Senior School Sport and

Co-curricular Activities

• Basketball
• Cricket
• NSTA Tennis
• ISA Tennis
• SPX Tennis Championships
• Football
• Rugby
• Cross Country
• Debating
• Chess
• Rugby Supporters' Club Events 

Basketball

The 2020 Basketball Awards Presentation will be held on Tuesday 17 March in the school gym at Chatswood. This is a compulsory event for all players. The ceremony will start at 6:30 pm.

Congratulations to the 13Bs, 14Bs, 14Es, 17Es, Open Ds and Open Fs who won their Grand Finals last Saturday. It was one of those days when the close matches went our way. There were plenty of nail-biting moments and unfortunately the 15Ds went down by only 1 point. It was a great day for us. I was especially pleased with the sportsmanship shown by all the teams.

Deserves a mention: Thank you to the Basketball Club for their support and organisation throughout the season, their help is much appreciated. Thank you to all the coaches; staff, ex-students and external coaches. Basketball at St Pius can’t run without everyone’s help and dedication to our students' co-curricular activities.

Year 7 Term 1 Round Robin comp continues this Saturday. See game times below:

Use the link below to see all of the ISA Basketball Teams Results:

http://www.isa.nsw.edu.au/summer-sports/boys-basketball/,

Mr Neil Gibson - Senior Basketball Convenor

SPX Cricket– Season 2019/20

Fixtures – Saturday 14 March 2020

At time of publishing fixtures not updated in MyCricket.

Players/coaches and Managers please check MyCricket for fixture details.

2nd XI v Central Coast Grammar School – ISA Div 2 Final at Oxford Falls Saturday 14 March 2020

ISA Div 1 1st XI supporting the 2nd XI at Oxford Falls (10am start)

1st XI Runners-Up

After a strong season it was unfortunate that the 1st XI were outplayed by Oakhill College in the ISA Division 1 Final. See attached full report below.

Thank-you to all the supporters: 2nd XI, District cricketers, parents, old boys and staff who made the day special.

Oakhill College 9/143 (L Chang 2/19, D Dingley 2/29) defeated 1st XI 10/101 (C Sharp 26)

1st XI 2019/20 ISA Division 1 Finalists

Results 7 March

Match Report

Protective Equipment.  For safety and hygiene ALL players are to have their own personal groin protector and their own personal helmet. Wearing of helmets and groin protectors are compulsory for all players batting in nets or a game or wicket-keeping up at the stumps. Please College Cricket Helmet and Groin Protector Polices (attached).

Uniform.  Players and parents are reminded that correct SPX Cricket playing uniform is the only attire to worn on the field during play. SPX cricket playing shirts, caps and wide brimmed hats are available from the College Uniform Shop. 

Please see the attached documents for more information:

• Welcome to Cricket 2019-20

• 2019-20 1st & 2nd XI ISA Cricket

• SPX Cricket Helmet and Groin Protector Policies

These documents have also been published to the College App.

Mr David Reay - Cricket Convenor

NSTA Tennis

Some great matches were seen last weekend at our home venue. SPX 23 slammed their competition with Ben Bromby, John Badger-Rahme and Luca Cheal winning 6-3. 6-0, 6-0. Lucas Halim and Connor Sweeney from SPX 17 made a great team and won their doubles 6-2.

The 10.00 am matches started off well and the boys played some fantastic tennis, showing great sportsmanship. Max Leo and Jayden Chan played a mean doubles taking out the win 6-3 against Cammeraygal 1. An exciting match was also played between SPX 9 and SPX 10 with Luca D’Alessandro and Tom Sweeney, SPX 9 winning 2 sets to 1. Luke Mortimer and Lucas Youngman, SPX 13 played some impressive singles against SPX 14 however, Joey Sorrentino and Josh DuMoulin, SPX 14 made a strong team and took out the doubles.

Thank you to Mr Webster, Mrs Keighery and Mr Garvey for looking after NSTA until I arrived from the IPSHA games. Thanks also to the senior boys who helped with umpiring, it is always great to see these boys helping our Junior boys out.

Please note that this coming Saturday ALL boys will play in the finals and play-offs.  I have included a copy of the draw in the Woodchatta but you should have also received an email from me yesterday with a copy attached. Of course you can also check your rankings, matches and venues for next weekend on Xpoint: https://www.xpointsports.com/region/325/currentEvents

Mrs Samantha Iwatani - Tennis Convenor

ISA Tennis

Grading/training for the winter ISA Tennis season runs through Weeks 9, 10 and 11. Please get forms in asap! Forms and information are available from the veranda outside the student office, or contact me at aobrien@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au.

