Senior School Cocurricular Program 

• Fixtures 9 March
• Basketball
• Cricket
• Cross Country
• Football
• Public Speaking and Debating
• Rugby
• Senior Chess
• Squash
• NSTA Tennis

Fixtures 9 March

Basketball

Semi-Finals

Well done to all teams that travelled to Penrith and Cranebrook to play in the semi-finals last Saturday. There were some incredibly close games, with many finishing within 5 points. Congratulations to the following teams who won their semi-finals and will now be playing in the Finals this weekend: 

These teams will be joined by the 14E and 15C teams who had already qualified for the Finals, after finishing the season in 1st place. All Finals will be played back at Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre and St Paul’s Grammar School. Good luck to all finalists.

Finals

The following is information for finalists from the ISA:

• All fixtures, schools will need to provide bench officials. 
• All jewellery is to be removed prior to the fixture. 
• All players need to be in the same uniform. 
• No under garments (no t-shirts under playing singlet, no compressions garments visible unless prior medical clearance is provided to the Basketball Convenor).
• Seated on the benches should only be players and team officials (team officials should be identifiable eg. School polo shirt). 
• 13’s and 14’s no zone. 
• There are 2 Venues. 
  • PVRSC (Penrith Stadium) will have canteen facilities. 
  •  SPGS- Teams playing at St Pauls Grammar School, please note there will be no canteen facilities running. 

Year 7 2024 Basketball

The first week of the Year 7 ISA challenge saw 8 of our Year 7 teams travel to the Northern Beaches to play against St Augustine’s. Our teams competed well and showed off their skills in the first of 3 rounds.

This weekends games will be split between Dee Why PCYC and Oxford Falls. Please check team lists as some slight changes have been made.  Please be sure to show up to the correct venue, 15 minutes before the scheduled game time.

Changes to teams have been posted at school and sent via canvas/ clipboard/ email. 

Fixtures for Saturday 9 March

Fixtures for 16 March

Mr Danny Garrett - Basketball Convenor &

Mrs Joanne Schuster - Assistant Basketball Convenor

Cricket

Training

Monday – ISA (1st and 2nd XI) Squad.

Tuesday – U13 (Senior School) and U14.

Wednesday – ISA (1st and 2nd XI) Squad. 

Thursday – Junior School during sport. U15 and U17.

Bus departs OLD Church at 3:20 pm and returns to Anderson Street at approximately 5:30 pm. Players are to be attired in correct sport/cricket uniform. Training is compulsory and part of a cocurricular commitment. 

All training is facilitated by Cricket Appeal.   

1st & 2nd XI ARE INTO THE ISA FINAL!  

With two nail-biting semi-final wins both the 1st and 2nd XI will play for the ISA Division 1 and Division 2 Championships this weekend. Seven and a half months of training, trial matches, practise matches, and a tour and it all comes down to this weekend!   

1st XI v Oakhill College at Oakhill; and 

2nd XI v Oakhill College at Oxford Falls #1.      

ISA Division 1 Semi-final. 1st XI 170 (Lachlan Jurcevic 42 not out, Rohan Chang 30, Luke Austin 23, Patrick Frost 22) revised due to rain to 154 of 45 overs defeated St Patrick’s College 152 (Flynn Mansbridge 6-22) at St Patrick’s College.

A dramatic semi-final ended in a victory by two runs for the 1st XI against the previously undefeated St Patrick’s at Strathfield. With a revised total set due to the rain delay, the 1st XI captured 5 wickets for 11 runs to gain an incredible win and a berth in next Saturday’s final against Oakhill at Castle Hill. 

Darcy Aylmer won the toss and decided to take first use of the pitch. Pat Frost and Rohan Chang batted positively before Luke Austin launched three sixes in one over to get the team to 5 for 116. Lachlan Jurcevic again played some fine shots in hitting four boundaries and two sixes in his impressive 52 ball innings. Like last week he found a solid ally in Flynn Mansbridge with whom he put on a crucial 40 runs for the 8th wicket. In the 41st over the team was dismissed for a competitive total of 170.

With runs on the board, the plan was to place pressure on the opposition batsmen who were reduced to 4 for 57 and 5 for 92, prior to a 49-run stand looked to have taken the game away from St Pius X. With a never give up approach led by Flynn Mansbridge, wickets fell as he showed great skill to bowl four victims and have another leg before wicket with perfectly executed bowling. Jared Fernandes and spinners Darcy Aylmer and Lucas Gleeson provided great support and the game was on a knife’s edge with two runs to win. A play and miss from the SPC number 11 went through to keeper Ollie Freeman who kept his calm to throw to Luke Austin at the non-striker’s end as the opposition attempted to sneak through for a bye. Luke took the stumps to affect the run out which gave the victory to a team who displayed great resilience and determination.

