Little Leagues Report – Round 5
It was another jam-packed week of Cranbrook sport, full of hard work, tough matchups and well-earned celebrations as our students continue to go from strength to strength throughout the winter season.
Some highlights from Round 5 include a rugby double-header against Tudor House in the Southern Highlands, where our Year 4 and Year 5 teams both came away with impressive victories. The 4E football team delivered an inspirational team performance to defeat our neighbours, Scots, and our 6A football team secured a hard-fought win against Newington.
Looking ahead, we have a break from Saturday sport due to the King’s Birthday long weekend, followed by the Year 3–6 Athletics Carnival on Tuesday, 10 June at the SOPAC Warm-Up Arena. This event is a fantastic opportunity for students to get involved in our wider school community and proudly represent both themselves and their House.
A few key reminders for the day:
- Cranbrook Junior School Gates will open at 7:30am for school drop off.
- Students must be dropped at school by 7:50am to allow for timely departure to the venue.
- There will be no lunch orders available on the day for year 3-6 students, so please ensure your child brings a packed lunch, snacks, and a water bottle.
- All co-curricular activities and after-school sports training will continue as normal at the conclusion of the carnival.
Yours in Sport
Mr James Roughan
Head of Sport and PDHPE, Junior School
IPSHA Football and Rugby trials
This week, five Junior School students represented Cranbrook at the IPSHA Football Trials. All five progressed beyond the first round of selections, with Hugo L, Oliver P, and Santiago D playing in the final game to decide the team. Out of 120 triallists, only 12 students were selected, and we are thrilled to announce that Santiago D and Oliver P were named in the final IPSHA team, making Cranbrook the only school to have two students selected. IPSHA Football Trials Representatives: Hugo L, Santiago D, Oliver P, Minato Y, Teddy B.
On Tuesday, we also had six students participate in the IPSHA Rugby Trials, the first step in the selection process for the CIS Rugby Team. It was a strong showing from Cranbrook, with all six students successfully progressing through to the CIS trials.
CIS Rugby Trials Representatives: Jimmy C, Archer H, Henry W, William S, Jasper M, Col O
Football
Round 5 of the IPSHA season saw our Junior School footballers take on some of their toughest opponents yet—and the Cranbrook players certainly rose to the challenge. It was a weekend of exciting football, skillful play, and sportsmanship across all grades. A special thanks to all families and community members who attended our Football Function on Friday. Your support means so much to the players and the program, and we hope you enjoyed the evening as much as we did.
6As – 2–0 Win vs Wyvern Prep In their toughest test of the season so far, the 6As put in a composed and mature performance against a highly talented Wyvern side. The match featured several players who had just made the IPSHA representative squad, and the intensity reflected that standard. Bobby continued to prove that heart and determination outweigh size, while Lucas led the line with energy and class. Off the back of a strong showing in the Cranbrook Football Launch match against the 7As, the students showed great physical and mental resilience to back up with another win. The future is bright for this group.
6Bs – 2–1 Win After conceding an early goal, the 6Bs responded brilliantly. The defence became a fortress, with Tully covering every blade of grass. Henry brought the game level with a clinical finish, and Leo sealed the comeback with a decisive back-post goal, assisted by relentless midfield play and Joe’s impactful second half. A true show of resilience and team spirit.
6Cs – 4–2 Win The 6Cs made it three wins on the trot with another commanding performance. Julian and Jamie were outstanding on the wings, constantly creating chances. Jamie got things rolling with a tidy finish before Henry closed out the match in style with a top-corner screamer. The players’ fluent passing and positive intent were a joy to watch.
6Ds – 6–3 Win In a high-scoring affair against Newington, the 6Ds delivered their most complete performance yet. Sascha and Jai were electric on the wings, Leo (“Bubbles”) was the midfield maestro, and Ollie’s pressing from the front led to several turnovers. Solid defending from Jack, Tobi, Alex, and Josh, plus some sharp keeping from Carlitos, rounded out a full-team effort. MOTM: Bubbles.
5As – 3–1 Win The 5As controlled the match from start to finish, dominating possession and attacking play. Harvey was a rock at centre-back, and Louis dictated the tempo from right back. Woody was a menace on the wing, dribbling past defenders at will and scoring a well-earned goal.
5Bs – 2–0 Win Another solid display from the 5Bs. Wren put on a dribbling clinic, reminiscent of Neymar, while Alex commanded the defence with great presence. The team continues to build momentum with clean sheets and creative football.
5Cs – 1–0 Win The 5Cs deserved their narrow win, having been the stronger side throughout. Emilio led the line with strength and creativity, and his persistence paid off as he helped secure the crucial goal.
