Gauteng North, KZN in the driver’s seat at SA U-23 IPT

Gauteng North ensured their successive title defence at the South African U-23 Inter-Provincial Championship with another convincing performance, while KwaZulu-Natal survived an onslaught from Boland to keep control of the promotion battle at Royal Durban Country Club on Thursday.

A-SECTION

Gauteng North forged to a virtually unassailable lead after a 7 – 5 victory against Western Province.

The defending champions top the log with eight points and have a comfortable three point lead on Central Gauteng, who handed Ekurhuleni a 8.5 – 3.5 drubbing.

North West Province gained a valuable spot after defeating Limpopo 8.5 – 3.5.

The side moved to fifth in the standings, which leaves Limpopo to fight for A-Section survival on Friday.

B-SECTION

Log leaders KwaZulu-Natal survived a spirited attack from Boland and escaped with a 6.5 – 5.5 victory to keep their promotion bid on track.

The coastal side tops the standings with eighth points, but it was touch and go in the fourth round.

Boland held the coastal side to a 2-all draw in the foursomes and KwaZulu-Natal had a real battle on their hands early in singles.

Dylon Jacobs and Neswill Croy won the first two games for Boland, but Nishalin Nelson stemmed the bleeding when he halved with Christian Basson.

Gregory Mckay beat Barry Barnard 2 & 1, but Matt Saulez was beaten at the 18th by Herman Loubser.

Malcolm Mitchell collected another point for KZN when he defeated Joubert Spies 4 & 2, and Leorin Pillay and Clayton Mansfield added the two crucial points to hand KZN a one point victory.

KZN are two points clear of Southern Cape, who continued their ascendancy with a 7 – 5 victory over Mpumalanga and will be spoiling for a fight in the final round.

Meanwhile Free State emerged victorious against Eastern Province, winning the match 6.5 – 5.5.

A-SECTION LOG
(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)
1 Gauteng North (4, 4, 0, 0, 8, 32.0)
2 Central Gauteng (4, 2, 1, 1, 5, 27.0)
3 Ekurhuleni (4, 2, 1, 1, 5, 25.0)
4 Western Province (4, 1, 2, 1, 4, 23.5)
5 North West Province (4, 1, 0, 3, 2, 20.0)
6 Limpopo (4, 0, 0, 4, 0, 16.5)

B-SECTION LOG
(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)
1 KwaZulu-Natal (4, 4, 0, 0, 8, 34.0)
2 Southern Cape (4, 3, 0, 1, 6, 26.5)
3 Boland (4, 2, 0, 2, 4, 27.0)
4 Free State (4, 2, 0, 2, 4, 20.5)
5 Eastern Province (4, 1, 0, 3, 2, 22.5)
6 Mpumalanga (4, 0, 0, 4, 0, 13.5)

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