Senior School Sport  & Extra-Curricula Activities 

• From the Senior School Sportsmaster
• Rugby
• Senior Football
• SPX Tennis Championship
• ISA Tennis
• Winter Squash
• Cross Country
• Strength and Conditioning 
• Senior Chess
• CSDA Debating 

From the Senior School Sportsmaster

As we conclude Term 1, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of so many in making sure our boys have had the opportunity to be involved in sport so far in 2022.  It has not been easy navigating the COVID landscape combined with the unprecedented weather events, although I really do feel that the College Sports Community has had every chance to be involved in sport this term.

Looking forward to Term 2 Winter sport, at present, we are facing a full season for the first time in 2 years.  Preparations have been ongoing for some time now and our grading processes are nearly complete for the ISA (Independent Sporting Association) competitions. 

We have a full round of fixtures for Tennis, Rugby and Football commencing on 30 April.

All boys should by now have the prerequisite uniform for their sports.  All uniform is available from the Uniform Shop. 

For our Football Development Internal Competition all boys are welcome to wear the full SPX Football strip.  However, this is not compulsory, our development sides can wear their SPX House colour shirts if they choose along with their navy shorts.

All boys should now have the necessary safety equipment for their sports. This should be worn for both training and playing. 

Over the break we have a Rugby Camp at Oxford Falls on 21 and 22 April run by Mike Cross and his Trytime team.  I would encourage all boys to attend this camp.  The rugby boys really do need to maintain their rugby fitness over the 2 week break in preparation for Term 2 competition.  It is not too late to sign up for this Camp.

Our 1st XI is heading away on tour this Sunday to Queensland to play in the EREA Cup held in Brisbane. We wish them well in the College's first interstate venture in 12 months. In addition, we wish the Junior School rugby boys well in their trip to Armidale.

Looking forward to July holidays our 1st XV Tour to the Gold Coast is moving forward with accommodation and flights booked for 4 to 9 July. The squad will be selected in May. We are also working with Coerver to organise an SPX Football Development Camp during the July holidays.

In the meantime, stay safe and enjoy the break.

Mr Matt Stearn - Senior School Sportsmaster

Rugby 

Results Saturday 2 April

Please see the full weekend report attached.

Holiday Rugby Clinic

The annual Easter Holiday Clinic will take place on Thursday and Friday 21 and 22 April.  A bus travelling to Oxford Falls each day will depart Archer Street, outside Our Lady of Dolours Church at 9.00 am and return to Anderson Street, Chatswood by 3.15 pm.  The clinic will commence at 9.30 am for those heading directly to Oxford Falls.  To register for the clinic please use the Trybooking link below.

Rugby Registration – NOW OPEN!!

All Year 7-12 students wishing to play rugby are required to be registered to be included in a team.  There are no trials or grading days, all students of different abilities can find a home within the SPX Rugby Program.

You have three options when registering:

1. 2022 Rugby Season Registration + Two Day April School Holiday Clinic: $240 (cost includes season registration & access to rugby specific physio during the season + specialist coaching, transport and lunch at the April Holiday Clinic held on 21 and 22 April 2022).
2. 2022 Rugby Season Registration Only: $150 (cost includes season registration & access to rugby specific physio during the season).
3. 2022 Holiday Clinic Registration Only: $90. (Junior School only)

To register, simply follow the Trybooking link below:

Mr Martin Gillogly - Senior Rugby Convenor

Rugby Referees wanted

Any existing referees who are Smart Rugby compliant and hold a current Level 1 accreditation who wish to assist with officiating home games this season, please contact me.  I am also happy to hear from any parents or older old boy siblings who may be interested in becoming referees and I can commence you on a pathway towards your accreditation.  Our first home game is next term on Saturday 30 April vs Sydney Grammar. Please contact me via email (sdisano@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au).  

Mr Sam Di Sano - Rugby Referees Coordinator

Senior Football 

It was a shame that no football was able to be played on the weekend, but it was a necessary decision for player safety. Training will recommence on Wednesday 27 April, with Round 1 of games starting on 30 April. Times and venues for fixtures will always be published in that week’s Woodchatta.

For players looking to develop their skills over the break, our coaching partners, Coerver football are running holiday camps, flyer attached.

