GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - SWD Cricket has announced the Garden Route Badgers team that will take on seven other sides at the 2024 CSA Rural Coastal Week in Saldanha. The team includes KPH news editor Blake Linder, as well as Darryl Damons from Plettenberg Bay, as the only two cricketers from Knysna/Plett in the side.
The team was selected following a round of trials held at the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn on 6 and 7 January, where SWD Cricket invited the best club cricketers to take part in trials.
While the focus was on the development of young prospects within the SWD Cricket club structures, selectors still opted to bring in some healthy experience, including three players with first class experience - Mark Andrianatos, Leroi Bredenkamp and Rhupino Plaatjies.
It is fitting that two of the three will lead the side, with Bredenkamp taking on the captain's duties while Plaatjies will serve as his deputy.
The 2024 CSA Rural Coastal Week will be hosted by Boland in Saldanha from 19 to 22 February, and the Garden Route Badgers will be hoping to one-up their last Rural result.
Darryl Damons
In 2022, when SWD played host to the tournament, they managed to reach the final where they ultimately lost to this year's hosts, Boland.
They will be under the stewardship of head coach Pieter Stuurman and assistant coach Ranwill Claassen this year.
A total of eight teams will take part in the tournament, with EP Grahamstown, EP Midlands, Border Aloes, Border Country, Border Villages and Kei all participating in addition to SWD and Boland.
The Rural team will now take part in various training sessions and warm-up matches to prepare for the week.
The players selected are:
Mark Andrianatos (George), Randy Wesso (Pacaltsdorp United), Bradley Carolus (Pacaltsdorp United), Jermaine le Kay (Harlequins Forces), Anoxolo Kitshini (Thembalethu), LeRoi Bredenkamp (Pacaltsdorp United, captain), Tyrique Wessels (Union Stars), Franco Geldenhuys (Pacaltsdorp United), Darryl Damons (Plett Pioneers), Rhupino Plaatjies (Harlequins Forces, vice-captain), Yamkela Xakani (Union Stars), Ricardo Majolla (Pacaltsdorp United) and Blake Linder (Knysna Cavaliers).
Geon Burns (Sussex), Ravin-Lee Kemies (Sussex) and Jeandré van Wyk (Union Stars) are the three non-travelling reserves.
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