Northerns shade EP in Growthpoint squash thriller
This classic Jarvis clash went down to the wire and it took all the energy and skill of Northerns No 1 Damian Groenewald to hold off a terrific effort by Gerard Mitchell after he had dropped the first game.
One of the country's best players, Groenewald was relentless as he held his nerve to win 3-1 against a lively opponent, who left everything out on court as he tried to pull off what would have been a memorable victory.
Instead, the Northerns man sealed the deal to secure a thrilling 16-9 victory, keeping them in the hunt for the Jarvis Cup title.
With two days remaining, they have moved to 50 points, eight behind logleaders and four-time champions Cape Fruit SA Country Districts A, who continued to power their way through the draw, this time disposing of KwaZulu-Natal A without losing a game.
Though Thursday's matches could alter things, it does seem to be boiling down to a showdown between SACD A and Northerns A in the final round on Friday.
EP may feel disappointed at the final outcome, but they must receive accolades in abundance for pushing Northerns all the way.
Excellent wins by Sips Mpini and Dean Venter meant there was not going to be an easy route to victory for Northerns as the No 1s took the court for the decider.
But finally, in front of a packed crowd, Groenewald underlined his class to secure the win.
In the women's Kaplan Cup, Northerns A and Cape Fruit SA Country Districts A remain locked in a battle for supremacy after decisive wins on Wednesday.
As the country's prestigious team tournament moves into the business end, Northerns cruised past Joburg Squash 20-1 and the SACD outfit defeated defending champions Western Province A 17-3.
With two days remaining, just four points separate the two sides, while hosts Eastern Province A, who lost to SACD on Tuesday, put themselves back in the picture with a hard-earned win over Border A.
EP's 19 points from that encounter lifted them to 52 points overall, just one point behind SACD, while Northerns lead with 57 points.
The key matches will take place in the last two rounds, with EP facing Northerns on Thursday and then Northerns and SACD clashing in the final showdown on Friday.
The host province will round off their programme with a tricky encounter against WP.
EP did not have it all their own way against their neighbours Border and could easily have gone down 2-0 after the first two matches.
From staring defeat in the face against EP No 3 Janet Byrnes, young Kelly Emslie saved several match points to level the tie by winning the fourth game 12-10 and then swept through the fifth 11-5 for an impressive win.
In the next match, Border No 4 Kate van Biljon led Anlen Jarman 2-1 before her experienced opponent showed tremendous resolve to hold on for a 3-2 result.
That lifted EP spirits and the victory was completed by the skills of Bianca Keeley and Jacqui Ryder as they secured wins in straight games to give their team the major portion of the points on offer.
The Herald
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald
2 days ago
- The Herald
Mamelodi Sundowns launch new jersey for 2025-26 season
Mamelodi Sundowns have launched their new kit for the 2025-2026 season. The kit, announced on the club's social media platforms, 'showcases art of play design inspired by the dazzling combination of strategy, precision and artistry', the club said. The home kit is in the traditional yellow shirt, blue shorts and white socks, while the alternate kit features a white shirt, white pants and blue socks. The difference is in the details as the eye-catching art of play graphics are executed on the side panels of the shirts and shorts.
