Exciting Start to the 2023 St David's Marist Inanda Summer Festival
The long weekend kicked off with a bang as the 2023 St David's Marist Inanda Festival got underway on Thursday. The opening day saw thrilling U15 and U18 basketball matches in the #InandaHoops Classic Challenge basketball tournament, sponsored by PHAROAH AUTO, as well as U12 and U14 water polo games in the Inanda Cup tournaments. The action was non-stop, and there was no shortage of highlights to kick off this exciting event.
Basketball Action
Inanda Hoops, now in its sixth edition, featured a staggering 32 teams, making it one of the biggest school tournaments on the calendar. With games spanning four days, this tournament is a true test of stamina and skill, offering participating teams a chance to prepare for next year.
On the first day of U18 basketball games, the hosts, St David's Marist Inanda, made a powerful statement by defeating St Andrew's of Grahamstown 55-33 in their opening match. Other notable results from the opening round included King Edward's impressive 43-26 win over St Peter's and St Benedict's dominant 59-33 victory against Parktown. However, the upset of the day came from Michael Mount, who beat St Stithians 38-36.
Here are the U18 basketball results:
- St David's 55, St Andrew's 44
- St John's 47, St John's B 14
- King Edward 43, St Peter's 26
- Jeppe 31, Soweto Academy 27
- St Benedict's 59, Parktown 33
- Michael Mount 38, St Stithians 36
- Inanda Invitation 36, Sacred Heart 30
- Hilton 36, King's School Linbro Park 31
The U15 games were equally competitive, with standout performances from St Stithians (63-31 against Jeppe) and St John's (57-44 vs St Benedict's), setting the stage for exciting knockout stages on Sunday.
Here are the U15 basketball results:
- St John's 57, St Benedict's 44
- Hilton 32, St.Peter's 26
- St Stithians 63, Jeppe 31
- St John's 34, Redhill 20
- St Alban's 40, St David's 37
- Michael Mount 33, Sacred Heart 24
- Parktown 31, KES 28
Water Polo Thrills
Running concurrently with the basketball, the Inanda Cup water polo tournament featured two sections: a high schools U14 tournament and an U11/U12 tournament for primary school "stayers" teams. St Stithians emerged as the team to beat, with their prep school side defeating The Ridge 10-2 and their U14s securing a convincing 7-0 win against St Peter's.
Results from the water polo tournaments:
- Prep Schools – St. Peter’s 14, Clydesdale 1
- St David’s 7, KEPS 1
- St John’s 7, St. Benedict’s 4
- St Stithians 10, The Ridge 2
- U14s – St. Stithians 7, St Peter’s 0
- St Alban’s 5, Pretoria Boys’ High 4
- Affies 8, Jeppe 1
- St John’s 8, St David’s 3
- St Peter’s 4, Pretoria Boys’ High 4
Cricket Excitement Awaits
The prep schools cricket tournament, set to begin on Friday afternoon and conclude on Saturday, promises intense 10-over-a-side matches. Six primary schools and a team from the Temba Bavuma Foundation will compete in this fast-paced cricket format. Each team will play six pool games and a classification playoff game over the two days.
Despite the scorching weather, the St David's campus buzzed with activity, noise, and vibrant colours. The event's sponsor, Pharoah Auto Investments, showcased their fantastic cars, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to the sport. With three more days of thrilling competition ahead, the young athletes will need to dig deep to emerge victorious on Sunday.
Stay tuned for more updates as the 2023 St David's Marist Inanda Festival unfolds. It's an event that promises excitement, talent, and sportsmanship. Join us for the next couple of days and witness the action firsthand – you won't be disappointed!
