Rhodes University cricket season is off to an exciting and intensive start with the introduction of the Rhodes Internal Premier league (RIPL).
Rhodes University cricket season is off to an exciting and intensive start with the introduction of the Rhodes Internal Premier league (RIPL).
The RIPL is a 20/twenty cricket tournament that started in early September and has uplifted the enthusiasm for cricket at Rhodes University for both the players and spectators.
"Since I was in first year I have been desperate to play in an internal cricket event," says the founder of the RIPL, Dean McLuckie. The tournament was organised with the aim to "get people excited about cricket again". With over eight teams involved this is guarenteed and captains have been selected and asked to organise players, kit and sponsors. Off the pitch, there has not been an official tournament sponsor but many of the teams have been sponsored by local businesses.
The eight teams were divided into two pools through a draw and each team played against another in their respective pools, with the two top teams playing a semi-final. McLuckie hopes that next year they will be able to have all the teams play each other. "This year unfortunately, we were restricted due to the rugby season ending late," he said.
McLuckie hopes that the tournament will have a ripple effect on the Absa Rhodes Cricket club. The second team, the Rhodents, won their first two games against Port Alfred and Makana and the third team (Rats) are also on a winning streak, winning both their games against Willows and Sidbury cricket club. "It’s a colourful and exciting way of getting people involved and committed to the whole cricketing vibe," says McLuckie.
