Empangeni and Bay in final showdown

EMPANGENI Rugby Club and Richards Bay Rugby Club 1 (RBRC) will compete in the final of the Saturday 24 Over 8 Ball League on Saturday morning at the uMhlathuze Regional Sports Complex A field , after both teams managed to cross the line in their respective semi-final clashes at the weekend..

Close encounter

The first semi-final match played between RBRC 1 and Felixton at Addison Park came down to the second last over, with RBRC 1 claiming a 5 wicket victory.

Felixton batted first and put on a low score of 134 all out in their allotted 24 overs.

Felixton College pupil Sheldon Getkate was the glue that kept the Felixton innings together with his knock of 50 not out, with captain Guy Richardson contributing 25.

Bay stand-in captain Charl Groenewald worked spells with his spinning wizardry, ending with figures of 4/21 in 6.

With the pitch aiding the bowlers, the Bay found themselves wanting at 55/5.

But an 80 run partnership between Groenewald (43 not out) and Dale van der Merwe (37 not out) helped Richards Bay over the line in the 23rd over.

Wayne Ellor 3/14 in 5 and Clifford Dougherty 2/30 in 5 were the pick of the Felixton bowling attack.

High scoring

In the second semi-final between Empangeni Rugby Club and Brackenham at the uMhlathuze Regional Sports Complex, a total of 416 runs were scored.

Brackenham, who ended top of the log after the round robin stages, headed out to the middle of the concrete pitch first.

Brackenham put on 207/5, thanks to Traven Govender (54) and Errol Chetty (41 not out).

Spinner Stephan Joubert 2/35 in 6 was the pick of the Empangeni bowlers.

Empangeni reached 209/6 in the 23rd over, thanks to Joubert (107) smashing a ton.

Fellow uThungulu teammate Johnny Riekert contributed 30 with the willow in hand.

Owen Govender claimed two wickets for 41 in 6 overs.