The Scimitar 19 Sep 2018
BNSC NEWSLETTER
A stunning good morning to everyone…
Looking outside, the change in my surroundings is amazing….the oak trees that line the avenue to the Tennis Club…have changed from stark and austere winter tree skeletons into beautiful creatures of Spring…..filled with their early vivid green foliage…a transformation that I did not expect to see a couple of weeks ago…considering that we have not had too much rain to assist with the movement from one season to another…also the field that we have been top dressing has already started to show their new green shoots visible above the drab brown covering that we have applied and it has been subjected to for the last week or so…the change we are experiencing is remarkable and most welcome….the weather has improved….even the weather forecasters are saying that we are entering a “heat wave”…. a crazy comparison to the weather we had at the hockey prize-giving a mere then days ago….. but a happier camper you won’t find….I will remain a summer lover….braai’s, swimming, sunshine and water makes everything a little brighter for me….
Onto the news from the North over the weekend….
Friday saw the start of the weekend…with a bit of a twist…the Junior Cricketers, who have been dormant for the last six months or so, arrived in numbers for their first practice of the season…and we had a beer garden full of excited parents…with their off spring even more excited at the prospect of playing Club cricket….welcome to all the children and their parents…to another successful season with us…to any new parents and boys….welcome and I hope that you feel at home here with us….if you don’t think things are going according to your plan…please send me a message on the email address listed below….
As usual on Friday we had all of our draws for both the Members and the Raffles….no Member winners…but the Raffle winners always love having their names drawn from the barrel…and so 19h30 inexorably arrived…with Jos van Rykel being most impressed at having his name magically appear from the beeeg black box…. he strode meaningfully to the cabinet to make his choice….but again….his luck remained the same as all the other contestants from this draw…his choice being the four of diamonds….so this will leave the next draw with an improved chance of finding the elusive joker…this week our Jackpot has increased to R75 345…get yourself up to the North this Friday…it could just be your name being drawn as the person to find our Joker….
Cedz and Tryst ensured that our patrons in the Scimitar were entertained to the fullest…..his bass player brought out an electronic cello…and what a performance they put on for everyone….an epic evening of rock music to savour….this week we bring back birthday boy Ryno to rock us away…all because of the North 7 day rule…we will be able to ensure that celebrates his special day in style…again….see you all on Friday…
Saturday was always going to going to be an epic adventure…a day to remember and one for the memory banks…and it turned out to be exactly that….if you didn’t join us, bad luck!!….you missed out on a massive party….(for those who frequented the Club in my youth….SImba Sosatie made his appearance and didn’t leave until the wee hours of the morning…in true Simba style!!),,,the day started with a shock (but most satisfying Bok win early in the morning)…. I think the All Black supporters are still trying to compare the stats to the result….almost 75% possession and territory…one quarter of the successful tackles made….more tries than the opposition….but you still land up on the losing side… I think this game epitomised Springbok spirit for me….it seemed like the fire, that has been extinguished for many year….found a spark….and slowly but surely there was someone to feed with tinder and twigs until we had a blazing inferno of passion…which was remarkable to behold….it almost felt that I could feel the heat and intensity of the fire in the Bok hearts, so many miles away…what a great result…a warming of the cockles of my heart….and next time I will again be wearing our beloved Bok jersey….shouting louder than I ever have before…well done Bokke!!
