NELSPRUIT, 19 May 2014 – The 2016 SA Country Districts Tournament will go down the wire as the two top teams in both sections will have to combat each other for glory in Friday’s final round at Nelspruit Country Club.
Lali Stander – North West cruised through their first three matched undefeated and will be rested and ready to rumble after their fourth round bye. They top the standings with six points and lead by one point from Boland, whose 2016 campaign ended with a 7.5 – 4.5 victory over Free State on Thursday.
But Mpumalanga still has a slight chance of stopping the North West Express from claiming the A-Section honours.
The defending champions moved to third in the log with four points after defeating Ekurhuleni 7.5 – 4.5. However, the side only has 25.5 games points, while North West has squirreled away 37 games points. That means the host union not only has to beat the 2013 champions in Friday’s final round battle, but they must score a clean sweep to amass the 12 points necessary to retain the title.
Meanwhile KwaZulu-Natal continued to chart a course for promotion in the B-Section.
The coastal side is the only unbeaten team left in this year’s competition after they sewed up an 8 – 4 victory over Northern Cape.
KwaZulu-Natal didn’t score a single point in 2013 and took their demotion on the chin. The lost out to Border in 2014 and to Free State last year. Their record in this year’s championship shows a determination to get the job done and KwaZulu-Natal will no doubt be shooting for a five-for-five result against Border on Friday.
They are in a similar position as North West, needing only half a point to win, but Border won’t go down without a fight.
After taking a hit from Northern Cape in the second round, Border retaliated to beat Eastern Province in the third round and downed a feisty Southern Cape 6.6 – 5.5 on Thursday.
“Two years ago, Border came from nowhere and pummelled the Garden Route side in the final round to gain promotion,” said KwaZulu-Natal manager Wynand de Swardt.
“We are definitely not taking the final match lightly. We will play Border the same way we played all our matches – with the same fight and commitment. But this year we aim to get the job done.”
A-SECTION ROUND FOUR RESULTS
Mpumalanga 7.5 vs Ekurhuleni 4.5
Foursomes:
Daniel / Clifford beat Di Bucci / De Abreu 3 & 2;
Zietsman / Wilken beat Gildenhuys / Joubert 2 & 1;
De Beer / Mare beat Hulme / Haasbroek 5 & 3;
Van der Merwe / Lessingh beat Gildenhuys / Olfsen 2 & 1;
Singles:
Ivan Mare beat Marco Di Bucci 4 & 3;
Ru-Jean Lessingh lost to Dino De Abreu 3 & 1;
Daniel James Clifford halved with Brandon Gildenhuys;
Chris Zietsman lost to Lawrence Joubert 2 & 1;
Gary Daniel lost to Sean Olfsen 3 & 2;
E Wilken lost to Burt Gildenhuys 4 & 3;
Christiaan De Beer beat Stefan Hulme 3 & 2;
Peetie van der Merwe beat Andrew Haasbroek 7 & 6;
Boland 7.5 vs Free State 4.5
Foursomes:
Botha / Swanepoel beat Froneman / Muller 4 & 3;
Conradie / Loubser beat Theron / Nel 2Up;
Jacobs / Rooi halved with Schutte / Erasmus;
Basson / Pieters beat Fourie / Swartz 2 & 1;
Singles:
Lauritz Loubser lost to Franco Froneman 2 & 1;
Coenraad Swanepoel beat Ge-Rico Muller 3 & 2;
J F Conradie beat Adriaan Sarel Nel 4 & 3;
Anton Pieters lost to Josef Fourie 1Down;
Cedric Rooi beat Almero Theron 2 & 1;
W.P. Botha lost to Lourens Erasmus 4 & 2;
Dylon Jacobs lost to Jacques Schutte 6 & 5;
Christian Basson beat Pieter Swartz 2 & 1;
A-SECTION LOG
(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)
1 North West (3, 3, 0, 0, 6, 27.0)
2 Boland (4, 2, 1, 1, 5, 25.5)
3 Mpumalanga (3, 2, 0, 1, 4, 19.5)
4 Ekurhuleni (3, 0, 1, 2, 1, 11.5)
5 Free State (3, 0, 0, 3, 0, 12.5)
B-SECTION ROUND FOUR RESULTS
Border 6.5 vs Southern Cape 5.5
Foursomes:
Thomas / Stotter lost to Faber / Barnard 6 & 5;
Ludick / Scharneck beat Welgemoed / Human 3 & 2;
Jonas / Ngantweni lost to de Lange / Geldenhuys 3 & 1;
Nel / du Preez lost to Steyn / Norgarb 2 & 1;
Singles:
Ian Thomas beat Stafie Barnard 1Up;
Charl Stotter halved with James Faber;
Fellow Ngantweni lost to Hans-Jurie Human 1Down;
Ben Jonas beat Marius de Lange 3 & 2;
Jarred Scharneck beat Werner Welgemoed 2 & 1;
Niel du Preez beat Ian Norgarb 3 & 2;
Pieter Nel beat Henk Geldenhuys 1Up;
Patrick Ludick lost to Lukas Cornelius Steyn 2 & 1;
Eastern Province 6 vs Limpopo 6
Foursomes:
Van der Bank / Manuel lost to Chandler / Wiggill 1Down;
Manuel / Olivier beat Mackays / Van der Walt 3 & 2;
Burger / Ludick lost to van Baalen / Hawken 3 & 2;
Qunta / Preston halved with Putter / Olley;
Singles:
Anthony Preston halved with Shaun Chandler;
Tiaan van der Bank lost to David Wiggill 3 & 2;
Johnny Ludick beat Jay Van der Walt 3 & 2;
Gregory Manuel halved with Edwin Mackays;
Rhalf Manuel lost to Antony Hawken 5 & 4;
Moolman Olivier beat Conrad van Baalen 2 & 1;
Attie Burger beat Franco Putter 4 & 2;
Eddie Qunta halved with Vincent Olley;
Kwazulu-Natal 8 vs Northern Cape 4
Foursomes:
Pienaar / Crous lost to Van Zyl / Kruis 1Down;
Baker / van Deventer halved with Jacobs / Marais;
Hillerman / Scullard beat Kori / Hugo 5 & 4;
Albertse / Smit halved with van der Walt / Kruger;
Singles:
Johan Pienaar lost to Gideon Kruis 3 & 1;
Ryno Crous lost to Darren Van Zyl 3 & 2;
Sean Baker beat Pieter Marais 2Up;
Jens Hillerman beat Nico (Jnr) Jacobs 2Up;
Corne van Deventer beat Stephanus Christiaan Hugo 5 & 4;
Derek Scullard beat Andries Kori 4 & 3;
Combrinck Smit beat NJ van der Walt 2 & 1;
Louis Albertse beat Daniel Kruger 3 & 2;
B-SECTION LOG
(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)
1 Kwazulu-Natal (4, 4, 0, 0, 8, 37.0)
2 Border (4, 3, 0, 1, 6, 25.5)
3 Northern Cape (4, 1, 2, 1, 4, 25.0)
4 Southern Cape (4, 1, 1, 2, 3, 22.5)
5 Limpopo (4, 0, 2, 2, 2, 18.5)
6 Eastern Province (4, 0, 1, 3, 1, 15.5)