Ms Amanda O’Brien - ISA Tennis Convenor

SPX Tennis Championships

Our internal Championships are coming up! The tournament will be run on Saturday, 28 March at our Talus Street courts from 7:30 am to 12:00 pm and is open to 2019-2020 NSTA players and intending 2020 ISA players in Years 7-12. The results from this competition will contribute to the ranking process for the upcoming ISA season. Players will be strictly capped at 16 per Division. More information and entry forms are available from the veranda outside the student office.

Ms Amanda O’Brien - ISA Tennis Convenor

Football

Yesterday afternoon, St Pius X 1st XI Football defeated Macquarie College 5-1 in the CIS Cup 2nd Round at Oxford Falls.  Depending on the outcome of their match, we will play either Knox or Trinity in the next round.  Congratulations to the team!

Mr Steve Quilty - First XI Football coach 

Rugby

As the summer season draws to a close the SPX Rugby 2020 is almost upon us. Please see the information below to assist in your planning for the season.

Rugby Registrations NOW OPEN – REGISTER ASAP

All Year 7-12 students wishing to play Rugby are required to be registered to be included in a team, allowing the school Rugby Administrators & coaches to best prepare for the coming season, plus allow your P&F Rugby Club to best support and communicate with you! There are no trials or grading days, all students of different shapes, sizes and abilities can find a home within the SPX Rugby Program.

You have two options when registering:

1.  2020 Rugby Season Registration and Two Day School Holiday Clinic: $240 (recommended)

(cost includes access to rugby specific physio during the season and specialist coaching, transport and lunch at the two day clinic during Week 1 of the April Holidays).

2.  Registration Only: $150

To register simply follow the following trybooking link:      https://www.trybooking.com/612469

Rugby Training

While the Opens and Under 16s have been training now for most of the term, all other age groups will commence training at Oxford Falls on 24 Thursday March. Buses will depart Archer Street outside OLD Church at 3:30 pm and will return to Chatswood by 5:30 pm. Students can be picked up from Oxford Falls at 5.00 pm.

Training during Term 1 will include basic skills, defence and set piece practice as well as a variety of decision-making games, all held during the sessions so players can be graded into suitable teams. Unlike other sports at the College, teams can change from week to week due to player performance, injuries or unavailability. The expectation is that players make themselves available for selection each week and play in the team their age group coach selects them in.

All players are reminded that protective gear, including mouth guards, must be worn at all times, including training sessions. Not having a mouthguard will impact your son’s ability to participate fully in the session.

Dates for the calendar from Term 1:

• 24/3/20 – Training commences for all age groups at Oxford Falls.
• 27/3/20-28/3/20 – Opens Pre-season Camp at Workul Koo
• 4/4/20 – Sydney Grammar 10s – two teams per age group.
• 14/4/20-15/4/20 – Holiday Rugby Clinic (Oxford Falls – included in registration)
• All games for the 2020 season appear in the College Calendar with venues and home game times to be finalised shortly.

Mr Joe Lynch - Rugby Convenor

Cross Country

Training is in full swing in preparation for our upcoming Representative Carnivals:

• IPSHA Cross-Country (Yrs 5-6) on Saturday 4 April
• ISA Cross-Country (Yrs 7-12) on Wednesday 27 May

We have already had 44 runners attend the first 3 sessions, with a dozen die-hards holding a perfect training record – keep it up. Shout out to Year 9, our most strongly represented cohort, followed by Years 7 and 10. Calling Yr 8 runners to get involved ASAP – SPX needs you!

Matt North (Yr 11) is our runner of the week smashing out 6km in 21:17 (3:30 m/km pace) and not missing a session. Jonah Steele (Yr 7) gets the young gun award for his perfect attendance and brisk 13:10 3km time trial.

Training commences at 7.30 am at Beauchamp Oval, Chatswood on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. We finish at 8.10 am, in time to return to school for showers/changing, breakfast (incl. a well-earnt pancake on Tuesday in Lent perhaps) and morning preparation. All are welcome, irrespective of aspirations.

Mr Greg Virgona - Cross Country Convenor

Debating

CSDA Public Speaking

The CSDA Public Speaking Competition Round 1 was held at St Augustine’s Brookvale on Friday night.  We need to congratulate all of our speakers and thank you to Mrs Donlevy for the photo.

