Port Elizabeth
Wednesday 10th August 2013 Third Day
“It is not over until the fat lady sings” – well the 2013 Investec Jarvis interprovincial men’s A section will be down to the wire on Friday 12th July. Defending champions, Western Province, which on paper had a really powerful line-up before losing the services of mercurial Shaun le Roux with a calf injury in the first game of the first match on Monday, now trail last year’s runner-up Kwazulu Natal by 6 points after 3 rounds in Port Elizabeth.
Led by Cameron Pilley, Western Province had little difficulty in disposing of Northerns 19-5 but Kwazulu Natal, winners in 2008, 2010 and 2011 had an equally easy 20-2 win over Border.
For the third successive day Olli Tuiminen , the SACD number 1, was involved in a tough five setter: this time against “borrowed” Central Gautenger, Eddie Charlton . Tuominen, who has registered wins this week against top twenty players, Steve Coppinger and Cameron Pilley, won through 11-5 11-13 5-11 11-3 11-8 to register SACD’s sole victory against Central Gauteng.
In the Kaplan Cup Western Province, spearheaded by Denmark’s Line Hansen and Siyoli Waters, with 54 points have a commanding 22 point lead over Central Gauteng,
which is lying second on the log at present. The coastal team registered an easy 20-4 win over Northerns with Hansen beating former Western Province player, Milnay Louw 11-9 11-2 11-8.
In an interesting tussle Waters’ experience stood her in good stead as she lost the first game 8-11 against Pretoria University medical student Senade Haupt, then scraped through the second game 18-16 before taking command to pocket the next two games 11-7 11-8.
Central Gauteng had a fairly easy 17-5 win against SACD. In the number 1 slot, Emma Beddoes cantered through her match against Lauren Siddall 11-8 11-3 11-3.
In the third clash, home province, Eastern Province won 15-6 : 3 matches to 2 against Kwazulu Natal. Once again the twins, Elani and Lume proved their value as they coasted through in straight games against Julie Lee and Anne Chalmers respectively : Anlen Murray clinched the third win with an easy 11-6 11-3 11-1 victory over Kim Stewart. Sam Herbert , a national selector, fought back for Kwazulu Natal defeating Jacqui Ryder in 4 games and England’s Lauren Briggs beat Lizelle Goosen to notch the second win.
The race for second position is really hotting up with only 4 points separating the next 4 teams with only 2 rounds to go : Central Gauteng 32, SACD 31, Eastern Province 30 and Northerns 29. Kwazulu Natal are languishing on 24.
Western Province are also dominating the B women’s section. Having registered 3 full houses and on 78 points, they have walked away with the Red Pool, 22 points ahead of second placed SACD. Western Province now meets Midlands A , the second placed team in the Blue Pool in Thursday’s cross over play-offs. SACD clash with Blue Pool’s winners Eastern Province, who dominated their pool in similar fashion with 3 full houses and an 18 to collect 78 points- 19 points ahead of Midlands.
