OCTOBER 2005
SPORTS REPORT - October 2005
Tendeka is bugging me to produce a sports report for you and since Dave Grant has just poached my Form 4 history class from me for some last minute revision before their exam tomorrow, I will keep Tatu happy and see what I can come up with.
Water Polo
Pride of place this time round must go to our 1st water polo team for their achievements over the last few weeks. Those of you who know Falcon water polo will know how rarely we manage to beat CBC and the odd times that we do seem to be matches that don’t really count. For that reason it was wonderful to defeat them in the Hart Trophy to decide the best team in Matabeleland. That in itself was something to boast about since we haven’t had our name on that particular silver ware since 1991 but it pales into insignificance compared to the heroics of the following weekend when we hosted the Crusader Shield tournament here at Falcon.
I never knew it was possible to get excited about water polo. I’ll give credit for skill, fitness and so on to these underwater karate players but don’t expect me to enthuse about a sport, which isn’t particularly spectator friendly. After a day’s cricket, I dutifully went up to the pool for the match between Falcon and Prince Edward just to show willing. I, along with a good number of other Falcon staff who were there, little expected the excitement that followed. 4-1 down after the first chukka it looked like we were in for a real thrashing but the comeback in the second and third chukkas was amazing, not least because we knew this unexpected victory would put us in with a strong chance to claim that impressive shield. The match against St George’s on the Sunday morning was something of an anti-climax and to lose was disappointing but was narrow enough to hand us the Crusader Shield on goal difference. 1989 was the last time we saw that in Esigodini and that is a wonderful achievement for Forbes Douse and his team. It has certainly raised the profile of water polo in the College and will hopefully be inspiration for more great things to come.
A Zimbabwe schools team was selected at the tournament and Forbes Douse and Grant Beahan were chosen for that side. I believe one or two other Falcon boys were also in contention but will be unavailable for the tour later in the year. Nick Foley and Marius Marais were also chosen for the Zimbabwe U16 team. Well done to them all.
Full Crusader Shield results are posted elsewhere, I believe
Cricket
This past weekend Dave Grant (U19), Will Randle (U14) and myself (U16) were all selectors at the Zimbabwe Schools age-group trials held at St John’s College in Harare. Seven Falcon boys were also present in the 3 age-groups and we are delighted that all seven of them gained selection for their respective national teams. Paul Trethowan’s selection at U19 level was a particular triumph. He is the sort of player who never draws much attention to himself and yet has achieved a 1st XI bowling record, which stands comparison with any of our illustrious old boys. He has taken over 30 wickets this year, a notable target, and is currently 11th on the list of all time first eleven wicket takers at an average and strike rate which is a match for any. Four wickets against CBC on Saturday would put him into the top ten. Whether he manages that or not should not deflect from an outstanding 1st XI career.
Stevie Macheka and Cunningham Ncube found a place in the U16 team whilst Jono Brown, Torch Enwerem, Corey van Rensburg and Godwill Mamhiyo (as captain) all were chosen for the U14 side. We are delighted by their success and wish them all well on their various tours.
At school level we have had matches against CBC and Peterhouse. The 1st XI batting woes continue as they were, sadly, the only team that lost to CBC, nor could they score enough runs in the two matches against Peterhouse. Peterhouse, it has to be said, were largely too good for us but there were wins for the U14 A and U16 A teams.
Some notable achievements in these cricket matches are as follows :
U14
B : C Deary 76* vs CBC; A Ndabambi 46 and 4-18 vs CBC
U14 A : C van Rensburg 67* vs CBC and 69 vs Peterhouse
U15 B : J Black 74* vs CBC
U15 A : C Muzenda 4-29 vs Peterhouse
U16 B : T Bester 44 vs CBC and 4-76 vs Peterhouse; B Sibanda 4-30 vs
CBC and 43 vs PeterhouseU16 A : S Macheka 40 and 5-27 vs CBC, 4-30 vs
Peterhouse;
M James 68 and J Randle 64 vs Peterhouse
3rd XI : E Ndabambi 107* vs CBC
2nd XI : J Maritz 5-45 and 120* vs CBC; J Paterson 71 vs Peterhouse
1st XI : P Trethowan 4-53 vs CBC; J Maritz 68 vs Peterhouse
Basketball
More success to report here I am glad to say with the 1st team winning the Carvahlo Trophy against CBC and Petra. The U16 side maintains a 100% winning record. Hervey won the recent senior inter house basketball competition, beating Founders in the final
Tennis
Tennis has suffered from cancellation of matches and I really don’t have any up to date information to give you. Sorry!
Swimming
We hosted the Inter Schools Relay Gala here at Falcon. We have closed the gap on CBC but still can’t quite get past them. It will come! Impressive news, however, is that Grant Beahan, our swimming captain has been selected for the Zimbabwe men’s team at the short course world championships in Durban next month. Yet another fantastic sporting achievement by a Falcon boy.
Richard Harrison
17 Octoberr 2005