Ruhan Pretorius joins Woodvale as club confirms second big signing of winter

The Ballygomartin Road side, who only returned to the NCU Premier League in 2020 after a decade-long absence, have confirmed that Pretorius has joined his former Waringstown team-mate James Hall at Woodvale for the 2020 season.

Pretorius became available last month when he was surprisingly released from his contract after four seasons at North Down.

Woodvale spokesman Wayne Horwood said the club moved for Pretorius once the deal for overseas target Pat Botha fell through and it became clear that Pretorius was available.

“Ruhan has great statistics in NCU cricket, he is known to James Hall from their time together at Waringstown. Most significantly, we got a very positive reference from North Down on Ruhan’s work ethic, his coaching of the club children, developing programmes and outreach.

“Woodvale are wanting to accelerate outreach, we are starting under-11 and under-13 teams this year and having Ruhan available in early April for this is fantastic.”

Pretorius, who first came to the NCU in 2015 when he enjoyed a highly-successful season with Waringstown, is living in Northern Ireland full-time as he closes in on Irish qualification.

The 29-year-old is already a regular for the Northern Knights and Horwood says Woodvale are confident they can help him towards realising his international dreams with Ireland.

“We hope Woodvale can provide Ruhan with the platform to achieve his own cricketing goals with the Knights and Ireland and we hope his style of play encourages a new batch of youngsters at Woodvale over the coming years.”

Pretorius, who told the News Letter last month that he was “angry and upset” by North Down’s decision to terminate his contract, has now secured his future.

The all-rounder was a popular figure at Comber, hitting over 4,000 runs and taking over 100 wickets, culminating in North Down winning the Robinson Services League Cup in September

Pretorius said: “I want to thank Wayne Horwood and Tim Browne for all their efforts in bringing me to the club and I’m looking forward to my new adventure with Woodvale. I wish North Down all the best, I really enjoyed my time with the club.”

Woodvale can now look forward to the mouth-watering prospect of Pretorius being reunited with Hall next summer.

The two dovetailed perfectly during the 2015 summer at The Lawn, when Waringstown ultimately lifted a Premier League and Irish Cup double.

Hall and Pretorius were two of the most influential figures in that success, with the latter hitting two centuries in Waringstown’s run to the Irish Cup final and clubbing six sixes in a single over against Clontarf.

Meanwhile, the Northern Cricket Union offered its condolences to the family of Raymond Hunter, the former Ireland international whose death was announced on Thursday.

“All in the Northern Cricket Union were saddened to learn of the passing of former Irish International and Lurgan CC stalwart Raymond Hunter.

“The President, Chairman, Board and staff offer their sincere condolences to Raymond’s family circle.”

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