The Northern Cape Bowls team is set to defend their title at the Bowls SA Under-30 Inter Districts Tournament. Seen from left are: Skipper Raymond Hardiman, Kieran Kelly, and Driaan van Niekerk. Picture: Supplied
THE NORTHERN Cape Bowls Under-30 team is set to defend their title at the highly-anticipated Bowls South Africa Under-30 Inter Districts Tournament, taking place from September 21 to 24 at the Maritzburg West Bowling Club in Pietermaritzburg.
As reigning champions, the NC team is eager to maintain their winning streak and prove their dominance in this prestigious event.
Returning to the team are key players Driaan van Niekerk and Charl Labuschagne, who both played instrumental roles in last year’s victory.
This duo’s experience is invaluable, particularly as the team navigates changes in its line-up. The squad will be without their previous lead, LeRoux Fourie, who has aged out of the Under-30 category after his final tournament in 2023.
However, LeRoux's position will be filled by Kieran Kelly, a rising talent on the provincial bowling scene. Kelly’s back-to-back wins in the Northern Cape Bowls (NCB) Under-30 Masters in 2022 and 2023 have made him a standout player to watch.
In addition to Fourie’s departure, the team will also be missing CP Mathewson, who is set to represent Bowls South Africa at the African States Tournament in Botswana during the same period.
Stepping into Mathewson’s role as skipper is Raymond Hardiman, whose leadership and strategic play are expected to bolster the team’s performance in their quest for back-to-back championship titles.
This year, the Northern Cape will once again field two teams.
Their B team, which gained valuable experience last year, is coming back stronger with hopes of making a significant impact. And with players like Dian Cilliers, Japie Steyn, Danie Herholdt, and Andrei Matthee the team remains confident, and their hunger for success mirrors that of the A team, despite the fact that Dian is new to the squad.
The DFA spoke to Kieran Kelly who expressed his excitement about competing in the Under-30s, saying, “It’s been a long-time goal of mine to play alongside some of my teammates in this competition. The level of competition will help me push my skills further, and I’m eager to see how we stack up.”
Kieran also acknowledged the challenges of balancing practice time, stating, “We’re all hoping to bring back gold for the Northern Cape for the third time, but also to create new friendships and camaraderie with players from other provinces.” He also credited teammate Driaan van Niekerk for helping him maximise his training on the greens.
Van Niekerk also shared his thoughts on representing the Northern Cape once again, emphasising the honour and responsibility it carries.
“It’s always a massive privilege to represent your province, and the district places a lot of trust in you to perform well,” he told the DFA.
Van Niekerk noted the difficulties of preparing for the tournament, with most of the greens in Kimberley closed for maintenance during this period. However, the team managed to secure the one open green at Kimberley Town Bowling Club, allowing them to practise 2-3 times a week leading up to the event.
He also highlighted the importance of mental resilience this year, saying, “There’s no flying under the radar as defending champions.
“Every district is going to come at us hard, and how we handle that pressure will determine our success. We’ll need to be at the top of our game again, but the mental side of things will be crucial this year.”
Charl Labuschagne echoed the sentiments of his teammates, emphasising the team’s determination to defend their title.
“We’ve been putting in the work behind the scenes, practising during the week and fitting in games over the weekends. Our goal is simple: we want to win. We have the drive and the hunger to go out and fight for it.”
With both the A- and B-Teams set for the challenge, the NCB Under-30 squad is eager to take on the competition at the Maritzburg West Bowling Club this weekend.
As the defending champions, all eyes will be on them as they aim to bring the title back to the Northern Cape for the second consecutive year. The tournament promises to be a thrilling test of skill, strategy, and mental toughness for all participants involved.
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