If there is a better cricket union in South Africa than Northerns, they would have to prove it to the hundreds of guests who atten­ded the Northerns Cricket Union’s annual awards ceremony last week.
At the event, the union’s best players, administrators and referees were honoured for their achievements in the 2015/16 cricket season.
Jacques Faul, CEO of the Northerns Cricket Union, made it clear early on that other unions would struggle to match their achievements when he announced that Northerns was officially ranked as the number one affiliate by Cricket South Africa.

Except for the fact that Northerns’ professional team, the Titans, won two of the three local series, the amateur side also won the inaugural Africa T20 Cup, while the Tuks team was by far the country’s top club team.
The team won almost every trophy that a South African club could win, locally and overseas. If the prizes that were handed out at the event were taken into account, it could certainly be deduced that club and schools cricket in the province were basically sound.
In his speech, John Wright, president of Northerns Cricket, called the schools division “one of the strongest affiliated cricket sub-sections in the country”.
He also said only a small group of prize recipients did not personally attend the function, indicating how loyal cricketers in Pretoria are to their union.
Altogether 33 prizes were awarded to schools players while club players have won about 40 prizes.
Then there were also the awards to admi­nistrators, referees and provincial players.
After everyone had their moment of glory, the guests socialised in the presidential suite at SuperSport Park.