Good morning to all……

The RWC advances into the next round, amidst a little bit of controversy…..and now the semi’s are upon us….and although pretty predictable, apart from the France / Wales game….which produced some really great rugger….the Saturday matches were pretty one sided….the AB’s and the English winning by significant margins to progress….but that sets up one of most interesting clashes that we will see at this World Cup thus far….. the winner of this match is going to very difficult to beat in the final….but that said…we still have the Boks in the other half of the draw….and although we stuttered through the first half….we eventually ran out easy 26-3 winners….doing something that no-one else has been able to do in this world cup, in beating the Japanese….the Irish, who were on the crest of the world rankings at the start of the World Cup….were unexpectedly humbled in their first showing…and Japan definitely gave us lots of food for thought in the first half, with us being so far behind on the possession stakes….but of course our scrum-half did ensure that our possession was effectively given away, every time that he touched the ball….but in the second half, the power of scrum eventually came through as we scored a magnificent 45 metre rolling maul (another procedure that I have not witnessed before)…which culminated in allowing our diminutive kicking scrum-half in to score himself a try….in the other quarter final in our section…there was only one side in the contest…with the Welsh appearing content to make their plane flight home that night….until some 55^th minute madness by a French lock….who was red-carded for some silly dangerous play…and slowly the tide turned….and as manfully the French played….it was like an inexorable wheel rolling down the hill that the Welsh were going to wear down the French resistance….eventually just doing enough to beat the French 20-18. And an amazing turn around…which no-one could have forecast even a half an hour before the end of the match….

This weekend we will be showing both of the matches live at the North….one on Saturday and the other on Sunday….please do not be late…as last week seats and places was limited fairly early….we will still have the liquor specials that we had last weekend….so beer, brandy and rum will be discounted for the duration of the match…..and for those who love to have a little shooter or two while watching sport….there will be a tequila and Jagermeister special…..buy a tray of 12 of these popular Mexican and German tit-bits for only R170…..a real example of the “more you drink….the more you save” slogan, which was extremely popular in my youth at the North…..so my thanks to Simba Sosatie who used to run around the Club in those days with his party hat….maybe this weekend, he will make his appearance again…..I can but hope…and hope that it augers well for the smooth progression of the Boks in their quest to becoming World Champions once again….

Our Premier cricket side made their first appearance at the North on Sunday, when they hosted Duduza….and with Kurt losing the toss (again!!), we were asked to bat…we scored steadily with almost everyone chipping in, Musa Twala and Leonard Killeen notching up half centuries in the process…. ending up on 297/7 after our 50 overs…..there was a bit of a break in the innings when a local swarm of bees decided to find a home in the water tap box at the edge of the pitch…forcing an early lunch to be taken, as our friend and bee keeper Peter Beart was called on to remove the buzzing visitors for us….and the match continued after lunch without further incident…..the opposition began a very solid chase and only after a half century opening stand did we eventually make any inroads….but after that their wickets fell at fairly regular intervals…to Duduza eventually landing up with 172 after slightly over 40 overs….handing us the win by 125 runs on the day…well done to the lads….a winning start to the season for us, with two out of two….but this weekend we have a bye allocated…so time for everyone to have a restful weekend off to get ready for battle the next weekend…..

This year we had our first season of junior rugby….and despite some trying conditions….these little fellows acquitted themselves admirably….we had 6 teams competing in the finals for this year….with two of those sides being crowned champions…..our under 8 team and the under 11a (red) side winning their respective finals….a special congratulations to the players and coaches..super stuff….of our other sides that competed on the day the under 9a side lost in the final to collect a silver medal, while the U9b side lost in the semi, but won the play-off for bronze….the other two sides, U10b and U11a (white) ended the season in fourth place…. my congratulations to all these young men and their coaching staff….well done on a great set of results….you have placed the bar very high in our first season at junior level… remember that we will now want you to strive to improve on this next year….also a hearty congratulations to Jaco and his team on a super season….well done….