ISA Division 2 Semi-final. 2nd XI 109 (Alessio Spillane 27, Oliver Costain 15) defeated Oxley College 105 (Oliver Costain 4-10, Charlie Chippendale 2-14) 

The 2nd XI won the toss and elected to bat in the semi-final against Oxley at Oxford Falls. After a good start, wickets began to fall regularly. Alessio Spillane scored 27 but the 2nd XI was bowled out for 109.

The bowling started off well with Jack English (1-19) taking an early wicket. Wickets to Tom Carroll (1-8) and Darcy Mills (1-6) as well as a run-out to Jack English kept the 2nd XI in the match. With the game going down to the wire, Oxley needed seven runs with four wickets in hand. Oliver Costain (4-10) took two wickets and then Charlie Chippendale (2-14) took the last two wickets, handing the 2nd XI an incredible four run win. The 2nd XI will play Oakhill at Oxford Falls this week in the final.

SPX Black 

SPX Black 7/152 (Ben Costain 80, Felix Keeler 26*) def. Cromer Cassowaries 7/81

Sent into bat on a very sticky morning, we were in trouble early. Cromer had a very good opening bowler who took 2 wickets in the first over, and after 7 overs we were 5/32 and staring down the barrel of a low total. Ben Costain & Felix Keeler got to work rebuilding the innings and combined for a 54-run partnership at a very good pace before Ben had to retire. At the halfway mark we were 5/92. Felix Keeler & Cameron Cheah added 20 runs before Felix retired. Ben Costain came back in and put on 43 runs with Riley Silver (8*), before Ben Costain was out for an outstanding 80 in the 2nd last over chasing quick runs. Felix Keeler & Riley Silver finished off the innings and we made 7/152.

The boys were full of energy after our fantastic comeback with the bat, which was seen in our efforts in the field. Our bowling & fielding were very tight, and Cromer were never in the hunt. The wickets were shared around with Riley Silver, Cameron Cheah, Luka Hilton, Nick Forwood, Luke Steptoe, and Freddie Gosling all taking wickets, and seven bowlers going at less than 2 runs per over. There were a few highlights in the field, with Freddie taking two great catches above his head at mid-on, Luka showing very good awareness to snaffle a stumping, and Will Tully taking an exceptional diving catch in the rain. 

Well done to Ben Costain and Felix Keeler, who turned the game around with excellent batting. Ben Costain’s innings was sensational. 

SPX Green

SPX Green 130/9 (Archie Wragge 50, Miles Moran 19, Rory Rappa 12) def Seaforth Thunder 106/8. (Joshua Perry 3/18, Ben Fieldus 2/4) 

After a series of miserable and rainy Saturday mornings, SPX Green won the toss (at long last) and opened the batting on a humid morning at Oxford Falls.  Archie Wragge continued his great form in the season (scoring 50) combining well with Ben Fieldus to get the team off to a positive start with an opening partnership of 34.  The rest of the SPX batsmen had some good starts with Rory Rappa (12) and Miles Moran (19) contributing to the total of 130.  

It started raining in the second innings with Seaforth Thunder scoring 58 runs quickly in 9 overs, but Miles Moran and Matthew Opie pried out the openers. Energetic fielding and tight bowling from all the bowlers put the pressure back on Seaforth with Joshua Perry taking 3 wickets and Ben Fieldus taking 2 wickets in quick succession with Archie Wragge wrapping up the Seaforth innings. 

The win moved the team one position up the ladder with great momentum for the final game on Saturday. Well done boys!

Mr David Reay - Cricket Convenor

Cross Country

Join us for fun, varied and challenging sessions.

When: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings

Where: Beauchamp Park, Chatswood 

Time: 7:15 am – 8:15 am 

Who: All Senior and Junior School students welcome

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.  All students are encouraged to join training, whether it is to prepare for the IPSHA Cross Country Competition in April, the ISA Cross Country competition in Term 2 or to simply improve your general well-being. Please email Mr Scott Steinman ssteinman@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au or Ms Leanne Lee llee@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au to sign up or simply turn up in the morning.

2024 Fun Runs

Our Pius Cross Country team is looking at joining fun runs again this year, they are a great way to practice for the ISA or simply motivation to get fit. So far, we plan to go ahead with three events - 5k Run2Cure, 5k Sydney10 and the 14k City2Surf! 

Starting with Run2Cure, this is held on Sunday, 7 April atthe Domain, we will all join the Team 'SPX Runners', we have the code: SCHOOL24 for 20% off registration fee. Mr Steinman and Ms Lee will be there to supervise, though students will need to organise with parents to make their own way there and back. More details on meeting times will be announced closer to date. 

