Good day to everyone

We appear to still be in the grip of summer in the last few days….we played hockey just after midday on Sunday and it felt like we were back in summer….as you all well know by now, I love summer weather, so I am an extremely happy fellow at present….long may it continue…

As I requested last week, we had an epic and bumper weekend at the North, with the weather to match….and starting off on Friday, the Night Market was a great success….with plenty of visitors and lots of new faces at our Joker draw which was great to see…my wife had the good fortune of being the one drawn to see if she could find the Joker…..but luck was definitely not on her side….as she drew the Ace of Hearts….which happened to be the back-up Members card….if she was a Member of the Club she would have instantly had 10% of the jackpot proceeds on her membership card (which was over R3000 on Friday night)…so no luck for her…but she has vowed to now become a social member!!.. this means that with the Joker still in hiding as the Jackpot rises up to R32323 for this week….interest is now starting to build up again and the numbers on Friday nights are beginning to grow….so please come through this week and try your luck…tickets still only cost R5 and are sold in the hall until about 19h20….with the draw taking place at 19h30….

The night market was very popular again and on the few occasions that I walked through, there were always people browsing and milling around….thanks for all the support…the next market will be on May 7, with the same operating times 17h00 to 22h00….the night market will then have a short winter break and reappear on the first Friday of September….

Saturday saw the official return of team sports to the North…with senior and junior soccer and senior hockey also making a welcome return….and although there was a late moving of hockey fixtures, as the Astro was declared unplayable, it was noted that on their return to the North, the Hockey Ladies appeared to enjoy the new cocktails on offer in the Craft bar, whilst their fines and antics were most amusing…. the Men were back in top form on Sunday, looking as fresh as fresh as daisies from their massive break because of COVID….

The soccer boys made their return to the North on Saturday…..and they must have been most chuffed to see that there were lots of people who had turned up to not watch (we are still not allowed spectators for soccer matches)….. and the reserves (who admittedly were a few key players short on the day with injury) seemed to freeze a little and did not play to their true potential….going down three two to the league leaders Robertsham….we remain in second place on the log….three points behind the side who beat them on Saturday….the first side had no such problems, playing quality football….and despite playing majority of the second stanza with only 10 players (one of our boys being sent off for two yellow card offences) we were able to achieve a feat that hasn’t been done too often in recent history….beating the mighty Robertsham…..scoring a brace of goals and keeping a clean sheet in return….very well done to the lads…. A super result…. keep on going…. we are now top of the league table, swopping league positions with Robertsham…..this week we are off to the Italian Club in Bedfordview to take on Olympia…. All the best chaps…

There was a final round of action for Junior cricket, with a mini tournament being played over the weekend on the B field…..that is now the end of the season for the cricketers until spring.

Our rugby players have had the go-ahead to play league matches again soon, so are hard at work at practices. We have not as yet had exact dates for the resumption of Juniors…but the moment we are told, I will let you know…also keep an eye on our social media platforms for up to the minute news….

Have a fantastic rest of the week…and I hope to see you all soon at the Club….if you are free on Friday afternoon, join me in the Scimitar….an old musician friend of ours is going to have a bit of an unplugged session…literally!!

*STOP PRESS*I do not have the final results of the Special General Meeting which was held last night….but it looked as if the Members were happy with the items that were proposed, namely the sports shop, a coffee shop and the action sports arena….I will have the final results of the voting next week…

Take care and stay safe…
Cheers Rod