The Scimitar 23 Oct 2018
BNSC NEWSLETTER
Good morning from a sunny but chilly office at the North
I’m not sure who was confused on the weekend…whether it was Mother Nature or myself….I look outside and saw a clear sunny day…put on shorts and went out for my walk…..and WOW! There was a bitingly cold wind whistling across the plains of the Highveld…People could have been forgiven for checking the calendar to see if was actually October….hopefully we don’t have to experience that fresh chilly wind again this summer (?!)….
Friday nights now mean cricket practice for some of our Junior members…whilst for some lucky others it is “Match Day”…playing night cricket, under lights attached with lots of excitement ….these little fellows energy and excitement is tangible….when I arrived at the Club, game time was near…there was our new acquisition rolling the pitch to the required standard…the parents were having a drink or two while preparing their braai’s….Moms were wrapping up the other siblings in the fear that they were getting cold…deck chairs were paced in strategic positions…to enable the spectators to see their favourite grand-child, son, brother or friend display their skills…. all the runs and wickets being enthusiastically applauded by the sizeable crowd….I think at the end of the day our Northerns side actually lost the game to Kempton….but I thought that each of those little fellows deserved to be on the winning side….for that night their dreams were fulfilled…they felt they were like their provincial and national hero’s…playing under floodlights with plenty of people watching…and they wanted to give of their best every second of the match….each one of them learned a lesson that night….I hope that every one of them will use the skills gained on the night, whether they be life or cricket lessons, to improve something about their circumstances…whether it was how to lose or win…bowl spin or at pace….hit the ball gleefully to the boundary or defend doggedly to ensure that he lived to face another ball….at the disappointment at losing your wicket…or the joy at taking one…..there was plenty of “food for thought” for players, coaches and spectators alike….
While the boys were fighting out the winner with bat and ball…our usual Friday night fare was continuing in the Club house….and we had a new name extracted from the beeeeeg black box….this week Megan Adams (a guest) had her name drawn…and she seemed overjoyed at the possibility of winning herself a sizeable sum of cash….unfortunately for her, the luck of the previous 20 0dd draws winners continued…. she chose a card near to the top, a little off centre to the right and….it turned out to be the eight of Diamonds….so another roll over!! And this means that the crowd have another chance for this week….there was, of course the normal rapturous applause and wolf whistles as the crowd realised…that their chance was still alive for the coming week…our jackpot this week climbs to R85572….and with 32 cards now left…it means that again the chances improve at finding the joker…come along to try your luck at finding our Joker…it is month end…just on R5 ticket will be enough for you to be the next lucky person to try your luck at finding our joker…and this week we welcome back Cedz and Tryst….who play some amazing rock classics and get everyone’s feet tapping… please come through to the Scimitar to support these great musicians….
Saturday started as a cool and overcast day…but the weather did improve as the day went on….with plenty of cricket being played…and also the soccer players contesting their postponed cup-finals from the last week….three of our younger sides were triumphant in their quest to be top of the pile…our under 6A’s, under 13 super league team….whilst the Colts team, who had already won their league….were made to sweat out their result…..finally taking it 5-4 on penalties…I spoke a coach from the side…and his nails were bitten down to the quick….so definitely nail biting stuff…a double is a very satisfying set of results for the season….well done lads….a reason to be very proud….
Our senior Soccer boys had their prize giving on Saturday….and from the sound of all the applause, laughing and shouting going on…it definitely appeared to be a great success…our heartiest congratulations to all the prize winners on a job well done…our Juniors also had their prize giving a little earlier….with all their achievers and stars were rewarded with trophies and other awards and rewards….my congratulations to you all….
