Little Leagues Report – Round 1

The 2025 sports season is off to an impressive start, with strong performances across all disciplines. As we begin the season, our key message to students is the importance of being principled in how we conduct ourselves in sport. This means acting with integrity, taking responsibility for our actions and understanding their consequences.

For example, when we train hard and embrace feedback from our coaches, we can expect our performance to improve. We can treat our teammates with respect by celebrating their successes and supporting them through setbacks. And we can compete with intensity while demonstrating sportsmanship and showing respect for our opponents and the game itself.

As an IB school, being principled is a core part of our learner profile, and sport provides an excellent platform to develop and embody these values.

A standout highlight of the opening round was the performance of our A and B water polo teams. This marks the first year we’ve had two teams, reflecting the growing strength and depth of our program. After facing challenges in the A division last year, we started this season on a high note with a strong win, while our B team also secured an impressive victory.

It was an exciting start to what promises to be a fantastic season.

James Roughan
Head of JS Sport & PDHPE

Basketball

The 5/6A team lost 29–44 in a tough, hard-fought game, with outstanding effort from every player. Oliver S. stood out with his relentless commitment to defense, making an impact on every play, while Frank T. contributed with an efficient offensive performance. Despite their best efforts, the opposition proved too strong.

The 5/6B team lost 31–48 in a highly competitive game. Despite strong defensive performances, the result did not go our way. The team worked hard on both ends of the court, with Alfie L showing exceptional determination, particularly in the final moments of the game.

The Year 3/4 Blue 1 team faced Scots in an exhilarating game. Cranbrook trailed 2–12 in the first half but mounted a tremendous comeback, ultimately falling just short in an 18–20 loss. Cooper M, Ben T, and York B delivered strong performances at both ends of the floor.

The Year 3/4 Blue 2 team was down 2–8 at halftime and was unlucky not to secure the win, losing narrowly 8–10. Monty A, an offensive dynamo for the Year 3/4 Blue 1 team, scored all of the Brookie Ballers’ points.

Stephen Whitehead
Head of Basketball

Year 5 and 6 As

Year 5 and 6 Bs

Year 3 and 4 As

Year 3 and 4 Bs

Year 3 and 4 Cs

Year 3 and 4 Ds

Year 3 and 4 Blues

Year 3 and 4 Whites

Tennis

Over the weekend Cranbrook Junior School’s A Tennis team took to the courts for the much-anticipated ‘Battle of the Hill’ against Scots. Despite a determined effort from the team, Cranbrook fell short, losing 2-10 in matches.

One of the standout performances came from Josh L, who delivered flawless victories in both his doubles match, winning 5-2 alongside partner Toby W, and his singles match, securing a 4-1 win. Toby also put up a strong fight in his singles match, narrowly losing 2-3. Their consistency, resilience, and strategic play made them the top performers of the day.

Ricky C and Hugo B secured three hard-fought games in their doubles match, using well-placed shots and clever positioning to challenge their opponents. Facing taller competitors, both students bravely approached the net to win key points, showcasing their confidence under pressure. They carried this competitive spirit into their singles matches, engaging in long rallies and tactical exchanges but narrowly losing both encounters 2-3.

Josh M and George Y faced tough competition in their doubles match but showed excellent teamwork despite the loss. Josh quickly reset and delivered a strong singles performance, narrowly missing out in a close 2-3 match. George fought hard and pushed his opponent throughout but was unable to secure the win.

Santiago D and Jonathan K displayed determination in their doubles match but were edged out 1-6. In singles, Santiago showed solid rallying skills but fell 1-4, while Jonathan faced a tough challenge and went down 0-5. Despite the scoreline, both students showed great perseverance and a fighting spirit against strong opponents.

Although the final result was not in Cranbrook’s favour, the team demonstrated resilience and sportsmanship throughout the ‘Battle of the Hill.’ With this experience under their belts, they look forward to the rematch and future matches ahead.

Ben Higgins
Head of Tennis

Cricket

The Year 6B team faced a strong King’s outfit, showing moments of excellence but struggling to sustain pressure over a long period. The key theme of the day was awareness, and while many of the students embraced it as a positive learning experience, there were still valuable lessons to take from this match.

Bowling was a highlight, with both Freddie C and Freddie W delivering solid performances. The energy and commitment from Hadley S and Jamie S, both in the field and in their running between the wickets, were particularly impressive.

In batting, the team was slow to rotate the strike, though Jamie S’ sharp running was a standout. Zac B showed resilience at the crease, finishing with a top score of 14.

The team will take the lessons from this game and continue to learn, develop, and improve as we look ahead to the next opportunity to play.

Ben Staunton
Head of Cricket

Year 6 As

Year 6 Bs

Year 4 Blue

Year 3 As

Water Polo

Wyvern B Team
The Cranbrook Junior B team faced Wyvern in their first game of the season, which was also the first-ever water polo match for many of the students. The team started strong, scoring three goals through counter-attacks in the first quarter. They maintained their speed and extended their lead to 6–1 by halftime.

Going into the second half, the students focused on defending goal-side while also attacking effectively in the 2-metre zone. They added another seven goals while conceding only one more, securing a dominant 13–2 victory.

Overall, it was an impressive performance. The key takeaways from the game were the importance of moving the ball up the pool through passing along the edges and defending players closest to the goal.

Wyvern A Team
The Cranbrook Junior A team also faced Wyvern for their first game of the season. Having been promoted to the A division, the team was eager to start the season with a strong performance.

They opened with an explosive first quarter, scoring three goals through relentless counter-attacks and press defense. The momentum continued into the second quarter, with three more goals giving them a 6–1 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Wyvern gained more possession and worked their way back into the game. However, they managed to score only two goals, while Cranbrook added two of their own. The final score of 8–3 marked a convincing win for Cranbrook.

Moving forward, the team will focus on making safe and meaningful passes while improving their spacing in attack.

Gregory McFadden
Head of Water Polo

Year 5 and 6

Sailing

With favourable wind conditions, it was great to be back sailing on Rose Bay. There was plenty of enthusiasm and excitement among the students.

As the Year 4 students began their Cranbrook sailing journey, it was encouraging to see the older students assisting them in rigging their boats. Once on the water, the different groups worked on improving their skills in tacking, jibing, and sailing upwind and downwind.

Tom Brewer
Head of Sailing

Multi-Sport

In Round 1, the boys participated in Defend the Towers, focusing on strengthening teamwork and communication. They discussed different team roles to ensure everyone felt valued and contributed effectively. All boys should be proud of their performance, with high engagement and great effort displayed throughout the game.

Tommy Taylor
PDHPE teacher 7 Multi-sport coach