Good luck to our College 1st XI who travel to Queensland in the Easter Holidays to defend their EREA National Cup.

Mr Simon Yue - Senior Football Convenor.

SPX Tennis Championship

Last weekend saw the SPX Tennis Championships, an internal tournament for our tennis players. We saw some impressive game play in the round-robin style competition with some very close and exciting games.

Ultimately, the following boys saw victory:

Group 1 Nick Tozer

Group 2: Yuri Kim

Group 3: Boston Bannister

Group 4: Adam Fitrzyk

Group 5: Matthew Lee

Thank you to Ms Barwick, Mr Lee, Thomas Ryan (Year 11), Thomas Fong (Year 12) and Jamie Todd (Year 12) for helping throughout the day.

Ms Veronica Bamber - ISA Tennis Convenor

ISA Tennis 

Term 2 Week 1 welcomes the beginning of the 2022 ISA Season. Please see the training timetable below and the draw for the first game on April 30. 

Students will be notified of their divisions and their rank through the ISA Tennis CANVAS page at the conclusion of this week. 

A reminder that we now have tennis shirts available at the uniform shop.  These must be worn with the current College Navy PE shorts and the tennis cap.

Mrs Veronica Bamber - ISA Tennis Convenor

Winter Squash

 Winter Squash training commences in the first week of Term 2 - Wednesday 27 April. All players need to be ready with their equipment to meet at the mini buses straight after school.

Mr Justin Varjavandi - Winter Squash Convenor

Cross Country

Cross-Country training continues each week for all of Term 1 and into Term 2. Join coaches Matthew North and Dominic Panozzo, for fun, varied and challenging sessions. Great to see healthy numbers from across the whole school in attendance, getting fit and honing their race skills.

When: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings

Where: Beauchamp Park, Chatswood 

Time: 7.15 am – 8.15 am 

Who: All Senior and Junior School students in Yrs 5-12

Meet at the Beauchamp Oval Grandstand in comfortable running gear and with a water bottle. Bring your school uniform to change into afterwards back at The College.

You don’t have to aspire to run in the ISA or IPSHA Carnivals - all students and abilities welcome.

Internal Cross-Country Events:

These are scheduled as part of Triple PE lessons at Oxford Falls. With high absenteeism at present there will be some make-ups for those who miss out.

Run to Cure:

Good luck to the SPX students who have signed up to run for this great non-profit charity (Neuroblastoma Australia) on 3 April in the Domain. 

If anyone is interested in running, they can register for the school challenge and St Pius X is already in the system to select. The 5km option is the one most are taking on. Great preparation for the upcoming IPSHA and ISA Cross-Country events.

https://run2cure.org.au/

Mr Greg Virgona - Athletics and Cross Country Convenor

Senior Chess

Chess training continues on Monday afternoons in D1 - 4 “the Blue Room” at 3.30 pm - 4.30 pm. 

Ms Denise Ramsey and Ms Janelle Dempsey - Chess Convenors

CSDA Debating Competition 

The CSDA Debating Competition runs through Term 2 on the following evenings.  Please note the dates in Term 2 have been moved back one week. 

All debaters will need to meet at the clock after our Sports Assembly every Friday.

There is NO Debate training this Friday.

We will have a full practice debate in Week 1, Term 2.

Names are marked off at each training session and attendance will contribute to team selection.

NO STUDENTS can leave the school site before 5.30 pm when training concludes.

Our senior students act as coaches/supporters for our junior teams.  We are also lucky enough to have ex-students to work with the junior teams as the younger students really enjoy contact with our ex-debating “champions”.

The fee for the CSDA extra-curricular activity is $150.00 which will be included in your Term Two school fees. We keep our fees as low as possible and receive funding from the St Pius X College P & F to subsidise the costs of running debating at SPX.  

Our coaches for 2022 are:

Mr Ryan Balboa - Year 12

Mr Luke McManus - Year 11

Ms Natasha Foley - Year 10

Ms Leigha Zervakos - Year 9

Mr Angelo Fernando - Year 8

Mr Joshua Jones - Year 7

Mrs Michele Waterson - Debating and Public Speaking Convenor