If you are interested in this run, please have a parent email Ms Lee at llee@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au as an expession of interest with your full name and D.O.B by Wednesday, 13 March. I'll be happy to sign you up to our team.  We will then set up a Clipboard activity for you to register and pay. I will reply to your parent's email to confirm. If applying through Ms Lee, bib collection will be free of charge and delivered to our school.

Registration link: https://register.run2cure.org.au/register/domain-24/schoolLinks to an external site. 

Other runs available to all, for individual interests include:

  1. Willoughby Park Run Every Saturday Morning 7:00 am 

https://www.parkrun.com.au/willoughby/ 

Locations also in Curl Curl, Parramatta, Rhodes, St Ives, North Sydney - every Saturday. 

All Park Runs are Free

  2. Manly Fun Run - 13 April

https://www.manlyfunrun.org/ 

  3. Lindfield Fun Run - 19 May

https://www.lindfieldfunrun.org.au/ 

Ms Leanne Lee - Cross Country and Athletics Convenor

Football

Preseason training for all teams will commence on Monday 25 March after school and will be held each Monday and Wednesday at Oxford Falls.  These training days will continue in Term 2 and 3.  All students will be transported to and from Oxford Falls by private buses which will depart outside OLD Church at 3:20 pm and return to the College approximately 5:30 pm. There will be one trail game against St Aloysius College on Saturday 6 April with the ISA season commencing on Saturday 4  May.

COERVER Football Camps

In preparation for the Football season, the College is offering a St Pius X student only COERVER Camps.

ST PIUS X APRIL HOLIDAY CAMPS

Monday 15 - Thursday 18 April

9:00 am - 12:00 noon each day. 

Bus transport to and from is available with details provided in link prior to registration.

Active Kids Vouchers accepted.

Age : 9 - 16

Coerver Coaching holiday camps offer a fun filled soccer experience for children aged 9-16 years. Each day will include Coerver® SKILLS competitions and challenges, Ball Mastery, Coaching sessions focusing on developing effective use of skill, small sided Coerver® Games, and mini Coerver Cup Tournament to keep players active.

TECHNIQUE

The cornerstone of our curriculum is technical development. We utilize the Coerver® Method of ball mastery and graduated pressure to build technical competence and play carefully selected games to build functional success.

PLAYER CONFIDENCE

We foster creativity by providing the players technical building blocks & encouraging creative actions in developmentally appropriate games. Our games are designed to be fun, challenging and to reward success and risk-taking.

TEAMWORK

Small group tactics and principles of play are taught in attack and defence by utilizing the structure of the many small sided games, which have made the Coerver® Curriculum so unique and recognised as the world’s leading technical football program.

SPORTSMANSHIP

We value winning but not more than character and effort. We encourage paying respect to players, parents, coaches and referees. Sportsmanship is emphasized to develop the whole person and not just the player.

With 2, 3 and 4 day options available, this is the perfect pre and early season preparation for St Pius X students looking towards a successful season. It is also a huge amount of footballing fun!

Bookings can be made using the following link: Coerver course | Coerver Coaching

Mr Simon Yue, Senior Football Convenor

Senior Chess

Chess training continues on Mondays in D Block from 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm.

All students in Year 7 - 12 are welcome.

Term 1 – Training Monday afternoons with chess coaches

Term 2 – Training Monday afternoons and interschool competition Friday afternoons

Here are some other benefits of learning chess:

• Improves cognitive skills (including concentration, pattern recognition, decision making, algebraic and geometric thinking, problem-solving, spatial reasoning, and critical thinking)
• Improves self-confidence and self-worth
• Increases attention span
• Increases memory capacity
• Offers a logical pattern and critical-thinking system
• Provides competition, fostering interest and promoting mental alertness
• Teaches good sportsmanship

Ms Janelle Dempsey & Ms Denise Ramsey - Senior Chess Convenors

Public Speaking and Debating

CSDA Public Speaking 

The CSDA Public Speaking Competition has begun. For the students who have progressed, you must keep the below dates free:

8 March                                    Public Speaking Zone Finals

15 March                                 Public Speaking Finals

CSDA Debating Competition 

Registrations have now closed and should  have been completed via Clipboard. The CSDA Debating Competition runs through Term 2 and 3.  There will be training sessions for the 2024 Debating season on the following dates:

Week 7 – training Friday 15 March 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Week 8 – training Friday 22 March 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Week 10 – training Friday 5 April 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Debating competition dates:

For those involved in debating it is essential that you meet at the clock after our Sports Assembly every Friday, attend all training and the first six rounds. If your team makes it through to the Elimination round (and beyond) you also need to keep the above dates free. 

Parents and students also need to complete the yellow registration form AND sign the CSDA ‘Code of Conduct’ form on the back of that sheet and return it to the Student Reception Office. Students can collect a copy of the form from the Student Reception Office.

