Lots to choose from when deciding on a
highlight of the week gone by.
The Boks hammering the All Blacks, of
course – dare we hope? And that ovation for Siya Kolisi from the crowd.
The last gasp win by Rondebosch over
Bishops in a Cape Town Southern suburbs derby that lived up to that description;
watching KES and Jeppe draw 1-1 on the main rugby field at KES – and remembering
that when we first tried to introduce football at Joburg schools, KES refused
and, if the story’s correct, soccer balls were once totally banned on the
so-called Reds field; Garsfontein’s Noordvaal trophy win over EG Jansen – their
first since 2016 – with Monument winning the U14 and 15 finals and Helpmekaar
the U16, showing that recruitment is alive and well the in Golden Lions Schools; and
the news that Rand Park High came within four points of Northcliff at the Joburg
co-ed schools athletics interhigh – seriously threatening that 26-year unbeaten
run.
But, for me, it’s been the drawing of
circles around the frost-bleached fields around town, ignoring the lanes marked
out and the fading touch and try lines – cricket season is here. It’s been a
long, cold winter and we felt this weekend that it isn’t over yet, but I have
faith that come next Thursday, when 12 of the top schools descend on St David’s
Marist Inanda, the weather will turn and we can settle down to a different kind
of excitement.
And the St David’s Fasken festival is
different. The teams play two games each, with two days set aside for each. It’s
time cricket. Which means its not limited overs. The captains are expected to
declare and set targets, if their side isn’t bowled out, just like in Test cricket.
This is the fourth time the format is
being used – the man behind it is former provincial coach Dave Nosworthy – and the
idea is to teach the boys a whole bunch of new skills, cricketing and other. I
love the idea, and so do a lot of school coaches – there’s a waiting list of teams
wanting to be invited.
So, the World Cup’s coming and rugby
will be occupying our minds, but the great game – that’s what St David’s headmaster Mike Thiel calls it, seeing
that football has appropriated the name the “beautiful game” – will be what I’ll
be watching next weekend.
The
fixtures for the St David’s Fasken Festival are:
September 2 and 3 – Jeppe vs Paul Roos
(Gier Oval, St David’s), St David’s vs Lions (La Valla Oval, St David’s), KES
vs Clifton (La Rosey Oval, St David’s), St Stithians vs St Andrew’s (Dlamini
Oval, St Stithians), St John’s vs Maritzburg College (Mc Gregor Oval, St
David’s), Noordheuwel vs Waterkloof (Baytop Oval, St Stithians).
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