Four local Action Cricket teams recently represented the Lowveld in the 2018 interprovincial action cricket tournament in Sandton, Gauteng.

The teams, which were selected in four age categories from u/10 to u/13, competed in the interprovincial Action Cricket Little League Tournament in late June, followed by the junior tournament which concluded on July 1, in the Sandton Action Sports Arena.
They faced tough competition from the countries’ best sides, and came back with valuable experience to grow the sport even further in the Lowveld.

The u/10 team, consisting of Byron Buys, Carl Myburgh, Damion Nicholson (captain), Dian van Aarde, Ian van Rooyen, Jackson Steyn (vice-captain), Luan Siebrits, Reinhard Grobler, TJ Zulu, with coach, Phil Nicholson and manager, Carol Nicholson, won three from eight pool matches and lost against Western Gauteng in the Shield Final 122-82. Man of the match awards went to Lowveld players in four of the matches: Dian (twice), Jackson and TJ.

The u/11 team, consisting of Darius du Plessis, Francois Louw, Hennie Botha, Jason Knoetze (captain), Jovan van Vuuren, Liam Pringle, Nathan Williams, Waldemar Graham (vice-captain), and coach, Faan Louw and manager, Adéle Louw, won two from the nine pool matches, with man of the match awards going to Liam, Hennie and Jason.

The u/12s’ De Wet Erasmus (vice-captain), Hugo Liversage, Kent Terblanche, Kyle Saunders, Nathan Douglass, Nicholis Grobler, Tiaan van den Hoven (captain), Triston Kleynhans, Wian Pretorius, with coach, Thys van den Hoven and manager, Marcelle van den Hoven, won seven of their nine pool matches, but missed out on the Super Six teams by a narrow margin due to skin points.

They played against Western Gauteng in the plate final, which they lost 93-90 runs. Man of the match awards went to Lowveld players in seven of the matches: Hugo (twice), Tiaan(twice), De Wet, Kent and Nicholis. Hugo was also awarded the most spirited player of the tournament, showing great sportsmanship despite a facial injury in the plate final. Two of the u/12 players was selected into the SA u/12 All Star Side, Nicholas (12th overall) and Tiaan (6th overall).

Enrico Wallace, Jacques Erasmus, James Kay, Juano de Villiers, Justin van den Hoven (vice-captain), Luke Poisson (captain), Ruben Vorster, Wian du Plessis, coach Arno Gie and manager Jolanda Erasmus of the u/13 team, won two of their pool matches, with man of the match awards going to Ruben (twice), Justin and Enrico.
The Nelspruit Junior Club League games will start again in early August and they encourage new players to join in. The Nelspruit Club Champs will be held from December 7 to 9 when the Gauteng Teams travel here for some Lowveld Action.

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