History beckons in the Fain Noordvaal final
For a second consecutive year, the Fain Noordvaal Series will crown a new champion.
In 2024, against the odds, Hoërskool Hans Moore, of Benoni, lifted the prestigious title for the first time in the school’s history.
On Saturday, the event’s surprise package, Hoërskool Dr Malan, will have a shot at a maiden title in the competition. The match will be played at St Alban’s College, in Pretoria.
Dokkies have waited 39 years but, at last, they’re through to the final for the first time since 1986, when the competition was known as the Administrators Trophy.
The Meyerton school has, however, never won the title. They went down to Polokwane’s Capricorn High in the 1986 final.
Their opponents in Saturday’s title game, the favoured and experienced Hoërskool Garsfontein, will be aiming to bring home the title for the first time since 2018, when they beat Hoërskool Waterkloof at Senwes Park, now known as the JB Marks Oval, in Potchefstroom.
Nevertheless, Garsies have qualified for a Noordvaal final for a fourth year in succession, with the u15s winning their age group title for three years on the trot, which means that all but one player in the Ysbere squad has lifted a Noordvaal trophy at some point.
Ironically, it’s Garsfontein’s most experienced player, Xander Venter, who has never laid hands on the elusive title.
Venter and Garsies’ batsmen have been in fine form leading up to the final. At the top of the order, Reuben van Zyl has been destructive, taking apart opposition bowling attacks while laying the foundation for his side’s successes.
His powerful onslaught in the semi-finals against Potchefstroom Gimnasium set the Ysbere on course to chase down 306 for victory with over 10 overs to spare. In the end, Garsfontein won by five wickets.
With a strong contingent of grade 12 learners playing their final game for the 1st XI on Saturday, the final takes on even greater significance for the Pretoria school.
A victory at St Alban’s would also seal an outstanding double in the Noordvaal region for Garsfontein as the Garsie Bere, the school’s 1st XV rugby side, won the SDC Noordvaal title at the end of August.
For Mr Leon Bantjes, that would be the cherry on top. The passionate Garsfontein Headmaster would love to see Venter and the 1st XI make the double a reality before Bantjes retires at the end of the year.
Despite carrying the label of underdogs, Dokkies are a dangerous opponent. They proved that in their previous two wins in the competition, including in a comfortable victory over Hoërskool Kempton Park in the semifinals a week ago.
Dr Malan also features some talented and experienced players. Luka Pretorius has been a leading performer for the side for a number of seasons already. However, in recent outings, it’s been Damian du Plessis and his batting form making headlines.
In the past two matches, Du Plessis has contributed 134 runs to Dr Malan’s victories. He poses a serious danger to Garsfontein’s title aspirations at the TC Mitchell Oval.
Dokkies’ old boys, umpire Marais Erasmus and Proteas men’s bowling coach, Piet Botha, will be keeping a close eye on proceedings on Saturday, hoping the boys from Meyerton pull off an upset victory and with that make history.
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