Defending champions Cape Fruit SA Country Districts A and Northerns A remained on a collision course for the top honours as they both collected victories on the second day of the Growthpoint Jarvis-Kaplan interprovincial squash tournament in Gqeberha on Tuesday.
The SACD side, after dropping one match on Monday, moved into top gear with a clean sweep against Western Province A to move to 38 points after two rounds.
It was another clinical performance by JP Brits’ team and a clear indication that it will take a massive effort to stop them winning the Jarvis Cup trophy for the fifth year in a row.
The skilful Northerns side, though, may have something to say about that after they successfully negotiated a tricky hurdle in neighbours Joburg Squash A, winning 17-8.
John Anderson gave Joburg Squash the perfect start with a solid 3-0 win over Judah Phillips, but
Northerns were soon back in business, although not without some real effort.
Joburg No 4 Ethan Robinson fought all the way before going down 3-1 to Connor Earl, 15-13 in the fourth game.
Then followed another match which went down to the wire, with Northerns again taking the spoils as Nikhil Pather outlasted Amukelani Zitha by winning the decider 11-3.
Northerns No 2 Jarrod Cousins was able to manage the trickery of Christo Potgieter, who showed his skill to win the third game but, in the end, was not able to get one across his younger opponent.
That wrapped up the five winning points for Northerns and Damian Groenewald finished off the match with a 3-1 over Joburg rival Tristen Worth.
In the women’s Kaplan Cup, the Cape Fruit SA Country Districts A side laid down their challenge when they outplayed hosts Eastern Province, winning four of the five matches.
Only EP No 1 Hayley Ward could win for her team as SACD continued their impressive form to make it two wins out of two. They did not drop a game in the matches they won and that’s a sign of their depth, and puts them on track for a shot at regaining the title.
Northerns A also confirmed their credentials as they moved past a spirited Border team, winning all five matches but receiving some tough competition on the way.
Border’s Kelly Emslie picked up one game against Lara Patrick and her colleague at No 5, Hayley Wyer, became involved in a humdinger with Northerns opponent Elzandri Janse van Rensburg.
Three of the games reached 10-10 but it was the young Northerns player who held her composure under intense pressure to win 3-2 by taking the decider 11-6.
Defending champions Western Province A bounced back after their opening day loss with a comfortable clean sweep against Joburg Squash A.
The results were:
Women’s Kaplan Cup
Cape Fruit SACD A bt EP A 17-3 (SACD first): Alexa Pienaar lost to Hayley Ward 3-0 (11-3 11-2 11-7), Lizelle Muller bt Jacqui Ryder 3-0 (11-5 11-9 11-3), Shelomi Truter bt Janet Byrnes 3-0 (11-4 11-2 11-3), Keschia Schlebusch bt Anlen Jarman 3-0 (11-7 11-9 11-4), Alouise Campher bt Bianca Keeley 3-0 (11-9 11-7 11-7).
WP A bt Joburg Squash A 20-0 (WP first): Alex Commins bt Teagan Russell 3-0 (13-11 11-4 11-3), Juanette le Roux bt Bongi Seroto 3-0 (11-9 11-4 11-6), Katie Mayhew bt Tyla-Mae Roux 3-0 (11-4 11-5 11-2), Nicole Gliddon bt Giorgia Dates 3-0 (11-6 11-4 11-6), Rebecca Glanvill bt Marcail Wragg 3-0 (11-1 11-2 11-4).
Northerns A bt Border A 20-3 (Northerns first): Helena Hudson bt Michele van Zyl 3-0 (11-5 11-6 11-8), Kim McDonald bt Sorika Tait 3-0 (14-12 12-10 11-5), Lara Patrick bt Kelly Emslie 3-1 (11-9 11-5 11-13 11-2), Jordin Phillips bt Kate van Biljon 3-0 (11-9 11-5 11-2), Elzandri Janse van Rensburg bt Hayley Wyer 3-2 (11-7 13-15, 10-12 13-11 11-6).
Log after round two: Northerns A 37, SACD A 36, WP A 24, EP A 23, Border A 6, Joburg Squash A 0.
Men’s Jarvis Cup
Northerns A bt Joburg Squash A 17-8 (Northerns A first): Damian Groenewald bt Tristen Worth 3-1 (11-7 11-6 5-11 11-8), Jarrod Cousins bt Christo Potgieter 3-1 (11-6 11-4 8-11 11-6), Judah Phillips lost to John Anderson 3-0 (11-7 11-4 11-3), Connor Earl bt Ethan Robinson 3-1 (11-6 13-11 3-11 15-13), Nikhil Pather bt Amukelani Zitha 3-2 (11-6 9-11 11-7 9-11 11-3).
EP A bt KZN A 17-4 (EP A first): Gerard Mitchell bt Daniel Smith 3-0 (11-2 11-3 11-4), Dean Venter bt Luke Bakke 3-0 (12-10 11-6 11-6), Jason le Roux lost to Justin de Neef 3-0 (11-8 11-8 11-6), Sips Mpini bt Robert Moody 3-0 (11-8 11-5 11-8), Gershwin Forbes bt Alex Holmes 3-1 (7-11 11-7 11-8 12-10).
Cape Fruit SACD A bt WP A 20-1 (SACD first): Dewald van Niekerk bt Devon Osborne 3-0 (11-4 11-4 11-1), JP Brits bt Mighael Lombard 3-0 (11-7 11-6 11-7), Reuel Videler bt Nathan van der Westhuyzen 3-1 (11-7 11-4 12-14 11-5), Rudi van Niekerk bt Murray Commins 3-0 (12-10 11-7 11-7), Jonty Matthys bt Justin van der Poel 3-0 (11-6 11-6 11-6).
Log after round two: Cape Fruit SACD A 38, Northerns A 34, Joburg Squash A 28, EP A 21, WP A 6, KZN A 8.
