Eastern Province delivered a commanding performance, North West cemented promotion and Northern Cape celebrated double success in the penultimate round of the SA Mid-Amateur Inter-Provincial at Elements Private Golf Reserve on Thursday.

A-SECTION

Western Province effectively has two hands on the trophy, but Eastern Province are also smiling after dishing out two hidings to safe-guard their hard-earned A-Section status.

The 2019 B-Section winners racked up 10 points against Ekurhuleni and beat KwaZulu-Natal an 8.5 – 3.5 to surge to fifth in the log with 5 points. EP will be able to put their feet up and enjoy their rest day with their stay in the top tier guaranteed for 2022.

After scoring a clean sweep against Ekurhuleni and leading the coastal side 2.5 – 1.5 in the foursomes, Dillon Germshuys claimed first blood for EP in the afternoon session.

Germshuys, a major contributor to the EP’s B-Section victory in the premier SA IPT at San Lameer, routed Jan McDermot from KZN 6 & 4 and Ekurhuleni’s Clinton Stoltz 5 & 4 and Michael Holden, Ryno Ferreiram and Gerhard Trytsman all won both ways to keep the momentum going.

Andile Adam halved his game with Chris Zietsman, North West No 1 Michael Bezuidenhout won 4 & 3 and Hugo Maritz halved with John Barnes to take their tally against KZN to 8.5.

Adam then beat Etienne Karsten 1-up, Maritz won 5 & 4 and Gerhard Trystman handed No 2 Darren Holder by the same margin to drive the final nail in Ekurhuleni’s coffin.

Central Gauteng went up against a feisty Free State team, returning to action after their compulsory rest day, and the Lions were made to work for their 7 – 5 result.

Meanwhile KwaZulu-Natal also ran out a win over Ekurhuleni, taking the match 7 – 5.

The win pushed the Roses to the bottom of the log, but just half a game point separates the teams. If Ekurhuleni beats Free State on the final day and KZN lose to the Lions, the relegation battle could go down to game points.

Friday’s final round won’t be a formality for the 2021 winners, either.

Western Province, topping the log with 10 points, will be gunning for a sixth successive win when the face defending champions Gauteng North to finish the week in Limpopo unbeaten.

 

B-SECTION

North West kept their winning streak going, Northern Cape came out guns blazing and Border celebrated their first victory of the week.

North West delivered another powerful performance to mow down Limpopo 9.5 – 2.5 to take their tally to 10 points. With an unattainable 4-point lead, the side will also be looking to end the week unbeaten when they tackle Mpumalanga in the final round.

Northern Cape, meanwhile, dispatched Border 7.5 – 4.5 and Mpumalanga 8 – 4 to jump the fifth in the standings. The side goes up against the host union on Friday.

Border, who has a final round bye, edged Mpumalanga 6.5 – 5.5 in a tightly-contested battle

 

Day 4 Results

 

A-SECTION

Eastern Province 10 – Ekurhuleni 2

Eastern Province 8.5 – KwaZulu-Natal 3.5

KwaZulu-Natal 7 – Ekurhuleni 5

Central Gauteng 7 – Free State 5

 

A-SECTION LOG

(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)

1 Western Province (5, 5, 0, 0, 10, 41.5)

2 Central Gauteng (5, 3, 1, 1, 7, 32.5)

3 Gauteng North (5, 3, 0, 2, 6, 34.5)

4 Free State (5, 3, 0, 2, 6, 33.5)

5 Eastern Province (6, 2, 1, 3, 5, 37.5)

6 KwaZulu-Natal (5, 1, 0, 4, 2, 18.5)

7 Ekurhuleni (5, 0, 0, 5, 0, 18)

 

B-SECTION

North West 9.5 – Limpopo 2.5

Northern Cape 7.5 – Border 4.5

Northern Cape 8 – Mpumalanga 4

Border 6.5 – Mpumalanga 5.5

 

B-SECTION LOG

(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)

1 North West (5, 5, 0, 0, 10, 44)

2 Boland (5, 3, 0, 2, 6, 34.5)

3 Southern Cape (5, 2, 2, 1, 6, 33.5)

4 Mpumalanga (5, 2, 1, 2, 5, 29.5)

5 Northern Cape (5, 2, 0, 3, 4, 25.5)

6 Limpopo (5, 1, 1, 3, 3, 26.5)

7 Border (6, 1, 0, 5, 2, 22.5)