Mail & Guardian
2 days ago
- Mail & Guardian
Giants: A story of faith, family and football
Olisa Ndah and Thabiso Sesane discuss the struggles of injuries. Photos: Supplied In the fairy tale of Jack and the Beanstalk, a poor boy trades his family's cow for magical beans that sprout into the heavens and into the realm of giants. Many lessons can be taken from the story but one that stands out is that of faith and family. The belief that magical beans can grow and uproot your family from suffering can be seen as whimsical and as far-fetched as the dream of making it as a professional footballer or, if you're a fan, that your team will march to victory. Yet somehow this classic fairy tale beautifully parallels the football story told in the upcoming sports docuseries, Giants. The latest in the roster of SuperSport Originals, Giants is produced in collaboration with the award-winning film company T+W to tell a story about faith, family and football. In the five-part series scheduled for a five-season run, South African football teams will grant T+W exclusive access to document their league and cup campaigns. Season 1 sees the production house and broadcaster lay bare the heart and soul of Orlando Pirates' 2024‑25 season in a raw and emotional narrative. For Giants, think Netflix's Drive to Survive but for iDiski Times website. For the non-sporting people, imagine the American NBC comedy The Office but in the high-pressure, high-performance and unscripted world of football. Yes, you get a laugh here and there, but ultimately on Giants you are seeing the most human aspect of athletes who, with their gladiatorial frame, often seem infallible. You don't see athletes, you see humans. 'Audiences today want more than match highlights — they want depth, emotion, context and humanity,' says series director Luthando Tshaya. Director Luthando Tshaya 'With Giants, we aimed to shift the focus beyond the pitch. This documentary has to shine a brighter light on the players themselves, their personal journeys, the communities and families they come from. This was about capturing not just football, but life.' 'You connect with them and connect with their families; you start praying the same prayers as their moms,' adds executive producer Siyanda Manzini. Bringing this behemoth of a production to life required self-sacrifice and dedication, meaning the team behind the scenes had to fall in love with telling a story of humanity through the lens of football. 'We captured everything from early-morning gym sessions and emotional family moments to high-stakes match days and tactical decisions behind closed doors,' says Manzini. 'It was about trust. And once we earned that trust, we unlocked gold.' Trust was a vital cog in carving this viewing experience. Imagine having a camera on you during that unnecessary Teams call for a presentation you're not prepared for at work. That level of vulnerability is no laughing matter. Equally daunting yet therapeutic for Lebo Lepasa, the sister of Orlando Pirates' striker Zakhele Lepasa, was opening up to the world. 'For me it was emotional, eye-opening and strangely healing. Sharing personal parts of our lives felt daunting at first but the crew created a space that was respectful and supportive. And it also made me appreciate just how powerful storytelling can be,' she says. Tshaya describes the production as telling a story of 'faith beyond football', something Lepasa connects with deeply. As she sits in the stands or fiercely grips the nearest cushion on her couch at home, it's faith that fuels her support of her brother. 'Faith for us has really kept us anchored. It's what has carried us through the pressures, the wins, losses and criticisms of the fans. We kept reminding ourselves that the journey is bigger than football. It's about the purpose, discipline and the legacy,' she says. Similarly, Phumzile Mbatha, the mother of Ezamagebula midfielder Thalente Mbatha, describes herself as shy, but she grew to enjoy the process of filming and the opportunity it gave her to reminisce about raising her son. But being the support system to a player of one of South Africa's biggest clubs is not easy. Pirates coach Helmi Gueldich appears in the football doccie Giants 'It's very challenging because Pirates is a very big team. Since joining Pirates from a smaller team, the biggest challenge is social media,' Mam'Mbatha says. 'People don't understand and don't choose their words wisely. People don't respect the feelings of other people and forget that the players are also human. That is what hurts my feelings, but it's a part of the game.' Mam' Mbatha's resolution of criticism being a part of the game translates into a mental fortitude that her son exhibits in a diary entry that features on Giants. 'There's going to be a lot of critics [but] 'ikhonkotha ehambayo (dogs bark at moving vehicle).' The anecdote is something that keeps the Orlando Pirates No 16 motivated and focused. 'If I wasn't playing, it means you wouldn't be talking. So ikhonkotha ehambayo,' he says. The sporting and cultural weight of Orlando Pirates for South Africa is immeasurable, so the microscopic lens on all details of the club is to be expected. Manzini spoke of the challenge of 'matching the rhythm' of a club she described as 'intsika' (pillar) of black excellence and township pride. Tshaya 'felt the time was right to document what it truly means to wear the black and white jersey, to chase greatness, and to carry the hopes of millions'. But for co-series director Wani Rantloane, Giants goes even deeper. 