On Sunday morning I awoke early and was a little dismayed to see heavily overcast skies…the clouds looked about to release the heavy loads that they were carrying back to the earth (my walk was put on hold for a while…but then I went out to brave the conditions….)….but as the morning progressed…the sun started to burn off the heavy cloud cover…and the cricketers started smiling as their matches began at the allotted times….our elite Premier side were playing Alberton….in what is always a keenly contested affair….and this week proved no exception to the rule….the visitors batted first…and despite some indifferent fielding, brilliant mixed with some most lackadaisical, Alberton set us a task of 249 in out 50 overs… the armchair specialists alongside the field thought that it was going to be a tough challenge…and that the few chances that were spilled had probably cost us 50 runs and that it was not going to be easy to chase…. our innings started…not a good beginning and within a short while we were just over 50 for 4….our skipper Kurt and Vaughan battened down the hatches and slowly got themselves playing some shots and built the score up steadily….only for Kurt to be trapped in front with 100 more to get…..and as the game moved on it ebbed and flowed….from one side to the other….the spectators on the side were getting anxious…and as we thought we were almost home and dry with 15 odd runs to get and still three wickets remaining….disaster struck…and the crowd were back on the edges of their collective seats….another 8 runs and then another wicket…we needed 6 with our last wicket remaining…nail biting stuff for all present….I think Coach Nick walked a furrow in the paving as he paced up and down….alternating between the depths of despair or yipping gleefully as more runs were added to our total….the target was always in sight…with our last two batsmen displaying caution and aggression in equal quantities…with the crown egging the boys on….finally we were able to conjure up the runs needed to secure a very tense but satisfying victory over a very game opposition…. my congratulations to both sides for an amazing game….it appeared to be played in the wonderful spirit and great stuff to our boys for pulling the proverbial rabbit out of the hat in securing that win…. keep up the momentum boys…
Hockey 5’s is back on the Astro on Sunday…..please support these guys in this exciting brand of hockey…it is fast and furious….with thrill a minute action guaranteed….
I cannot believe how this year has flown by…there are only 2 months left to Christmas for this year…if you think we’re doing okay at the Club…please let me know by dropping me a line to rod.scheepers @gmail.com …..If you have any complaints please send to the same address…
Have a great week…I’ll see you over the weekend at the beloved North
Cheers Rod
Megan Adams (Guest) drew the 8 of Diamonds. Joker Draw another turnover at R85572.00 for Friday 26th October. Be present to win it 🌭🍺🍻🥂
“TRYST” WILL BE ENTERTAINING US COME AND JOIN THE FUN from 18h00 on Friday 26th October.
Sunday 25th November 2018
Benoni Northerns Sports Grounds – 09h00 to 16h00.
ATHLETICS
Entries for #Comrades2019 to open on Friday, 19 October 2018. Watch this space!ComradesMarathon Marketing Manager, Thami Vilakazi said, ‘We are pleased to announce the opening date for entries for the 2019 event. More details to follow once we launch the 94th Comrades a week before entry opening.’
The wait is almost over! 2019 OMTOM Ultra Marathon entries open on 1 November 2018. Get ready to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the world’s most beautiful marathon.
For a number of years now there has been idle talk about organising a BNAC trip to an international marathon, though nothing yet has transpired. Rob Brons has taken the first step in making this happen. As this will, unfortunately, be an expensive trip we are trying to give everyone plenty of notice so if need be people can start saving. We are going to be going to the Athens Marathon in November 2019. The race is 10 November 2019. The projected dates are to leave South Africa on 08 November 2019 and leave Athens on 11 November 2019. If you are interested in this once in a lifetime opportunity please contact Robert Brons on 082 774 9997 or robertb@icon.co.za
BASEBALL
CRICKET
Please feel free to download the fixtures and follow your team on www.webcricket.co.za
FOOTBALL
The Benoni Northerns u19 SL team won the cup final today after a penalty shootout against Kempton Park FC. (5-4 after 1-1 in normal & extra time). Wow, mind boggling season, league and cup winners, all accolades belong to our players. So proud of these young men, only but ❤️😘 coaches Len, Marlon & Enrique.
Additional Football 2018 Season Accolades:- * U6 Div 1 – Cup Winners – Coach Steven Cook; * U13 SL – Cup Winners – Coach Trevor Xaba; * Super League Reserves – League Winners/Cup Runners Up – Darren Lee (aka Fish); * 4th Side – Div 2 Cup Winners – Coach Graham Gosling (aka Goose)
