Saints U-15 cricket team ranked 1st in SA

The Saint Andrew’s Under-15A and first cricket teams are making big waves, with the Saints’ Colts ranked number one by SA Schools Sports in their Under-15 rankings, which came out recently, and the Saints’ 1st XI in seventh place in the country.
Saints has only 300 boys in the senior school, but is surrounded by far larger schools from throughout South Africa in the rankings.
The Under-15A team is coached by former Saints’ pupil Brendon Horwitz, who is now a teacher at the school. Commenting on his team’s high ranking, he said: “It’s about 11 guys who want to play cricket. They practise with purpose, so they can fulfil their potential every game. It’s hard work.”
In the past two years, the Saints’ Under-15A side has played almost 50 games and lost only twice.
Under 1999 head boy, Gregg Hobson, now a teacher at Saints too, says the 1st XI has been taking on and knocking off opposition from much bigger schools. It’s about being committed and working hard, he agreed. “There is no magic formula.”
Hobson, the Free State Cricket Union’s Coach of the Year, said depth in such a small school is a challenge, but teamwork has gotten the players far. He explained: “We have got it right among the first team and Under-15s, between myself and Brendon, by creating a culture where everyone is committed and where everyone is giving 100 percent.”
English superstar Joe Root, a Saint Andrew’s old boy, said on a visit to the school earlier this year: “I really enjoyed my time at the school and I am thrilled to hear that we are still punching above our weight.”
With strong support from their old boys’ community, Saints opened the Lindsay Tuckett High Performance Centre in September and work began on the installation of Pitchvision equipment, which is the world-leading standard for cricket analysis.
Headmaster Chris Thomas commented: “For me, cricket is important because it teaches kids to concentrate. It challenges them as individuals, but it also forces them to work as an integral part of a team. And it teaches you to win and lose, because you can score a hundred one day and nought the next day.”