Eden District Dominates Again at the SACD Tournament

Eden men’s captain Kirk Mendoza (left) along with coach Jason Slater (middle), and vice-captain John Spilhaus, who was also the Joint-Leading Goalscorer of the Tournament.

Over the years, Eden has established itself as a powerhouse at the men’s South African Country Districts (SACD) tournament, and this year was no exception as they clinched their 14th SACD title. Additionally, the Eden ladies team showcased their talent, finishing as runners-up and securing four spots in the SACD team. The tournaments took place earlier this month in White River and Middelburg, hosted by Mpumalanga.

Ladies’ Performance and Triumphs

The Eden ladies faced a challenging journey during the tournament, with eight newcomers making their SACD debut. Despite a rocky start, including two losses and a draw, they rallied and secured a spot in the semi-finals through a hard-fought win over Mpumalanga Highveld and a resounding victory against KZN Inland.

In a tense semi-final battle against Northern Gauteng, Eden triumphed 4-1 in the eight-second shootout to secure their place in the final. However, their ambitions for a third consecutive SACD title were thwarted by a formidable Limpopo team, who claimed gold with a 2-0 victory.

Despite the final outcome, the Eden ladies displayed an impressive performance throughout the tournament and were rightfully rewarded. Four players from their team—Marie-Louise Nel, who was also named the Goalkeeper of the Tournament, René Pitt, Aimee Cronje, and Alakhe Arosi—earned their place in the SACD side that will compete in the Senior Women’s Inter-provincial Tournament (IPT) later this year. Samantha Brender-A-Brandis was named as a non-travelling reserve, highlighting the depth of talent in the Eden squad.

Men’s Triumphs and Heroics

Similarly, the Eden men’s team featured several newcomers, with six debutants joining the squad for their tournament in White River. The men’s team had an excellent start, winning their first four matches with an impressive goal difference of +24. Their true test came in the final pool game against hosts Mpumalanga, where they secured a 2-2 draw to top the pool and advance to the semi-finals.

In the semi-finals, Eden demonstrated their dominance, defeating Limpopo 6-0 and securing their spot in the final against familiar foes, Mpumalanga. The final promised to be a thrilling encounter, and it lived up to expectations as both teams fought fiercely for victory.

Mpumalanga took the lead early on, but Eden’s Liam Garrett equalized in the 21st minute. The match remained intense, with Mpumalanga regaining the lead in the 37th minute. However, Eden displayed resilience, and Robbie Corker leveled the scores at 2-2 in the 47th minute. In a nail-biting finish, Eden earned a penalty corner with less than a minute to play. With the clock ticking down, Sean Slater scored the winning goal, securing a dramatic 3-2 victory for Eden and their 14th overall SACD title, their second consecutive win.

Eden’s vice-captain, John Spilhaus, showcased his scoring prowess throughout the tournament, netting an impressive 12 goals and finishing as the Joint-Leading Goal Scorer of the Tournament. Young talent Sean Slater’s exceptional performance earned him the well-deserved title of Young Player of the Tournament. Furthermore, Slater, along with Scott Mosterd and Gertian van der Linde, earned their place in the SACD men’s team.

Conclusion

Eden District has once again proven its mettle at the SACD tournament, with both the men’s and ladies’ teams putting on exceptional displays of skill and determination. Their achievements reflect the depth of talent and dedication within the district’s cricketing community. As they look ahead to the Senior Women’s IPT and continue to build on their successes, Eden remains a name synonymous with cricketing excellence in South Africa.

Source: Knysnaplettherald