The Return of the Newlands Faithful
Newlands Cricket Ground, Sunday December 18th 2022
There was a festive atmosphere to match the season on Sunday at Six Gun Grill Newlands, as the ground rocked to the cheers, applause and chirps of the returning home fans.
Adoring youngsters of all ages came to see their heroes in blue (and some in yellow too) as they enjoyed their day out in the sun. From the Oaks to the Railway Stand, the North to the South Pavilions, the Snake Pit to the Members Enclosure, the people had returned to the Home of Cricket.
The WP Media Team can now bring you exclusive photos and excerpts from interviews with the fans.
Club cricketers from the young to the old joined in the fun, thanks to an initiative from the WPCA. The fans were full of praise. Caitlin Wyngaard (WP Women’s cricketer and SA u19 non-traveling reserve for the upcoming World Cup) and her family are from the Somerset West Cricket Club. “Thank you to the WPCA for making this possible and having us all here. Great “Gees” (spirit, although you can’t quite capture what “gees” means in English!) and atmosphere backing our boys in blue”
Peninsula Cricket Club from Steenberg took up residence in the North Pavilion: “Ek geniet dit baie by die Krieket. Die Klub Krieket was uitgenooi deur Westelike Provinsie, die afrigters het al die junior krieket spelers gebring sodat hulle kan sien die werklikheid van krieket”
The CPL clubs were there in force: Angelo Yiatses from the West Coast Outlaws was under the Oaks and had this to say: “The CPL is here, we love being a part of the sport, we love supporting Province and seeing all the guys on the field, the sun, razz-mattaz, fun, excitement, family and all those good things. We love being here!”
Brent Jacobs and his son Malachi from the Hoerikwagga Bulls had a great day at the cricket: “We’re loving the cricket. All the youngsters are out in support today, and the club cricketers. It’s a fun day”
The WP Media Team conducted a snap survey (not independently audited) of enthusiastic young fans on the grass banks of the Oaks. They were asked who their favourite WP player is, and the most votes were cast for: George Linde. There were also votes for Daniel Smith, Wayne Parnell, Beuran Hendricks, Kyle Simmonds, Yaseen Vallie and Tony de Zorzi.
At the innings break, the Newlands Ground Staff’s beautifully prepared outfield saw many classic List A encounters unfold between Vikings, Phantoms, Bulls, Outlaws, Pirates, Patriots, Sixers and Dragons. The experts were there at pitch-side, giving their views, which ranged from “That one player, he should have been on the back foot” to the “Wow, he’s fast” (watching Nandré Burger warm up) to the ever-optimistic “They’re (WP) still in the game, they’ve got something to bowl at”
Isn’t it great to be back home again.
