Club Champs – a memorable occasion

Wednesday, April 22, marked the start of the 2015 Momentum National Club Cricket Championships in Pretoria – a tournament that I have always wanted to report on and one that was incredibly enjoyable for me.

When Benoni Northerns Cricket Club’s (BNCC) Premier team qualified for their second Club Champs by virtue of winning the Eastern Premier League I made it clear from the outset that I would be up and down to the capital city to report on their matches.

I know it sounds biased, and perhaps it is a little bit one-sided from my part, but I have watched the Northerns Prems since I was a young lad (before I even harboured a goal to become a journalist) and when the team qualified for the tourney this year I simply had to get my hiney to Pretoria and get a taste of the country’s elite club cricket tournament.

What an excellent experience it was!

Anybody who knows me knows that I love Benoni wholeheartedly; however, it was just brilliant fun to visit the different cricket grounds and see the beauty up north.

The Benoni boys played three out of their five matches at the Irene Villagers Cricket Club (situated within the Irene Country Club) and I was left gobsmacked by the serenity and tranquility of this top-notch facility.

Sure, Benoni definitely does have some beautiful golf courses/country clubs, but a cricket field in the middle of a golf course?

Man, that’s cool!

Besides these new experiences alongside the field there was also some spectacular cricket to witness.

The team really flew the Easterns flag high, played their socks off and did not disappoint against some top quality opposition.

To win three out of their five matches (a new record for the club) was remarkable and considering that the lads lost to a tertiary institution club, in the University of Johannesburg (UJ), and put up a courageous fight against eventual winners Crusaders Cricket Club from Durban, the team can most certainly hold their heads up high.

You can’t go to a tournament like this and leave out the jolling aspect of the trip.

If there’s one thing I have learned over the years it is this: cricketers can party with the best of them and fines meetings can get a little bit crazy, so be careful when you are invited to these post-match celebrations future sports journos!

Overall, I can safely say that this experience will always be firmly etched in my memory.

LG

Other Club Champs articles/blogs:

Representing the region at club champs

Northerns open club champs with a win

Northerns defeated despite valiant chase

Northerns win second match at Club Champs

Three wins out of five at Club Champs

VIDEO BLOG: Sports journalist faces league-winning bowlers in the nets