THE Western Province CC on Sunday held on to the John Faure Trophy at the 52nd Groot Drakenstein Games Club six-a-side tournament. This year’s tournament was held in memory of Alfie Cupido.

They met the Groot Drakenstein Invitation side in the final, a six that had formidable bowling strength with ex-provincial quickies Ian Kuiler, Jacques van Wyk and Mulligan George, backed up by spinner Frikkie Damon.

Western Province, having achieved a remarkable 105 in their first round game against Fish Hoek, including 66 by Kennie Kirkby in 16 balls, were kept down to 66 in the final.

Groot Drakenstein could not take full advantage of their bowlers’ success, being held back by two excellent overs by Dereck Mitchell and Siya Sibaya, who claimed three wickets for only 11 runs between themselves, leaving the target too high in spite of some lusty hitting by Cheslin van Rooyen.

The plate was won by Claremont CC who comfortably beat “Alfie’s Side” who came in as replacements for Brackenfell CC. Alain Cupido made some inroads against Claremont’s big score of 115, which had included some enormous sixes, but was eventually last man out, run out, with a long way to go.

Earlier Coronations lost to Groot Drakenstein in the Trophy semi-final and Paarl East lost to Western Province.

Alfie’s brother, Dr Joey Cupido, presented the prizes after he and the club had paid tribute to the memory of Alfie.

A good crowd stayed and enjoyed the after match aura as much as the entertainment on the field, where two areas of the grounds seemed to have a lot of fun, one holding the Western Province side and the large contingent of Cupido supporters, and the other, at the other end, the regular busload of Fish Hoek supporters who appear faithfully ever year.

In the women’s match Boland Invitation XI got 52 runs (Nel Strydom 23, Nica van Rensburg 18) for two wickets in their allowed 6 overs with Coronations 53 (Stacey Lackay 24, Moseline Daniels 23) for two wickets.