5Ds – 0–2 Loss Despite the scoreline, the 5Ds dominated large portions of the game after conceding twice early. Countless chances came and went, but the students never dropped their heads. Hunter earned Man of the Match with a composed and commanding display at centre-back.
3As – 6–1 Win A season-best performance from the 3As, who could’ve easily scored more than six. After being denied by some excellent Barker goalkeeping early, the players found their rhythm and scored five in the second half. Their passing and movement were a highlight, with Tom and Harry showing remarkable maturity on the ball.
3Bs – 10–0 Win The 3Bs were in ruthless form, dominating from start to finish. James, Nathan, and Hugo led the charge with sharp passing and spatial awareness. Even with a five-pass rule and numerical disadvantage late in the match, the Cranbrook players continued to impress.
3Cs – 9–1 Win A strong performance highlighted by positional discipline and passing combinations.
Charlie delivered a brilliant assist, while Jake netted five goals in a standout performance. Oscar also contributed strongly to the team’s commanding win.
3Ds – 3–3 Draw An exciting end-to-end contest saw both teams trade chances. Angus scored all three goals with great finishes, while Clinton was solid at the back. The team’s work on structure and positional play at training is starting to pay dividends.
Well done to all players and coaches for their efforts this round. The Cranbrook spirit and quality of football on display continue to impress each week. We look forward to building on this momentum in the rounds to come.
Ben Rollison
Head of Football
Rugby
Year 3
Our Year 3 teams experienced mixed results at Koola Park, but there were plenty of positives to take away from the day. Across the board, Cranbrook displayed exciting attacking flair, crossing the line for some outstanding tries. Marcel and Cooper were standout performers, consistently impressing with their skill, effort, and game awareness.
Year 4
The Year 4s delivered a much-improved performance this week, particularly in defence. Their tackling and physicality were a noticeable step up, showing growing confidence and commitment. While passing remains an area to refine—especially when looking to exploit space out wide—the team’s overall performance was very encouraging. Special mentions go to Sandy for his all-round effort and Xander, who slotted all his conversions with precision. Final score: Cranbrook 35–28 win.
Year 5A
The Year 5As played an exceptional game of rugby on the weekend against Tudor House. Even in cold conditions, our players came out firing, with strong ball-running from the forwards being a key highlight. This was complemented by some brilliant individual performances in the backline, including a full-field try from kick-off and some excellent ball movement. The team was asked to focus on two key objectives: intent in contact and securing our own rucks. Both were executed extremely well, making it a great day on the park.
Year 5B
In their first game, Cranbrook faced a tough Redfield side who scored some early tries. However, led by Harry in the second half, the team fought back strongly, eventually going down by just one try. Our players carried that momentum into the next game against St Pius, scoring some brilliant tries and finishing with a hard-fought draw.
Year 6A
Cranbrook 0 – 32 Riverview. Although the final scoreline was one-sided, Cranbrook produced one of their best performances of the season against Riverview. Injuries and illness meant the Year 6 side started the game with only 14 players. Despite this, Cranbrook immediately began to dominate the ruck area, winning turnover after turnover. Riverview’s pace in the backline proved decisive, as quick ball movement saw them score two tries on the break. Cranbrook’s attack looked much improved this week, and the players will feel unlucky not to have crossed the try line at least once.
Year 6B
The 6Bs had a 4–4 draw against Waverley and a 7–2 win against Scots. The second victory was particularly impressive, given we had only six players to their seven. A great performance from Marcus.
Peter Dumbleton
Head of Rugby
Tennis
On Saturday at Lyne Park, our junior tennis session focused on match play, with an emphasis on cross-court points to help players develop better angles and maintain effective height over the net. This tactical exercise improved shot selection and consistency under pressure. Two players stood out this week: Lachy E made an inspiring return from injury, showing determination and strong effort throughout. Magnus M had an excellent day, displaying solid technique and strategy to win most of his matches. The group continues to show great improvement and enthusiasm in competitive scenarios. Well done to all players.
Ben Higgins
Head of Tennis
Multi-Sports
The Multi-Sports team enjoyed a dynamic and engaging Round 5. The morning began with Survival Tag as a warm-up, followed by a fun and skill-building session of Frisbee Golf. The group then divided into three teams to play Indoor Football. Throughout the games, there was excellent use of spacing and teamwork, with all participants showing strong sportsmanship and a positive attitude. Congratulations to Edward T and Jack F, who were named the players of the week for their impressive efforts and team contributions.
Josh Cohen
Assistant Head of Sport and JS PDHPE Teacher