 20th annual Anne Beagley Rugby & Hockey Festival in Graaff-Reinet.