Little League Winter Sport Round 5
Round 5 at Cranbrook was marked by the IPSHA Indigenous Round, providing a meaningful experience for our students. Each fixture commenced with an Acknowledgement of Country, respectfully read by a player from the home team. This initiative offered a valuable opportunity for the students to honour Indigenous heritage and foster a deeper understanding of our shared history. The students relished the chance to compete, especially as they will be having next weekend off for the King’s Birthday. They are eager to make the most of their time on the field and are performing well across all sports.
Yours in Sport,
Mr James Roughan
Head of Sport & PDHPE
Rugby
We had another great week of training last week, and thankfully our games on Saturday were finished before the torrential rain came in. The coaches are working hard to provide as many game-realistic learning experiences within training, and we are seeing that come to life on Saturdays. Thank you, coaches!
Results:
Year 6A – Year 6 continues our undefeated season, knocking off Knox 15-39. Spreading the ball was a critical skill the team excelled at. Almost all our tries came from the wing. We also did well protecting the ball in the rucks, with much better placements being a focus all week. However, we failed to counter ruck, especially when Knox was 5m out from their try line. This week’s focus should be on how to form a maul and stepping back on the inside of defenders (we had 3 tries disallowed, 2 of which were from stepping out).
Year 6B – The Year 6B’s ventured to Koola Park for 2 fixtures in their 7s comp against Coogee Prep and Knox Grammar School. Due to a hard-running performance from Coogee Prep, Cranbrook went down 13 tries to 2, with tries from Tomek O and Lachie E. Despite the loss, the mighty B’s bounced back with a stellar performance against Knox Grammar School, winning 25-20 with tries from Lachie C and Louis B. The students really put the tackling practice from the week into their game, holding out Knox on the final play to record a famous victory against their fellow CAS Competition.
Year 5A – 46-5 against St Aloysius. Despite the eventual one-sided scoreline, the Year 5A’s faced a tough opponent in St Aloysius. The message to Cranbrook in training all week was connection and alignment in defence. Alo’s put this to the test from the very first whistle with some big runners testing the ‘Brook’ line. Some tough tackling from Henry W and Barnaby W, coupled with some exceptional rucking from Col O, meant that the home side was unable to trouble the scoreboard. Cranbrook were masters of counterattack, with Frank T and William S both bagging hat tricks. A special mention to Xavier M, who filled in at fly half on the day, ensuring that the attack and shape went well.
Year 5B – Year 5B’s had a 6-6 draw against Grammar and a 4-3 win against Scots. It has been good to see the boys improving each week. Gus T’s strong and powerful running was a big factor in the boys remaining undefeated for the year.
Year 4A – 49-0 Win vs Trinity College. We fielded 10 players on Saturday who worked really hard on trying to get better with their passing to use everyone across the field. The game was lopsided, with Trinity fielding a team in their first year of rugby. We adapted the game with constraints on the boys and more Trinity players on the field to increase the pressure and ensure we continued to develop our skills. The highlight of the game was from the first kick-off with a quality chop tackle and a well-executed jackal. This led to the first try in a great display of the skills the boys are working hard on at training.
Year 4B – The Year 4 sevens team started the day against Sydney Grammar and looked defensively strong through the middle, with Harry and Bailey standing out. However, it was not enough to stop Sydney Grammar, losing 4-6. We then took a 20-minute break before going against a strong Newington side. Theo C’s excellent running game paired with Harry M’s tenacity in defence kept Cranbrook in the game, but it was not enough, losing 8-5.
Year 3 Red – Both games recorded a loss, 6-2 in the first game and 5-4 in the second. The red team first took on a strong Scots side, with Xander N stepping up into the team, which was a man down, and proving himself to be a menace to the Scots defence. Some great runs by Gabriel V and Teddy H had the boys in the fight early; however, a late run of tries saw the red team fall to their Bellevue Hill enemies in a physical battle. Game two against Grammar was a back-and-forth duel, with Flynn S and Sandy D carving up their defence early. The boys took a two-try lead into the half, but a strong comeback saw Grammar claw their way back, winning by a try in the dying minutes.
Year 3 White – The Year 3 White 7s team had impressive matches against both Scots and St Aloysius, securing victories in both games. Our focus on securing the ball at ruck time and executing low chop tackles paid off as our defence was stellar, with minimal missed tackles and turnovers. Next week, we aim to improve our ball movement by passing it along the line to exploit space better, as we noticed some isolated runners. A standout moment was Ben M’s incredible performance, scoring two pitch-length tries that lit up the game.
A Reminder: Our Monday morning sessions are open to all junior rugby players. We have 3 experienced coaches working with them every week on their fundamentals. Enjoy the weekend off for King’s Birthday. Games will recommence the following weekend.
Peter Dumbleton
Head of Rugby
Rugby Year 6
Football
Year 6: Our Year 6 teams faced off against Trinity in a series of closely contested matches. The A team played a thrilling game, resulting in a 1-1 draw, showcasing their resilience and teamwork. The B team secured a convincing 5-1 victory, demonstrating their strong offensive skills. Meanwhile, the C team, despite a spirited effort, fell 2-4 in a competitive match.
Year 5: Year 5 took on St Augustine’s. The A team emerged victorious with a 2-0 win, thanks to their solid defence and strategic play. The B team battled to a hard-fought 3-3 draw, reflecting their determination in a tight match. The C team narrowly lost 1-2, but the D team concluded the day with a commanding 6-1 win, showcasing their teamwork and precision.
Year 4: Our Year 4 teams faced local rivals Scots College and delivered a series of impressive performances. The A team put on a spectacular show, winning 9-0, while the B team secured a close 3-2 victory. The C team dominated their match with a 9-1 win, and the D team followed suit with a 6-1 triumph. To cap off a perfect round, the E team clinched a 1-0 victory, making it a clean sweep for Year 4.
Year 3: The Year 3 A/B and E teams had byes this week, but the C and D teams took on Santa Sabina College. The C team secured a thrilling 4-3 win, and the D team achieved a remarkable 8-0 victory, showcasing their offensive strength and teamwork.
With five rounds completed, the Junior School football program is hitting its stride, reflecting the dedication and hard work of all the players. We congratulate everyone for their commitment and look forward to more exciting matches in the coming rounds.
Ben Rollison
Head of Football
Football Year 6
Football Year 5 As
Football Year 5 Bs
Football Year 5 Cs
Football Year 5 Ds
Football Year 4
Football Year 3
Tennis
The players have been practising serving and continued playing tournament singles against each other. These matches give the students opportunities to combine the skills and shots they have practised at training. The coaches have seen pleasing improvements in the length of rallies and the competitiveness of their matches.
Ben Higgins
Head of Tennis
Multi-Sports
In round 5 of Multi-Sports, the focus was on accuracy, with students continuing to work on their spacing during indoor football games. They also refined their kicking and catching skills, showing significant improvement. Harry D stood out as the player of the week, recognised for his exceptional efforts and commitment to the training sessions.
Josh Cohen
Assistant Head of Sport & PDHPE