The following students have moved through to the Zone Finals. Congratulations to: Luke Mortimer and Anthony Parissis, our amazing Year 7 students who were presenting in the Year 9 rooms (and won!!); to Benjamin Cullen and Patrick Browne of Year 10 for their winning speeches and to the scathingly brilliant Luke McManus in Year 12 who wrote his speech in the car on the way to the venue—polishing it off in the room before standing up to win!  Not the sort of preparation that we encourage for younger speakers, but Luke’s determination ‘get amongst it’ and participate in as much as possible in his final year of school is admirable.  Bravo Luke!

This Friday, March 13, we will be travelling to Marist College Eastwood, 44 Hillview Rd, Eastwood for the Public Speaking Zone Finals.  Students can travel with Mrs Waterson on the train to the venue.  A permission letter will be sent home on Wednesday and needs to be returned by Friday.

CSDA Debating Competition

The above debating competition runs on every Friday night through Term 2. The YELLOW CSDA Debating Registration forms should have been handed in this week.  We will all meet at the clock this Friday after Assembly to plan our after school meeting places.  Our training will be from 3.15 pm - 5.00 pm (Except for the Public Speakers who will need to leave with Mrs Waterson to get to Marist Eastwood by 5pm).

ALL year groups are to attend our debate meeting this Friday.  You will meet your coaches and build your training focus for our two friendly pre-season debates with Mercy College and Marist North Shore in Weeks 9 & 10.

St Pius X College Debate Captain 2020

Luke commenced debating as a Year 5 student when he started at St Pius X College. He didn't know anything about debating at the time, but showed up to the tryouts with no idea he might be standing on this stage today.

He extended his love for debating by taking on a coaching role for the Junior School debaters when he was in Year 9 and 10.

Luke was a member of the 2018 team that reached the top of the CSDA competition (a competition where 50 schools and 90 teams per year group compete for one Grand Final trophy. Luke’s team did not win this debate! However, Luke believes that this loss gave him a vital life lesson:  “that success is not final, that failure is not fatal, but it is the courage to continue that counts”. (Our Winston)

Luke is an exceptional young leader and will be an amazing Debating Captain. We congratulate him on yet another leadership role.  

Ms Michele Waterson - Debating  & Public Speaking Convenor

Chess

Chess training continues every Monday afternoon.  Competition begins in Term 2 and we encourage any students in Years 7 - 12 who are interested to come to D1 to D4 to experience chess first hand.

Ms Denise Ramsey and Ms Janelle Dempsey - Chess Convenors

Rugby Supporters' Club Events

Very Successful SPX Rugby Supporters Club Fundraising Golf Day -  held on Friday 6 March at the Roseville Golf Club

Our second SPX Rugby Supporters' Club Fundraising Golf Day was held at the Roseville Golf Club from 1pm on Friday, 6 March.

The Tournament:

Ninety five (95) players, comprised into twenty four (24) teams, took part in an 'Ambrose Foursome' 18 hole golf tournament on the day.

The tournament was won by the 'Richard Mills Consulting/Firths The Compensation Lawyers' team with a score of 49. Congratulations to team members Richard Mills, Andy Haldane, Evan Griffith and Mark Tonelli (former Olympic Games swimming gold medallist).

The runners up in the Team Competition were 'Cactus Imaging' with a score of 49.375. Congratulations to team members Paul Clarke, Keith Ferrel, Richard Jones and Ron Ryan.

Third place in the Team Competition went to the 'Invasta Global/Sissons Architects' team with a score of 51.5. Congratulations to team members Nick Sissons, Ryan James, Rod Kafer and Justin Harrison (former Australian Wallaby representative).

'Team Russell' members Andy O'Hehir, Will Russell, John Russell and Steve Russell proudly accepted the 'Reverse Winners' award with a score of 63.25.

Former Australian Wallaby representative, current Fox Sports Rugby commentator and SPX Year 11 Dad, Rod Kafer picked up a 'Concourse Golf' golf bag for himself by hitting the straightest drive of the day on the first hole, whilst Kevin Calitz recorded the longest drive of the day on the 18th hole, with 'Bone' winning the 8th hole 'nearest the pin' competition (only 65 cms short of the hole).

Matt Walker missed out on winning a new $65,000 Volvo XC (from Volvo Cars Lindfield) on the 15th hole by a mere 224 cms, but still walked away with a 'Concourse Golf' golf bag and a scale model Volvo XC90 for winning the 'nearest the pin' competition on that hole. 

