Clash delivers to its promise

GRAAFF-REINET — The annual interschool dual between the Union Schools and Laer and Hoër Volkskool again delivered some superb action on the tennis courts, hockey and rugby fields, as well as in the cultural arenas.

From the get-go on Monday afternoon, 6 August, spectators were entertained by the exceptional skill and ability of both schools, and the spirit in which the schools contested the various events.

In the matches contested by Laer Volkskool during interschools, Union came out tops overall scoring 22 points to Volkskool's 21 during the course of the week (2 points are awarded to a school for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss).

The final results between the senior teams still need to be finalised as the senior tennis games were postponed as a result of Friday's inclement weather.

Friday

Most of the junior sport was played on Friday in very wet and cold conditions.

The schools' U.13 hockey teams played excellent hockey and delighted the crowd with their fine performances, with the Union second Junior team winning their match against Volkskool's U.13B team 2 - 0 and Volkskool's U.13As winning their match against Union's first Junior team 2 - 0.

Other hockey scores saw Volkskool's U.7s winning their match 5 - 0 and Volkskool's U.8's winning their match 6 - 1.

Union's U.9A team won their match 8 - 1 and the Union U.10A team won 4 - 0.

On the rugby field, the Volkskool and Union U.7A teams ended up scoring 15 points each, the U.8A Volkskool team was beaten by Union with 30 points to their 20, the U.9A Volkskool team beat Union 36 - 0, while Volkskool was victorious in the U.11B match beating Union with 45 - 10 and Union was crowned the victors in the U.13B match beating Volkskool with 7 points to 5.

The match between Union and Volkskool's U.7A rugby teams was played on Friday morning in frigid weather.

Saturday

With beautiful sunny weather on Saturday, the crowds were once again blessed with a full day of tough matches.

Union and Hoër Volkskool's first hockey teams' match was a match to remember with both teams playing aggressive and exciting hockey on the Union Astroturf.

Union won this match 4 - 0.

Other hockey matches played on the day, saw Union's U.16B team beating Volkskool 8 - 0 and Union's U.16A team winning 3 - 2.

Hoër Volkskool's third team won their match against Union 2 - 0 with the second teams ending their game on a draw with a score of 1 each.

At the Botanics Sports Grounds, Union managed to win five of the seven rugby matches.

Union's U.13A rugby boys faced off against Volkskool in a highly anticipated rugby match.

Volkskool put Union under pressure from the kick-off, who found themselves defending for most of the first half. The Union boys gained momentum in the second half and kept Volkskool under pressure. It was, however, too little too late and Union went down 7 - 38.

Union's U.14A team won their game 48 - 0, Union's U.15A team beat Volkskool 19 - 12. Volkskool won the clash between the U.16A team's with 22 points to Union's 20 points and Union High School's third team won their game 22 - 17.

One of the most entertaining matches of the day, the match between the second rugby teams of Union High School and Hoër Volkskool, was dominated by Union's second team who managed to finish their unbeaten season by beating Volkskool 18 - 7.

After this, all was set for the final match of the day, which saw Union's first rugby team beat Volkskool 30 - 17 (read more about this match on page 12).

Tennis

The Union Junior girls' tennis teams won their interschools encounter against Volkskool this year.

The first team won 6 matches to Laer Volkskool's 3. The second girls' tennis team won their encounter against Laer Volkskool with 8 matches to 1.

Laer Volkskool's boys' first tennis team won their encounter against Union with 7 matches to 2, with their second team winning all their matches to beat Union 9 - 0.

Laer Volkskool se skaakspelers het verlede week kragte gemeet teen die van Union. LVS se tweede skaakspan het gelykop teen Union gespeel met 6 elk, terwyl Volkskool se eerste skaakspan ook 6-elk gelykop gespeel het teen Union. Die Graad 1 tot 3 skaakspanne van Laer Volkskool het egter 5 - 7 teen Union s'n verloor. Hoër Volkskool se eerste skaakspan het hul kragmeting gewen, met die skool se tweede span wat gelykop met Union geëindig het.