'What you will learn about Pirates when you watch Giants is that it's very rooted in family and growing communities. It's a club that is run by a family that instils family values.' Rantloane and her co-creators are proud to archive South African football history, to showcase football as a place of joy and, in her words, 'immortalising greatness' through Giants. 'To become a giant, it's not just about being a talented footballer. It also comes with integrity, dealing with failures and challenges,' Rantloane adds. 'If we can start creating relatable and strong role models for our kids, it's going to mould how our society is built. 'People see the player but not the phone calls after a tough game and the prayers before every match. I hope people see the love, the resilience and the deep emotional labour that comes with being their [the players'] support system,' Lepasa says. With the first episode on Sunday, 27 July, on Mzansi Magic, SuperSport and Showmax Premier League, Giants promises to be a beautiful family watch with tonnes of thrills and frills to cultivate lessons and, of course, drama. Brace yourself. 'Expect the truth. Not a scripted gloss-over, but the raw, layered truth of what it means to be a giant,' says Manzini. Giants is meticulously structured to capture key turning points and spotlight different layers of what makes this club iconic. Season 1 cinematically archives the trials, tribulations and triumphs of people who happen to play professional football. It is equally a memorable cinematic experience as it is a reflection of society. It's sure to make that keyboard hater think twice before slandering Mam'Mbatha's son and Lepasa's brother. Though the outcomes of the story are well known to the public, the jeopardy is not lost because skilful storytelling immerses the audience in a recent past that feels like a lucid present. 'Each [episode] has its own heart and rhythm,' says Manzini. 'From the silent struggles to the loud celebrations, every episode brings something distinct, but connected by one powerful thread: legacy.' Tshaya adds: 'You'll see the stories that humanise the badge. Whether you're a die-hard fan or newcomer to South African football, there's something universal in the story.' So whether you choose to see it to decipher whether former coach José Ribeiro is a Michael Scott kind of leader or a Jay Pritchett one, whether you leave your couch having adopted the faith Jack had in his magical beans to help his family, you're sure to scale the heights of a deeply humanising journey and sit among giants.
The Herald
2 days ago
- The Herald
Venter buzzing for more Bok Test action
Burly prop Boan Venter is buzzing for more outings in the green and gold jersey when the Springboks kick off their Rugby Championship campaign with back-to-back Tests against the Wallabies in August. Venter made a dream start to his Test career when he dived over for a try after eight minutes during the Boks' crushing 55-10 win against Georgia in Mbombela last week. Starting alongside fellow debutants Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouché, Venter played an important role in the emphatic victory. He was rewarded for his efforts by being named in a 37-man Springbok squad to face Australia in Johannesburg (August 16) and Cape Town (August 23). 'On the performance side, it was buzzing to have made my debut and get a try in there as well,' he said. 'We'll reflect on the performance in the review — there's always stuff you can improve on. But overall, just really happy to get on the pitch.' Venter, who joined Edinburgh from the Cheetahs in 2021, looked set to be called up to the Scottish squad after qualifying on residency rules for the 2026 Six Nations. 'From being a young boy playing rugby from about five or seven years old, it's every South African's dream to play for the Springboks, so when I got that call, that was it for me,' he said. 'At the end of the day, what counts is that I am here and it was so great to slot into this group. 'Everyone was so welcoming and helped us hit the ground running. 'Since the team was announced, we felt the support of the whole group. 'We jokingly call the Bok back five the V8, and you can feel the power coming through. 'As a group, we are tight and try to pick each other up and be supportive, and it played a massive role in giving us confidence leading up to the game. 'It's a level up from club rugby. 'Not much in terms of due process but it's definitely a level up. 'I wouldn't say it surprised me; it was just nice to see again how big rugby is in SA. 'It's inspirational to see a whole nation get behind a team and they know how much that support means to the team.' Bok coach Rassie Erasmus said Venter had not been chosen to block him from playing for Scotland. 'That didn't have an influence,' he said. 'It is nicer for us to see guys such as Duhan van der Merwe play for Scotland because he probably would not have got a chance from us. 'So, why would you choose a guy to block him?' 'We really went and looked at who was the next loose head in line, and he was on our radar.' Scotland coach Gregor Townsend would not be drawn on whether Venter would have been part of his plans if he had not played for the Boks. 'I think he's been one of the best players in the URC the last two or three years,' he said. 'This year was probably his best season. 'Whether it's the set-piece or his ball-carrying, he's really impressed. 'We wish him all the best. 'He's now embarking on an international career and it shows the quality of the player he is.' Asked whether he had any regrets relating to Venter's decision to play for SA, Townsend said: 'It's really hypothetical. 'He wasn't going to be available for a few months and it's hypothetical until it happens. 'It's not going to happen now.' The Herald