Lady Golfers:

We only had two ladies playing with us on the day, so we are now putting out a challenge to all you SPX mums to get out and practise your swing and get along to our next SPX Rugby Club Golf Day.  There are no excuses, the next Golf Day is many months away, so there is plenty of time to practise and perfect your golf, or to start from scratch and go and get a couple of lessons. 

It would be great to see a lady golfer (or more than one lady golfer) drive away from our next tournament in a brand new Volvo from Volvo Cars Lindfield after hitting a 'hole in one' on the 15th hole!

Our Hole Sponsors/Advertisers:

We would like to thank each of our below-mentioned hole sponsors and advertisers for their generous support of our Golf Day (and your son's rugby at SPX).  Perhaps you might like to consider engaging the services, or buying the products, of these businesses who support your son's rugby and the on-going development of the SPX rugby program.

Our Golf Day Booklet:

This link will take you directly to an electronic copy of our Golf Day Booklet which will give you a pretty comprehensive overview of the day, and for those who were unable to attend, illustrate to you what a great day you missed out on and should get to next time it is on!

http://online.flipbuilder.com/lkyh/tzpx/  

SPX Rugby - Orange Trip - Friday, 24 & Saturday, 25 July

(1) Accommodation in Orange

(2) Rugby Club Dinner in Orange - Friday, 24 July - The Lord Anson Hotel.

(3) Golf in Orange on Friday, 24 July.

The SPX Senior College Rugby teams will be playing against the Kinross Wolaroi College teams at Orange on Saturday, 25 July.

(1) Accommodation in Orange: 

For those that may wish to drive up to Orange on the Friday (24th July) the SPX Rugby Supporters' Club Committee have put a 'hold' on 78 rooms at the Mercure Hotel in Orange (94 Byng Street) for that Friday night.  The Mercure Hotel is located alongside and connected to the Orange Ex-Services Club. We have obtained the below group discount nightly tariff rates for the respective rooms -

• Queen @ $185.00 (1 Queen bed)
• Twin @$185.00 (2 Single beds)
• Queen plus Single @$185.00 ( Queen sized bed and single bed)
• Queen Executive @ $215 (1 Queen bed and two single beds)

For those who would like to also stay on the Saturday night and make a weekend of it in Orange, if you also book in for the Saturday night you will also receive the above-mentioned particular discounted tariff rate. (Please note we do not have any rooms reserved for the Saturday night).

The Mercure Hotel offers a hot and cold buffet breakfast @$19.90 per person (Children under 12 $12.90)

If you are interested in booking your accommodation for that weekend at the Mercure Hotel in Orange please contact the Hotel directly on 02-63625611 or email at HB038-Fo5@accor.com and advise them that you are part of the St Pius X College Chatswood Rugby Club group booking.

I know that 24 July seems a long time away, but from past experiences we are aware that if you don't book your accommodation in Orange well ahead of time you are likely to miss out. Orange is a large regional centre which often holds major regional sporting events on a weekend which puts pressure on the available hotel/motel accommodation.

As it gets closer to 24 July we will have to start and take the 'hold' off these hotel rooms where bookings have not been made.  So to ensure you get a room you might want to book in with the Mercure sooner than later.

Obviously you don't have to stay at the Mercure Hotel there are other hotels/motels in Orange, but we have only put a hold on rooms at the Mercure.

We would understand that, as in previous years, the College would be putting on a bus to get some of the Rugby players to and from Orange on the Saturday.

(2) Rugby Club Dinner in Orange - The Lord Anson Hotel - evening of Friday, 24 July.

From 7pm on Friday, 24 July the SPX Rugby Club will be holding a casual dinner in the first floor function room of The Lord Anson Hotel in Orange for SPX parents, supporters, rugby players and their siblings. This function room has its own bar where drinks will be served at normal 'pub prices'. The Lord Anson is a two minute walk from the Mercure Hotel.

The Lord Anson will be serving quality 'pub style meals' at 'pub prices' and orders will be taken up until 9pm.

To help us assist The Lord Anson with catering for the evening if you would like to attend the dinner please use the below link to go to the TryBooking site to advise us of your intended attendance at the dinner.

https://www.trybooking.com/BITWD

(3) Golf in Orange - Duntryleague Golf Club - Friday, 24 July   

For those who may be travelling up to Orange on the Friday morning the SPX Rugby Club is looking to organise a group game of golf at the Duntryleague Golf Club in Orange on the Friday (either 9 or 18 holes).

The cost for 9 holes is $33 (plus $33 for a cart for two if required) and $50 for 18 holes (and $38 for a cart for two if required).

If you are interested in a game of golf on the F