Strong showing by Marist in carnival
Recently, some Marist-Sion College cricketers left for Queensland to play in the 47th Australasian Marist Cricket Carnival to be hosted by Marist College Ashgrove.
The Marist-Sion College boys spent the week in the company of and playing against the host school, with Marist College Canberra, St Francis Xavier College Newcastle NSW, Sacred Heart Auckland, New Zealand, Trinity College Beenleigh, QLD, Sacred Heart, Adelaide SA and Lavalla College Traralgon also joining them in Queensland.
This year’s squad was Matthew Garner (captain), Patrick Ireland (vice captain), Brayden Notman, Aidan Fox, Liam Serong, Matthew Roberts, Bryce Joyce, Ben Dixon, Fintan Fox, Lane Ward, Luke Garner, Jack Logan and Munashe Munjoma.
With a very young team coached by Jacques Augustin and managed by Dean Hendrikse, the boys were super-competitive and showed that they could mix it with some of the best sporting schools in Australia and New Zealand.
The team was made up of three Year 8 students, seven Year 9s, two Year 10s and one top age Year 11, with Year 12 students ineligible having already finished school. The team won two games and lost two games to play off for 5th. They lost a good game of cricket to St Francis Xavier College Newcastle NSW to finish 6th with a 2-3 record.
In Game 1 against Marist College Canberra, the boys were sent into bat at Matthew Hayden Oval, However, they struggled to string together consistent partnerships and were bowled out for 127. Openers Patrick Ireland (12) and Brayden Notman (20), as well as Lane Ward (12) and Aidan Fox (13) all got starts but failed to build on that early promise. Matthew Roberts was best with 41 including three big sixes. Defending the total, Liam Serong was player of the day for Marist-Sion College taking 2 for 12 off 6 overs but Marist Canberra comfortably got the total five wickets down.
Batting first after winning the toss on the picturesque Cameron Oval at Marist College Ashgrove against St Francis Xavier College Newcastle, Marist-Sion College were in trouble at 2 for 17 when Lane Ward joined Patrick Ireland for a 113 run stand, with Patrick’s 58 and Lane’s 59 making them the youngest ever students to score a half century for Marist-Sion College at a Marist Cricket Carnival. Liam Serong 14 and Aidan Fox 19 chipped in but a massive collapse saw Marist-Sion College go from 5-155 to all out 165. Cruising at 3 for 119 St Francis Xavier College Newcastle were then spun into a web by Brayden Notman’s 5 for 23 off 10 overs, which along with some brilliant Matthew Roberts fielding (two run outs), was the catalyst for a thrilling five run victory with skipper Matthew Garner rattling the batsman’s stumps to claim the last and match-winning wicket. Patrick Ireland was also influential with the ball taking 2 for 31 and claiming MaristSion College’s Player of the Match award.
Game 3 v Marist College Ashgrove at Cameron Oval - Game 3 was the biggest test, as the very strong host school Marist College Ashgrove set the boys a significant chase, making 7 for 302 off their 50 overs. Ben Dixon 3 for 39 and Liam Serong 2 for 50 being the leading bowlers. Another highlight being young leg spinner Jack Logan’s first Marist Carnival wicket which was a beautiful piece of bowling and glove-work, producing a stumping by Bryce Joyce. Liam Serong 47, Lane Ward 31, Matthew Roberts 27, Aidan Fox 19 all contributed but not many more scores were forthcoming as Marist-Sion College was all out for 148.
After a sprinkler timing error saw the wicket get an unexpected watering the prior evening, the fourth game started 45 minutes late and it was thought to be a very good toss to win. Much to Marist-Sion College’s surprise Lavalla won the toss and batted. As expected, batting was very difficult and Marist-Sion College bowlers capitalised knocking over Lavalla for just 63. Munashe Munjoma 3 for 19 and Patrick Ireland 4 for 11 being the major wicket takers. Marist-Sion College warily made its way to 5 for 64 to win, with a gutsy 13 not out by number five bat Luke Garner who came in at 3 for 23 and some clean hitting from Matt Roberts assured the victory, his 17 off 15 balls a highlight.
Back at Hayden Oval on a new wicket, Marist-Sion College batted first and set a total of 8 for 212 off 50 overs against St Francis Xavier Newcastle. The highlight by Brayden Notman’s brilliant century (123 off 129 balls) on a 37 degree day. Patrick Ireland’s 32 and Aidan Fox’s 22 were also a good support. Taking early wickets was key, but Marist-Sion College’s opening bowlers were very expensive with 56 runs coming from the first 7 overs. St Francis Xavier captain Conrad Watson batted his team to victory hitting the winning runs as he brought up his century. Munashe Munjoma took two wickets as St Francis Xavier got the 213 required six wickets down in the 47th over.
During the carnival presentations, Patrick Ireland was named in the All Marist X1 for the second year. At 14, finishing Year 9 and with two Marist cricket carnivals under his belt, Patrick is definitely one to watch in the future. Ben Dixon was awarded Marist-Sion College’s Marcellin Champagnat Spirit of Cricket award for his general conduct and contribution to the team environment throughout the carnival.
In December 2020, Marist-Sion College host the 48th Australasian Marist Cricket Carnival and are looking forward to running a great carnival with the support of the local community, cricket clubs and council.