Cricket, Sport Results

Start of Cricket Season – UHS vs Pearson

Friday, 31 August
UHS 1st XI (T20): UHS won by 7 wickets
On Friday the 1st XI got their season under way playing a T20 against Pearson. Union won the toss and sent Pearson in to bat. The bowlers immediately found their straps with maintaining a perfect line and length and put Pearson under pressure from the get go, striking with two quick wickets. The Union boys continued to build great pressure with the ball and had Pearson struggling at 76/5 after 17 overs. Unfortunately they were unable to capitalize on all their opportunities, which allowed Pearson to reach a total of 125 in their 20 overs. Pick of the bowlers were Matt Harpur finishing with figures of 3/22 and Brett Amsterdam 2/18 off their allotted 4 overs respectively.  Union went in to bat and got off to a perfect start with a wonderful 36 run opening partnership between Brett Amsterdam and Luke Mc Naughton. Despite losing both openers in one over Matt Harpur and Cowan Swartz showed great maturity and batted with tremendous intent putting together a very well-played 56 run partnership, which then allowed Bowen Langmead to come in and play a blistering innings of 19 to take us across the line winning the game by 7 wickets. Special mention must be made of Matt Harpur who had a wonderful all round performance and finished on 50 not out with the bat.

Best bowling figures:  Matt Harpur 3/22 in 4 overs;  Brett Amsterdam 2/18 in 4 overs
Best batting scores:  Matt Harpur 50 not out;  Luke Mc Naughton 25;  Bowen Langmead 19 not out

Saturday, 1 September
UHS XI  (50 overs):  lost by 8 wickets
On Saturday the 1st XI took on Pearson again in a 50 over match. Pearson won the toss and sent Union in to bat. Despite being full of confidence after their performance the previous day Union were unable to carry on where they left off with the bat. They were met with some wonderful accurate bowling and were never allowed to put any substantial partnerships together after the well grinded 40 run partnership between Brett Amsterdam and Matt Harpur. Union continued to lose wickets at regular intervals and could only manage a less than modest 108 all out.

Pearson went in to bat and Union immediately found their line and length striking in the very first over. They continued to bowl with great accuracy and were able to keep Pearson under pressure, however missed some chances which allowed Pearson to knuckle down and with little scoreboard pressure they were able to manage Union’s score with only two wickets down winning the match by 8 wickets.

Best batting scores:  Brett Amsterdam 25;  Cowan Swartz 15
Best bowling figures:  Cowan Swartz 2/34 in 8 overs

Despite the loss the Union boys must be commended for the way in which they played their cricket this weekend and even when their backs were against the wall they never gave up and maintained a positive approach to the game. All in all it was a great start to the season.

2nd Team (50 overs):  lost by 181 runs
Pearson batted first and scored 239 for 5 in 40 overs. Sintu Nkosinkulu took 2 wickets for 39 in 8 overs. Union replied with 58 all out.  Union lost by 181 runs.

U/15A Team
Union batted first and scored 51 all out in 22 overs. Pearson replied with 52 without loss.
Union lost by 10 wickets.  U/15A (50 overs):  lost by 10 wickets

Bulletin

Union Celebrates Arbor Day

Union Celebrates Arbor Day

Union High School celebrated Arbor Week on Monday 3 September. At an outdoor assembly, three Grade 9 learners led the devotion and spoke about the tree that was planted, the White Stinkwood Celtis Africana unVumvu, Witstinkhout.

Arbor Day originated in 1872 in the United States territory of Nebraska. Mr J. Sterling Morton, a newcomer to the treeless plains of Nebraska, was a keen proponent of the beauty and benefit of trees. He persuaded the local agricultural board to set aside a day for planting trees and through his position as editor of Nebraska’s first newspaper, encouraged participation in the event by publishing articles on the value of trees for soil protection, fruit, shade and building.

Mr Morton’s home, known as Arbor Lodge, was a testament to his love for trees and so inspired the name of the holiday; Arbor Day. Within two decades Arbor Day was celebrated in every US State and territory, and eventually spread around the world. The tradition continues annually in the second week of August, in global acknowledgment of Mr. Morton’s slogan, “other holidays repose upon the past; Arbor Day proposes for the future.”

In South Africa, Arbor Day was first celebrated in 1983. The event captured the imagination of people who recognized the need for raising awareness of the value of trees in our society. As sources of building material, food, medicine, and simple scenic beauty, trees play a vital role in the health and well-being of our communities. Collective enthusiasm for the importance of this issue in South Africa inspired the national government, in 1999, to extend the celebration of Arbor Day to National Arbor Week. From 1 to 7 September every year, schools, businesses and organizations are encouraged to participate in community “greening” events to improve the health and beauty of the local environment and propose a green future for South Africa.

The bible reading was read by Thando Matotie who chose Luke 6 verses 43-45.
A Tree and Its Fruit
43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Hlumisa Kalipa then led the assembly in prayer, and Michael-Joe Newton spoke about the White Stinkwood and why it is an appropriate tree to plant at our school. This indigenous deciduous tree grows up to 7-12m and is frost tolerant and hardy. It attracts many birds like rameron pigeons, willow warblers, black-eyed bulbuls, mousebirds and crested barbets which feed on the fruits and disperse the seeds. This tree is a haven for insects. The root system is not aggressive.

The tree was planted on the pavement outside of the Bruce Maree Gates in Caledon Street and will add tremendous value to our campus and will bring joy to many for years to come.

Sport Results

Cycling

On Saturday, 1 September, three Union High learners took part in the Angora Classic held in Jansenville.
James Potgieter came 3rd in his age group, finishing his 25km mountain bike race in 1:20:05. Keanu Nel also finished 3rd in his group with 1:37:35 and Megan Nel did a 10km race in 1:27:45, finishing in first position in her age group.