Mrs Leigha Zervakos - Debating and Public Speaking Convenor

Rugby

Rugby Registration will continue to be OPEN. 

All Year 5-12 students wishing to play rugby are required to be registered. This allows the school rugby administrators & coaches to best prepare for the coming season, plus allows your P&F Rugby Club to best support and communicate with you! There are no trials or grading days, all students are encouraged to get involved. 

Please register through Clipboard and if you have any issues contact Mr Gates - jgates@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Year 7 Rugby Taster Program 

Thank you to all the students that attended the first week of the rugby taster program. The College will continue to offer free fun coaching sessions before the rugby season starts. If you are interested, please inform your son to catch the bus from Archer Street before 3.20pm on 12 and 14 March.

Term 1 Rugby Dates for the Diary:

• Sunday 10 March - Old Boys Gala Day – Oxford Fall (9.30 am kick off for a game of touch)
• Tuesday 12 & Thursday 14 March - Year 7 Rugby Taster & Opens Training at Oxford Falls
• Tuesday 19 March - No Training
• Thursday 21 March - Rugby Training Commences at Oxford Falls for all students Year 7-12
• Saturday 6 April - SPX vs ST ALOYISIUS – AWAY- TBC

SPX Rugby Club – Gala Dinner 2024

Save the Date.  The date and the venue are now locked in!  Mark your calendar for Saturday, 27 July at the Kirribilli Club.  The Rugby Committee are excited to once again be hosting a fun filled evening. 

Stay tuned for further details, and if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to spxrugby@gmail.com.

Mr Justin Gates - Rugby Convenor

Squash

SPX 2 had its first win of the season defeating BRIARS 7 in a close match by 1 point overall. SPX 1 lost in a similarly close manner against BRIARS 4 while SPX 3 continues to dominate their division winning convincingly against BRIARS 6.

Mr Joseph Madani - Squash Convenor

ISA Tennis

Thank you for your interest in playing ISA Tennis. Please make sure you read the enrolment information thoroughly before enrolling next week:

ISA Tennis Enrolment Information: ISA Tennis Enrolment Information.docx

Please note that players intending to play ISA Tennis will be required to have the following uniform prior to the commencement of the season in Term 2:

• St Pius X College Tennis Polo Shirt
• St Pius X College Navy Shorts
• Tennis Sports Cap
• School Tracksuit and rain jacket for colder weather

Students can wear either their Tennis uniform or the sport uniform to training. 

Please note that students must attend the following grading days as well at the St Pius X College Tennis championships to qualify for ISA Tennis. If there are any issues with the dates provided, please email Ms Bamber.

• Grading - Tuesday 12 or Wednesday 13 March (T1, W7) 
• Grading - Tuesday 19 or Wednesday 10 March (T1, W8) 
• Grading - Tuesday 26 or Wednesday 27 March (T1, W9) 
• Grading - Tuesday 2 or Wednesday 3 April (T1, W10) 
• SPX Age Championships - Saturday, 6 April  

The grading schedule for ISA Tennis is below for next Tuesday and Wednesday. Please note that there might be changes to this list after the first and/or second grading.

You are welcome to collect your son from Queenwood courts at 5:20 pm. Otherwise students should return to the College by 5:45 pm.

Queenwood Courts address: 1110 Oxford Falls Rd, Oxford Falls 

Please feel free to email: vbamber@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au if you have any questions.

Mrs Veronica Bamber - ISA Tennis Convenor

NSTA Tennis

We are only at Week 3 and already big improvements can already be seen. Alex Seifert, Thomas Shoudra and Daniel Thomson (SPX 30) were pretty evenly matched with Xavier Korkor, Connor Huynh and Nathan Hon with both teams finishing on 13 games each. These boys had some amazing rallies and should be very proud of themselves. Micah Chan and Henry Auer (SPX 2) dominated the match winning 18 games to 1 against SPX 24. 

A few spots of rain didn’t stop play at 10:00 am and some great matches and excellent sportsmanship was shown by all. The Anderson twins, Cooper and Spencer, (SPX 4) went down in the doubles but fought back to win both singles. Spencer’s match coming down to a tie break where he won 7-4. Aiden Chan and Ryan Chung (SPX 8) played some excellent tennis winning 18 games to 7 against SPX 9. 

Thank you to our umpires last week Yuri Kim, Lucas Halim, Lachlan Yu, Lucas Halim and Jake Yu, your assistance was much appreciated. 

Don’t forget to check the Xpoint website for an up-to-date draw as well as the weekly results table. https://www.xpointsports.com/region/325/currentEvents

Mrs Samantha Iwatani - NSTA Convenor