Sport

Term 4 Sport

Hello and welcome back to Term 4. The year has flown by and again we have plenty of sport on offer for students from all year levels and abilities. 

The coming weeks will see the start of the following sports:

• Junior Boys Netball – Years 7-9 
• Junior Tennis – Years 7-8
• Junior Volleyball – Years 7-9
• BAS Senior Cricket (1st XI and 2nd XI).
• Ultimate Frisbee

Student’s need to listen to the morning messages and regularly check Microsoft teams regularly so they get the most up to date information and can communicate with their coach. 

Thank you to all the staff listed above that are assisting with coaching a team this term. 

Cricket 

In the last week of the school holidays 14 students and two staff travelled to Mildura for cricket tour. A big thank you to Mr Steve Biggin for giving up his time in the holidays to take the students on the trip and for coaching and umpiring the matches. See below for a full report.

Year 8 Rowing

Attention all Year 8 athletes. Want to do something other than the standard footy, basketball and cricket in Ballarat? Then you should come to the SPC Boatshed and try Rowing. It's a great way to get fit and stay fit whilst having fun with your mates. Experience is not necessary, and who knows, you could end up like these Legends and win Head of the Lake! If you are interested in joining, can you please email our Head of Rowing Rebecca Gribble - rgribble@stpats.vic.edu.au

Basketball – USA Tour

In early December, a group of our most talented basketball players and coaches are heading to the USA East Coast to explore and to play some highly competitive high schools. The boys will play a number of games across a 17-day period in what promises to be an invaluable experience for everyone involved. The boys will also attend a New York Knicks NBA game, a New York Giants NFL game, a New Jersey NHL game as well as an NCAA Basketball game. Also, the boys will do all of the best sightseeing (and shopping) that New York and Philadelphia have to offer before flying home just before Christmas. Thanks in advance to coaches Mr Josh Ebbels, Mr Eric Hayes, Mr Jarrod Fryar and Mr Jarrett Giampaolo. Biggest thanks of all needs to go to Mr Josh Ebbels for his tireless role as tour leader. The tour wouldn’t happen if it wasn’t for his time, effort and commitment to making this a reality for our boys. 

2024 Mildura Cricket Trip

On Tuesday, 1 October a squad of 13 Year 8 - 11 boys departed St Pat's at 6am for the annual Mildura Cricket trip against a squad of Murray Mallee players. Following our regular stop off at the Birchip Bakery, we arrived in Mildura ready for the 1st T20 match.

Armi Wakefield was the captain for the tour. In our first match we batted first. Fresh off the bus we struggled to find our feet. With early wickets falling we were 5/33, before Jack McMahon 32 and Will Chamings 10 steadied the innings and helping us to finish on 84 from our 20 overs.

In response George Martindale bowled exceptionally well, with only one run from his three overs whilst also claiming 3 wickets. Armi and Ollie Davis also chimed in with two wickets. Aayush Ahlawat and Ethan Bartlett each claimed one wicket as Murray Mallee passed our total in the 17th over, before finishing their 20 overs at 9/94.

Day 2 saw us arrive at the ground nice and early and quite refreshed for a 40 over match.

Murray Mallee batted first and with the sun out the temperature was already in the 20s (quite warm for us from Ballarat at this stage of the year).  The boys found things more difficult today as Murray Mallee batted extremely well. An early wicket when Armi came into the attack provided some hope, but the Murray Mallee boys were enjoying the longer format. The next three batters each retired on 50, 39 and 28 to give their team mates the opportunity to find some early season form. Will Chamings and Ryder O’Brien each claimed a wicket as we managed to restrict them to 3/227 from their 40 overs. 

Chasing this large total was always going to be difficult and wasn’t helped when Luke Weidemann was out in the first over. Harry Scardamaglia was looking like an experienced opener as he saw off the new ball. Armi was looking comfortable before the ball rolled back onto his stumps. Ryder O’Brien then came in and with Harry put on a 79-run partnership as both boys made superb half centuries and then retired to give their teammates time in the centre. Will Chamings 30, Aayush 16 and Will Steenhuis 10 helped to push our total to a highly respectable 207 at the end of the 40 overs.

Day 3 saw us pack up early and leave the NRMA Riverside Park and make the short trip to Chaffey Park for our final match of the tour. Losing the toss, we were to bowl first. Armi turned to the Year 8 boys to open the bowling with Tom Goodson and Tom Sharp. Both very promising bowlers were able to claim the first three wickets. Jack McMahon then claimed two wickets. Another Year 8 student Will Steenhuis also claimed two late wickets as we were able to restrict Murray Mallee to 109 in their 20 overs.

In the run chase we started well. Armi finally had some time in the middle and looked good making 36 from only 37 balls. Jack McMahon and Will Chamings continued their good form of the tour, both making 21. Ryder was unable to follow on from his great half century yesterday and was dismissed first ball - a reminder to everyone how quickly things can change in cricket. The game was getting closer and closer as the overs ticked by, with our first victory on the cards. However, a couple of late wickets put all the pressure on Harry Scardamaglia. With nine required off the last over the boys were running for everything, a couple of run outs were unavoidable as we chased every run. It came down to the last ball. We required three to win and when Harry hit to the fielder at deep mid wicket it was going to be tough to get three. A misfield gave us a slight chance, but we were well short as the game finished in a tie. 

Overall, the trip has been a great learning and training opportunity for the boys. The chance to play on turf in the first week of October is not possible in Ballarat, so being able to travel to Mildura and play in wonderful conditions is a great opportunity. Special thanks to John Sullivan, who with his passion for cricket was delighted to join us on this trip and drive one of the buses. Once again, thanks also to the players and managers of Murray Mallee cricket. They have always provided us with great opportunities to develop our cricket skills. 

- Steve Biggin, Cricket Coordinator