Brett Amsterdam and Jaden Brotherton

For the past 13 years, the new year at Union High School has always begun with the school’s Senior Cricket Festival – this year was no different. The festival was kicked off last night (Wednesday, 8 January) with a delightful cocktail function at the Tony Burrell Union to welcome the visiting coaches and team managers to Graaff-Reinet.

Here, Mr Stephen Bezuidenhout welcomed all to the festival and thanked the school’s sponsors for their support, the cricketing moms for their contribution to the function, The Muller House’s Labarre Smit for catering, as well as the stellar ground staff for their passion hard work towards ensuring the grounds are in good shape for the festival.

A word of thanks was also extended to Hoër Volkskool, Botanics Sports Grounds and Asante Sana Private Game Reserve for making their facilities available for many of the matches.

Play commences

The first day’s fixtures delivered a day of exciting competition, as Union took on Edgemead, Framesby faced Milnerton, Stirling played against Brandwag, Daniël Pienaar took on Nico Malan and Muir faced Queen’s College.

In their declaration match against Edgemead, Union took the honours, with Brett Amsterdam and Jaden Brotherton both recording a 50 and a five-for during the match. Well done, gents!

Friday, 10 January, will see Union face Queen’s College on Union’s Minnaar Field, Stirling take on Nico Malan on the Puttick Field, Muir will face Framesby at Botanics, Brandwag will compete against Edgemead at Volkskool and Milnerton will play against Daniël Pienaar at Asante Sana.

Union invites all cricket enthusiasts, visitors, parents, Old Unionites and friends of the Union Schools to come and take advantage of the school’s hospitality, relax and enjoy yourselves and take in the surrounds of the town and the campus.