Little Leagues Report – Round 5

As we approach the final rounds of Term 1 Saturday Sport, it has been fantastic to see our students giving their best each weekend. Round 5 saw some hard-fought performances against high-quality opposition. I enjoyed watching the Year 5/6 A Basketball team go back and forward with Trinity in what was a tough battle. Although Trinity came through with the victory, Cranbrook pushed them the whole way and played some excellent basketball. It was great to see some of our junior cricket teams playing on Hordern, Liam E will remember the day fondly having bowled a superb hat-trick. 

With just one round to go, I encourage all students to stay focused and finish the summer season on a high. Round 6 is the final opportunity to showcase the progress made this term, so let’s give our best effort and represent Cranbrook with pride.

Upcoming Key Dates – Winter Sport Training

Friday, 28 March (1:30-3:10pm) – Winter training begins.

Monday, 31 March and Tuesday, 1 April (3:10-4:10pm) – After school Winter Training commences.

There is no after school training on Monday, 24 March and Tuesday, 25 March (Week 9).

Yours in Sport,

James Roughan
Head of Sport & PDHPE

Tennis

Cranbrook As faced a challenging match against a very strong Scots team.

Unfortunately, our first and last doubles teams struggled against two highly competitive opponents. However, Josh M and Hugo B delivered an exceptional performance in doubles, losing a close match 3-4, with almost no unforced errors.

Josh L showcased an outstanding net game with impressive reactions, and Santiago D did a great job keeping the opponents away from the baseline, though they also lost in a tight match 3-4.

In singles matches, we saw strong performances from George Y and Santiago D, both narrowly losing their matches 2-3.

The victories of the day came from Hugo B and Ricky C, who both won their matches 3-2 in highly competitive games.

The Player of the Day award goes to Hugo B, who demonstrated a fantastic understanding of the game and maintained a very professional attitude on and off the court.

Cranbrook B

Cranbrook Bs against Scots began with a dominant display of hardcourt tennis, with Jonathan S and Henry R showcasing their doubles craft and confident net play in a 5-2 win. Likewise, Henry W and Leo S hustled up and down the court, navigating unexpected drop shots from Scots and clinching a 4-3 victory.

Nathaniel T, Eric Z, Leo M, and Harvey C faced hard-hitting baseline players, which made it difficult to work their way into points. However, our players were quick to adapt, using angles and pace to secure important games for the team.

In singles, both Henry R and Henry W hustled in the heat to win 5-0, and they then supported Leo S and Leo M in their matches, providing a final push to victory. This fixture proved to be physical, with plenty of vertical and lateral court coverage. The Bs won 9-3 overall in sets and should be pleased with their performances.

Ben Higgins
Head of Tennis

Cricket

The Junior School cricket program celebrated a special milestone as the Year 5A team played on Hordern Oval for the first time—a memorable occasion made even more special by Liam E’s incredible hat-trick. With the big scoreboard lit up, the atmosphere was electric. It was a closely fought contest, but too many soft dismissals meant the students were always playing catch-up.

The Year 4A secured a thrilling 9-run victory over Barker in another nail-biter, while the 4 Blue and Red teams had exciting matches against St Aloysius. The standout feature of these games was the students’ outstanding fielding, with multiple direct-hit run-outs showcasing their sharp reflexes and awareness.

The 6A team faced a tough challenge against a dominant Riverview side, suffering a heavy defeat. Despite the talent within the squad, the opposition took control early and proved too strong on the day.

The Year 6B and Year 3 teams also had eventful matches, rounding out another exciting weekend of cricket. Looking ahead, next Saturday marks the final round of fixtures for the term. It will be a special occasion, with the Year 6A, Year 4 Red & Blue, and all Year 3 teams set to play on Hordern Oval, a fantastic experience for both the students and their parents.

Ben Staunton
Head of Cricket

Cricket Year 3As

Cricket Year 3 Bs

Cricket Year 3 Cs

Cricket Year 4 Bs

Cricket Year 4 Cs

Cricket Year 5

Cricket Year 6As

Cricket Year 6Bs

Basketball

The 5/6 C’s won a nail-biting game winning 27 – 26. The team played great defence, getting many steals and blocks. Charlie D and Heiji C scored many points, assisted often by Sung H’s pin-point passes. The 5/6 D’s had an impressive win on Saturday. The team passed the ball really well, finding each other all over the court. Col O and Aiden G made some difficult shots, scoring many points; winning 20-9. The 5/6 A’s were involved in a very competitive game played at an extremely high level. Defensive efforts from William S and Luca M helped the team stay within reach of a comeback. Unfortunately, the oppositions defence pressure resulted in a few consecutive baskets in the second half; losing 39-45. The 5/6 B’s found themselves in a fast paced and competitive match but fell short losing 25-33. Well done to Charlie D for stepping up and providing outstanding support on the defensive end. Ben H kept the game within reach with high percentage shooting and movement off the ball.

Stephen Whitehead
Head of Basketball

Basketball Year 3 and 4 Blues

Basketball Whites

Water Polo

Juniors Bs – Win 14-3

Cranbrook’s Junior B team headed into their second-last game of the season against St Aloysius B’s. The students aimed to play end-to-end water polo while ensuring safe passes. They got off to a quick start, going up 4-1 in the first quarter by utilising their speed and capitalising on counterattack opportunities. The momentum continued into the second quarter, pushing the score to 6-1. After halftime, the students extended their lead, finishing with a commanding 14-3 win.

Throughout the game, Cranbrook demonstrated impressive attacking decision-making. However, the highlight was their defensive effort, consistently staying goal side and covering players near the goal.

Goal scorers:

Henry H 4, Bond M 3, Woody VHW 2, Ned V 2, Theodore C 1, Jai H 1, Ziggy S 1.

Juniors As – Loss 4-9

Cranbrook’s Junior A team also faced St Aloysius A’s. In a close first quarter, the students trailed 2-3 after conceding a late goal. The second quarter was goalless, leaving Aloysius ahead 2-3 at halftime.

Aloysius came out strong in the third quarter, scoring 4 unanswered goals. Cranbrook rallied in the final quarter with 2 more goals, but Aloysius matched them, resulting in a 9-4 loss.

Despite the scoreline, this was one of the team’s best defensive games of the season, as they consistently stayed goal side and quickly transitioned back on defence. Heading into their final game, the focus will be on improving ball protection and spreading out more in attack.

Gregory McFadden
Head of Water Polo

Sailing

Under overcast skies, the wind was very light. Once again, the students had to focus on balance and sail positioning depending on their direction. It was great to see the support and encouragement from each student.

Tom Brewer
Head of Sailing