A Cretchley cricket feast

KNYSNA NEWS - The six cricket fields at Sport at Backward Point have been a hive of activity over the past three weeks.

Making good use of the school holidays, the Cretchley Cricket Series was played at the facility near Totties Farm Kitchen, only a few kilometres outside Rheenendal.

The series kicked off on Heritage Day, 24 September, with 10 school teams donning their cricket whites for some action. The teams varied in age between U11 and U13, and included a few girl's teams.

On the second day all six of the fields were put to use with 12 teams in action, this time with the Knysna Villagers also playing on the main pitch at Abbottsfield A. The first weekend wrapped up with three matches on Sunday 26 September to bring to an end a successful Heritage Weekend.

De Wet Goedhals plays a ball onto the leg side.

A week later and the organisers were hard at work again. This time they hosted a special U13 festival that saw school teams from around the country travel to the heart of the Garden Route for a weekend of cricket action on 1, 2, and 3 October.

All six fields were in use on each day of the weekend as the area was abuzz with young cricketers.

Following the conclusion of the U13 fest, organisers had a day's break before they were back at it again with an U11 festival. This was also held over three days - from Tuesday to Thursday, 5 to 7 October. While not as many teams took part as in the U13 fest, each day still saw four of the fields hosting a match.

Elro Spies directs a fielder before bowling.

The U11 fest was followed by the final leg in the Cretchley Cricket Series - a weekend of games for U15 and U19 cricketers from Friday to Sunday, 8 to 10 October. While again not so many games were played, the weekend gave local youngsters the opportunity to prepare for the upcoming cricket season by playing against some fine young cricketers from the Cape. It also allowed for the Knysna Villagers to play a game against one of the U19 sides.

Matt Loone about to deliver a ball.