Our next item on the agenda was the Beer Mile….what a fantastic day…well done to Mike Veliotes, Chris Tucker and their band of helpers….it was one of those memorable days…fun, laughter, running, more running and some beer consumption…(okay I stretch the truth a little…) a lot of beer consumption…. the concept is a simple one…drink beer…run and repeat four times….but as all those that participated soon found out…beer does not sit well in the tummy after a quick chug-a-lug….it sort of remains at the top of the tummy or base of the throat…waiting for the quickest and most effective way to leave your body…..and it is really uncomfortable to run any sort of distance with that bouncing around inside….despite all of this however…we had plenty of competitors and a large band of spectators and well wishers….egging their friends and colleagues on…to greater heights…the festive atmosphere was electric and with all the smiles and happy faces spelt a really spectacular afternoon…thank you to everyone for their support…it is greatly appreciated…
The Soccer boys had a bag of mixed results….but both matches were thrilling affairs….the First side coming out on the wrong side of a five goal thriller….it was end to end stuff….with Northerns at one point leading 2-0….but the league champions showed why they are the Champions…by clawing their way back and then edging the win near the death….that means we remain in 5th place and with the season now a thing of the past, we can be well pleased with our side….they had a disappointing start to their campaign….but with the team ethic and commitment, we were able to finish off successfully….ending up with 7 wins in a row before defeat in the final match…so well done to coach Jannie and his merry band….another solid league result…top 5 and we remain above the club “down the road”, which is another satisfactory result….the second side was a really tense affair…..a ding-dong battle…as we only needed to draw to grab the league title…and we had beaten them ten days before in the Cup semi-final….so it was definitely going to be a needle match….the crowd was also having their fair share of “oohs” and “aaahs”….some near misses…a little show-boating….and the inevitable dive or two…bringing the crowd instantaneously to their feet. voicing their outrage at the officials and opposition or to express their satisfaction of the local heroes….we had a goal here…another there….and as the time drew to an end…and the score was locked at 2-2….both sides missed some opportunities….but suffice to say…that Fish and his boys held on for the draw and the league title…whoop! whoop!…congratulations to Darren and his young squad…they showed some massive maturity and finesse when the chips were stacked against you….of course this is great news for the Club….as with our strong Colts section and the second team also having a youthful edge, the longevity of our Soccer Club is ensured….Well done once again…..the seconds still have Cup Final to play in before their season is over….I will keep you informed of the where’s and when’s…to ensure that we have a massive support base for the final….please watch this space…
Saturday evening slowly but surely was reduced to a blur…as all the hockey girls returned for their Easterns prize giving….after another great day of mash-up hockey…which was another resounding success….
The beer garden had its fair share of “war-stories” to relate…whether it was from the Mash-up, Beer Mile or the Soccer tussle from the day….but it was the perfect ending to a great day…balmy weather…happy faces…and piles of alcohol to wash down all the stories…
So it is totsiens for today….please remember that we have a loooong weekend ahead of us….with heritage day being celebrated….this seems to have been hijacked into Braai day….so I hope that our Members will make use of the Club to have their own Braai day…please pop in…you’re all most welcome….
Please take the time out to tell me if you think we’re getting things right or wrong…by sending an email to me at rod.scheepers@gmail.com…. take care…
Cheers…have a happy long weekend
Rod
Jos Van Rykel (Guest) drew the 4 of Spades. Joker a turnover at R75345.00 for Friday 21st September. Be there to win it!!
2018 Beer Mile Challenge participants (Exec. inclusive) – memorable day…fun, laughter, running, more running and some beer consumption
ATHLETICS
BASEBALL
Feathers in the caps for Benoni Northerns Indians baseball players. Benoni Northerns Indians Ball Club had their annual senior baseball prize giving ceremony on September 7 following the recently concluded Gauteng winter season. The club ran four senior sides during winter which is, according to senior club chairman Grant Sayers, a good thing for the club. “It was a pretty good season for the club…
CRICKET
And the countdown has begun, look how awesome these boys look, ready for their Sri Lanka tour. 1 week to go and still a couple of Rands to go. We can do this!!!
Junior teams for the 2018/2019 season have been finalised. Find your junior teams for the 18/19 season: https://www.bncricket.co.za/junior-teams
FOOTBALL
2018 Beer Mile Challenge participants (Football. inclusive) – memorable day running and some beer consumption
U12 BNFC boys who made Easterns participating in the 2018 district tournament. 4 boys played in U12 Silver and 1 boy in U12 Blue. The U12 blue team won the tournament and the U12 Silver team finished 3rd. Well done to all our Northerns boys 
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⚽⚽The winning ELFA u19 Team comprised of 8 Benoni Northerns players.
* A big congratulations to our Benoni Northerns Colts Footballers who represented the Eastern Local Football Association u19 team last weekend at the inter LFA Provincial Tournament and were crowned Champions. We are very proud of you.
* Kwanda Sokutu, Benoni Northerns 1st team Seniors player and Colts player plus ELFA u19 Captain receiving the winners trophy from Easterns Chairman Bruce King and Rand Central Chairman Jimmy Backos.
* The u19 ELFA Team for 2018 was coached by Len Van Rooyen and Enrique Juanas-Uriol, our Benoni Northerns Colts coaches.
HOCKEY
RUGBY
