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CRICKET
Nossal High School Reach Grand Final After Gritty Semi-Final Victory
Nossal High School produced a strong day of cricket, battling through a tense semi-final win before finishing runners-up to Melbourne High School in the Grand Final.
Semi Final: Nossal High School def. Parkdale by 13 runs
Batting first against Parkdale Secondary College, Nossal struggled to build sustained partnerships, with wickets falling regularly. However, several valuable contributions kept the innings alive. Rish top-scored with an aggressive 43 from 31 balls, Vidj added 16 from 13, and Sahib finished strongly with 14* from 13 to guide Nossal to 9/129.
Nossal’s bowlers then produced an excellent all-round effort to defend the modest total. Tight bowling and committed fielding restricted Parkdale’s scoring throughout the chase. Rish led the attack with 2/15 from four overs, while Sahib supported with 2/19 from three. Parkdale finished on 7/116, giving Nossal a hard-fought 13-run victory and a place in the Grand Final.
Grand Final: Melbourne High School def. Nossal High School by 58 runs.
Facing a strong Melbourne High side, Melbourne High batted first and dominated the powerplay, racing to 65/1 after six overs. Despite difficult fielding conditions, Nossal continued to fight hard in the field. Josh delivered an impressive 3/25 from three overs, while captain Aiyaan Ariketty took 2/35 from four, but Melbourne High still posted a formidable 5/192.
Chasing 193, Nossal showed resilience. Ariketty led the innings with a determined 51 from 33 balls, supported by Adit (28 from 27) and Dev (15 from 11). However, the required run rate proved too steep, and Nossal were eventually bowled out for 134.
A Strong Tournament Campaign
Despite the loss, Nossal fought hard throughout the tournament, progressing through multiple rounds to reach the SMR Grand Final. The team displayed resilience, disciplined bowling and determined batting, finishing the competition as worthy runners-up.
By Adayat Anis
KAYAKING
On Thursday 12 March, our 1/2 PE class headed out to the Yarra River where we had the amazing opportunity to learn and master the art of kayaking.
The team first developed the fundamentals of boat control, from forward and reverse sweeping to effectively turning and stopping. We also picked up important water safety skills, like fitting a lifejacket, calling for help and learning exactly what to do in the (very, very unlikely) situation that the boat capsizes. Although our instructor told us that no one had capsized in 20 years, we were determined to keep the streak alive!
Once we got a hang of the basics, the rest of the day was top tier. Getting to kayak with your friends and race them across the Yarra created some unforgettable memories. Even when Melbourne weather “did its thing”, the rain bucketing down just added to the thrill and made for some stunning views. Apart from the countless moments where we crashed into each other or got swallowed by reeds, we had an incredible time kayaking together!
The team loved every second of this experience, and it will go down as one of the highlights of my time here at Nossal.
By Jayden Jacob
Our Unit 1 and 2 kayaking excursion was definitely a challenging and rewarding experience from the very beginning. Melbourne’s weather that day was bright and sunny, creating an inspiring and energetic atmosphere for my first time kayaking. My partner and I were excited to get out onto the Yarra River and learn new skills, feeling a mix of anticipation and confidence. However, as soon as we got on the water, we quickly realised that kayaking was far more difficult than it looked.
Compared to the rest of the class, we began falling behind almost immediately, and before long we were an unbelievable distance away. Our classmates looked like tiny Lego figures in the distance, which made us feel both frustrated and slightly overwhelmed.
Even with our teacher staying behind to help us, we struggled to understand how to control the kayak and stop it from constantly turning to one side. Keeping a straight line felt nearly impossible, and every attempt seemed to make things worse. My partner’s hands were covered in blisters, and I was completely drenched from splashing water everywhere while paddling. At one point, it honestly felt like we weren’t going to get the hang of it, and the sense of doubt started to creep in. But as time went on, we slowly but surely began to improve. We started finding a rhythm, our confidence grew, and determination replaced frustration as we pushed ourselves to keep going. Eventually, we managed to catch up to the rest of the class, which felt incredibly rewarding.
By the second half of the trip, we had improved so much in such a short amount of time. We even started racing some of our classmates to get to the front of the line, and I think my back is still bruised from getting hit by the tip of my friend’s kayak.
When Melbourne’s unpredictable weather kicked in and it started raining, we didn’t let it stop us and kept pushing through, embracing the challenge instead of backing down. The rain added a new level of excitement and made the experience feel even more intense and unforgettable. Overall, the kayaking excursion was an amazing learning experience that taught us persistence and resilience. It showed that even if you struggle at first, with effort and determination, you can improve and end up genuinely enjoying the experience.
By Gurleen Kang
REGIONAL SWIMMING
On Monday 23 March, a group of students, including myself, were fortunate enough to attend the regional swimming carnival at the Oakleigh Recreation Centre. It was an amazing event for everyone involved, regardless of whether or not you had the opportunity to swim. I attended as an emergency backup swimmer but spent the majority of the day fulfilling the role of timekeeper — one I thoroughly enjoyed, as it placed me right on the front lines and gave me the opportunity to support and congratulate my fellow Nossalonians throughout the competition.
The other schools were also great to be around, and it was refreshing to speak with a range of students I would otherwise be unlikely to meet. Overall, despite the day feeling long and warm, I would strongly encourage my peers to attend and support events like this in the future — not only for the benefit of the school, but for themselves as well. It is the kind of experience that reminds you why school events are worth showing up for.
By Natalie Chamberlain