Squash | Northerns Hold Off Eastern Province In Growthpoint Squash Thriller

Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa: In a match which showcased the passion and competitiveness of the Growthpoint Jarvis-Kaplan interprovincial squash tournament, Northerns A came through a searching examination to squeeze past Eastern Province (EP) A in their men’s fixture in Gqeberha on Wednesday, 09 July 2025.

JP Brits- Cape Fruit SA Country Districts No 2 JP Brits helped his team to maintain their unbeaten record when they defeated KwaZulu-Natal 20-1 on the third day of the Growthpoint Jarvis-Kaplan interprovincial squash tournament in Gqeberha on Wednesday, 09 July 2025

SACD teams in the hunt for provincial titles

This classic Jarvis clash went down to the wire, and it took all the energy and skill of Northerns No 1 Damian Groenewald to hold off a terrific effort by Gerard Mitchell after he had dropped the first game.

One of the country’s best players, Groenewald was relentless as he held his nerve to win 3-1 against a lively opponent, who left everything out on court as he tried to pull off what would have been a memorable victory.

Instead, the Northerns man sealed the deal to secure a thrilling 16-9 victory, keeping them in the hunt for the Jarvis Cup title.

With two days remaining, they have moved to 50 points, eight behind log leaders and four-time champions Cape Fruit SA County Districts (SACD) A, who continued to power their way through the draw, this time disposing of KwaZulu-Natal A without losing a game.

Although Thursday’s matches could alter things, it does seem to be boiling down to a showdown between SACD A and Northerns A in the final round on Friday.

EP may feel disappointed at the final outcome, but they must receive accolades in abundance for pushing Northerns all the way.

Excellent wins by Sips Mpini and Dean Venter meant there was not going to be an easy route to victory for Northerns as the No 1s took the court for the decider.

But finally, in front of a packed crowd, Groenewald underlined his class to secure the win.

Helena Hudson- Northerns No 1 Helena Hudson will have a key role to play as the log leaders battle for the women’s title when the Growthpoint Jarvis-Kaplan interprovincial squash tournament enters its penultimate day in Gqeberha on Thursday, 10 July 2025.

In the women’s Kaplan Cup, Northerns A and Cape Fruit SA Country Districts A remain locked in a battle for supremacy after decisive wins on Wednesday.

As the country’s prestigious team tournament moves into the business end, Northerns cruised past Joburg Squash 20-1 and the SACD outfit defeated defending champions Western Province A 17-3.

With two days remaining, just four points separate the two sides, while hosts Eastern Province A, who lost to SACD on Tuesday, put themselves back in the picture with a hard-earned win over Border A. EP’s 19 points from that encounter lifted them to 52 points overall, just one point behind SACD, while Northerns lead with 57 points.

The key matches will take place in the last two rounds, with EP facing Northerns on Thursday and then Northerns and SACD clashing in the final showdown on Friday. The host province will round off their programme with a tricky encounter against WP.

EP did not have it all their own way against their neighbours Border and could easily have gone down 2-0 after the first two matches.

From staring defeat in the face against EP No 3 Janet Byrnes, young Kelly Emslie saved several match points to level the tie by winning the fourth game 12-10 and then swept through the fifth 11-5 for an impressive win.

In the next match, Border No 4 Kate van Biljon led Anlen Jarman 2-1 before her experienced opponent showed tremendous resolve to hold on for a 3-2 result.

That lifted EP spirits, and the victory was completed by the skills of Bianca Keeley and Jacqui Ryder as they secured wins in straight games to give their team the major portion of the points on offer.

The results were:

Women’s Kaplan Cup

Northerns A bt Joburg Squash A 20-1 (Northerns A first): Helena Hudson w/o versus Teagan Russell, Kim McDonald bt Bongi Seroto 3-0 (11-2 11-3 11-4), Lara Patrick bt Tyla-Mae Roux 3-0 (11-3 11-5 11-2), Jordin Phillips bt Giorgia Dates 3-1 (11-4 8-11 11-3 11-4), Elzandri Janse van Rensburg bt Marcail Wragg 3-0 (11-1 11-3 11-2).

Cape Fruit SACD A bt WP A 17-3 (SACD A first): Alexa Pienaar lost to Alex Commins 3-0 (11-4 11-6 11-3), Lizelle Muller bt Juanette le Roux 3-0 (11-5 11-9 11-7), Shelomi Truter bt Katie Mayhew 3-0 (11-2 11-5 11-3), Keschia Schlebusch bt Nicole Gliddon 3-0 (11-9 11-6 11-8), Alouise Campher bt Rebecca Glanvill 3-0 (11-4 11-3 11-2).

EP A bt Border A 19-5 (EP A first): Hayley Ward bt Michele van Zyl 3-0 (11-3 11-5 11-1), Jacqui Ryder bt Sorika Tait 3-0 (12-10 11-8 11-9), Janet Byrnes lost to Kelly Emslie 3-2 (11-9 9-11 8-11 12-10 11-5), Anlen Jarman bt Kate van Biljon 3-2 (11-3 3-11 7-11 11-5 11-9), Bianca Keeley bt Hayley Wyer 3-0 (12-10 11-7 11-6).

Log after round three: Northerns A 57, SACD A 53, EP A 52, WP A 27, Border A 11, Joburg Squash A 1. 

Men’s Jarvis Cup

Northerns A bt EP A 16-9 (Northerns A first): Damian Groenewald bt Gerard Mitchell 3-1 (7-11 11-3 11-4 11-4), Jarrod Cousins lost to Dean Venter 3-1 (11-5 8-11 11-9 11-8), Judah Phillips bt Jason le Roux 3-1 (11-3 11-5 3-11 11-7), Connor Earl lost to Sips Mpini 3-1 (11-9 11-13 12-10 15-13), Nikhil Pather bt Gershwin Forbes 3-1 (11-9 5-11 11-2 11-6).

Joburg Squash A bt WP A 16-7 (Joburg Squash first): Tristen Worth bt Devon Osborne 3-0 (11-5 11-7 11-6), Christo Potgieter bt Mighael Lombard 3-1 (11-7 3-11 11-3 11-5), John Anderson bt Nathan van der Westhuysen 3-0 (11-9 11-7 11-5), Ethan Robinson lost to Murray Commins 3-2 (11-4 7-11 11-9 6-11 11-6), Amukelani Zitha lost to Justin van der Poel 3-0 (11-6 11-1 11-4).

Cape Fruit SACD A bt KZN A 20-0 (SACD A first): Dewald van Niekerk bt Daniel Smith 3-0 (11-9 11-4 11-1), JP Brits bt Luke Bakke 3-0 (11-7 11-5 11-8), Reuel Videler bt Justin de Neef 3-0 (11-6 11-3 11-8), Rudi van Niekerk bt Robert Moody 3-0 (11-9 11-4 11-3), Jonty Matthys bt Alex Holmes 3-0 (11-3 11-3 11-3).

Log after round three: Cape Fruit SACD A 58 Northerns A 50, Joburg Squash A 44, EP A 30, WP A 13, KZN A 8.