Our Friday night search for our Jester continued…as we had another “first-timer” in front of the cabinet….Ethan had his name drawn….and to some jubilant cries of encouragement from his mates….he looked to the bottom right of the board for his selection….and once it was revealed, it showed us the six of clubs…..we are really getting to an interesting time of the draw……as we are now 23 cards into this particular draw…almost halfway….and we are currently at a Jackpot of R90237……starting to become a sizeable value to put into your pocket for a R5 investment…..and we have the ever popular 5 piece band Omega to get your month end weekend off to a mellow and relaxed start…

Last weekend our entertainment were the duo of Richard and Nakita….who also proved that they know really how to get the party going….keeping everyone singing and dancing in the patio under the tent into the wee hours…..thanks to them…I saw a few Members with pounding heads the next day…..but with a massive grin on their faces like the cat that has just had the cream….saying it was a helluva night….when are they coming back again….and be sure that we will them back soon and we will give everyone enough notice….

Please do not forget our Rowlin Glow Run on next Wednesday….this is always a most festive event….and one of those must attend festive occasions….so please be sure to get you running gear on….and find all your glow sticks, luminous clothing and crazy costumes and wigs….as everyone jumps in and enters into the festive feeling created on the night….to make their way around the course….and onto the finishing line for their own medal….to be proudly displayed…..

That is it for this week….hopefully I will get to see you for the RWC matches…or on Friday at draw time….or maybe just at the Glow Run next Wednesday…have a great week otherwise….take care

Regards Rod

CLUB BAKKIE : SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT

Over the past few years, it has become more apparent that our Club requires a light delivery vehicle to enable the Club to operate more efficiently by completing important tasks in and around our Club. Some examples where this would be utilised are:

1. As the municipality is providing less and less service delivery assistance on our fields and surrounding areas, not to mention the almost non-existent maintenance to the infrastructure in and around the club of buildings, roads and parking maintenance, requires that more of this responsibility falls into the lap of the Club.
2. The municipal refuse removal, once provided as part of the all in service, and has been totally withdrawn, leaving the club with the duty of having to make plans to remove waste, rubble and garden refuse, from our Club.
3. Our major suppliers face their own logistical nightmares of providing the full supply and delivery system of the past and have become a little unreliable when it comes to delivering all their products requested timeously. This has resulted in last minute management techniques of having to continuously “beg, steal or borrow” vehicles or LDV’s to drive to places like major distribution hubs, to ensure uninterrupted supply of products to our Members.

With our large infrastructure of Members, we were wondering whether there were any Members, or their contacts, that could assist us in procuring of this LDV for Club usage…. This could take the form of a back to a back advertising agreement (whether it be prominent local signage, weekly adverts in our newsletter or eye catching signage on the side of the vehicle etc), a significant discounts, donations or even a gift.

If you are that person, or if you know of such a person, please contact Rod Scheepers, our Club GM, or send him the details of the contact whom could be of assistance, who will then get the process rolling.

Yours in Sport,  Laurence Brown  – Chairman – Benoni Northern Sports Club

Ethan ( Football ) drew the Six of Spades. Joker Draw a turnover at
R90 237.00 for Friday 25th October. Be present to win!!

“At The North” – R.W.C Specials – Duration of the Games:
All Beer Quarts – R 25.00 each
1 x Dble Brandy/Rum & Coke – R 30.00
2 x Dble Brandy/Rum & Coke – R 50.00
1 x Tray (12) Tequila/Jagermeister – R 170.00

Reminder – Online Entries are open
https://www.entrytime.com/event-details/?EventId=6077

Please bring along the whole family for our fun filled event

Our Bridge Section will be entering a Team namely Bridie Bullen-Smith, Paul van der Wal, Bill Willis and Clyde Mallinson representing Benoni Northerns in the upcoming Nationals. This team recently won the Gauteng Clubs Team 4 Tournament. We wish you all the best of luck

Awesome 10 wicket win by Benoni Northerns Women’s Cricket against a very much developing Wattville cricket Team. Well Done Ladies! Madison Landsman taking 4 wickets for 0 runs!!! And a quickfire 24 off 9 to finish the game!

Week 2 saw a host of exciting tennis matches at Benoni Northerns – including the Premier Division match between Levey & Masakane!