AIC First XI cricket: Team of the Season revealed after two way premiership tie
The AIC First XI cricket Team of the Season can be revealed after a cliff hanging three way jostle for the premiership ended in Ashgrove and Iona sharing the title.
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The AIC First XI premiership has been shared between reigning premiers Iona and Marist Ashgrove after St Patrick’s dramatic win over Villanova College in a gripping final round.
All three teams needed to win their respective matches to remain deadlocked with each other at the top of the table - but only Ashgrove and Iona accomplished the task.
Iona (0-65) defeated St Edmund’s (64) and Marist (3-47) overcame Padua (46), but Villanova collapsed for 115 at Curlew Park, Shorncliffe, after an inspired performance by Henry Moore and the bowling attack.
The win continued the success of Iona and Marist who, at different times this decade, have either won outright or shared the First XI premiership.
Villa also looked home after inducing a Paddies’ batting collapse, but Henry Moore (41) and Alex Bullock’s 29 not out lifted them to 119.
Then spinner Adam Hogan and Max Hillard both claimed three wickets, while Theo Tsingos took two wickets as St Pat’s came from behind to bowl out Villa for 115 and win.
In the other match, St Peters (6-89) finished the season on a high after a tense battle with a spirited St Laurence’s College.
TEAM OF THE SEASON
1. Isaac Krause (St Peters)
An elite top batsmen for Ipswich in the Tav’s U17 club season, Krause did not get the big runs in AIC cricket for his school which he would have wanted. But he makes the Team of the Season for his bowling, including hauls of 2-25, 4-30, 1-23 and 2-31 in round seven.
2. Jack Watson (Marist Ashgrove)
Watson started the season with a duck, believe it or not, but went on to become one of the top three players of the summer. Scores of 67 not out, 33 not out and 40 were features, important runs in often tense situations. But he also conjured up a match winning bowling haul of 5-36. He batted No.3, but we named him at opener to fit the best players this season into the side.
3. Finn Thallon (Villanova)
Alongside Marist pair Joey Laner (Marist) and Watson, Thallon was the outstanding player in the competition. His all around efforts were top notch, with contributions like 20 and 2-3, 51 and 2-18, 39 not out and 2-38 (against Iona) mixed in with other bowling spells of 2-8, 2-32 and 2-20. Take a bow Finn Thallon. You have served your school with distinctions across four seasons of First XI cricket.
4. Joey Laner (Marist Ashgrove)
Laner was Mr Consistency, one of the most reliable players in the competition who was always contributing. His 2-44 and 31 against Iona in round 1 set the scene, The medium pace new ball bowler with good carry was also a man for a batting crisis who twice withstood pressure to guide his side to tense wins. His 52 not out and a spell of 5-16 were high water marks.
5. Flynn Donnelly (Iona)
Donnelly was outstanding in a summer garnished by performances such as 52, 1-25, 2-14, 4-16, 0-12, 28 and 0-28. Against Villanova, right arm fast bowler Donnelly almost swung the match his team’s way with a blazing 52 from 45 balls which was against the run of play in a game dominated by the bowlers. The Year 11 medium pacer then bowled tightly, conceding just 12 runs from six overs in a thriller.
6. Thomas Vaseo (St Laurence’s)
Together with St Patrick’s Theo Tsingos, the Redlands’ bay junior was the competition’s most feared fast bowler. He was off radar early when he took 3-78, but after that settled into his stride to produce threatening, economical spells of 0-21, 3-26, 2-29 and 2-19 in round seven. He also scored 25 against Ashgrove.
7. Samuel Pauli (Villanova)
Pauli, a right arm first change bowler, iced his season with an opening spell of 5-1-10-2 in round 7 against St Patrick’s. During the season he also put together equally impressive spells of 3-26, 2-42, 1-16 and 3-26, while also supporting the team’s front man, Finn Thallon and Oscar Tesch.
8. Jess Haller (Iona)
Haller sublimely fitted into the title winning Iona attack, adding a dimension to his team’s attack. His slow bowling included hauls of 1-23, 3-20, 3-4, 3-43, 1-33 and then, yesterday, he whipped out the Eddie’s lower order with a 3-10 effort from 4.2 overs. Haller always seemed to find a wicket or two.
9. Max Edye (Ashgrove)
Edye makes the Team of the Season for his glove work. The wicketkeeper was a quiet achiever of Marist’s campaign, with crisp glove work to his spinners and nice balance standing back to Laner being features of his golden summer.
10. Archer Tallon (Ashgrove)
A leg spin bowler, Tallon was one of the bowlers of the season. He built pressure through his accuracy, was a great partnership bowler and had potent wicket taking balls in his arsenal. He also produced an outstanding rearguard innings of 24 from 98 balls, helping Ashgrove recover from 4-35 to a round two win that looked in jeopardy. Yesterday against Padua he claimed 3-15 from seven overs.
11. Ryan Out (Padua)
Out maybe No.11, but he was no last man into the side. The slightly built spinner from Padua was outstanding, with contributions of 2-32, 1-23, 2-18 and 3-15 features of his summer. He also scored a gallant 42 not out against Villanova.
12. Oscar Tesch (Villanova)
Cricket is all about batting partnerships, but it is all about bowling partnerships as well and one of the best in the business was Tesch. Tesch’s support bowling of Finn Thallon at the start of each innings was outstanding. His 2-12 from 10 overs against Iona was a high water mark in an excellent season for Tesch, and he finished the season in style on Saturday in round 7.
13th man: Jacob Bingham (St Laurence’s)
There were no flies on Bingham. The young quick was one of the bowlers of the summer, with his performances of 3-36, 3-15, 1-24, 1-33, 1-16 and 1-40 playing his way into this top 13. His efforts were even more meritorious when you consider he was in a side which had to battle hard to gain party in matches, although the presence of fast bowler Thomas Vaseo
helped.
MOST UNLUCKY OMISSIONS
Lars Sagorski (St Peters)
The Saints’ captain’s telling 5-25 bowled his side to the most unlikely victory. Against St Patrick’s he had only 90 runs to defend, but the skipper led by example to take the first wicket, the last wicket and another three wickets in between. In another match he also took 3-10 against St Edmund’s.
Theo Tsingos (St Patrick’s)
If he had played more, he would have made the side obviously. The Queensland U17 representative came late and hard after missing the start of the season due to club cricket commitments. A fearsome fast bowler and good lower or batsmen, Tsingos put together contributions of 2-18, 2-9, 80 not out, 25 and 3-25 as he made up for lost time. St Pat’s were a different side with Tsingos on the field and his presence gave teammates a spring in their step.
Sameer Prasad (Padua)
He was absolutely outstanding and did enough to make the side - but who do you leave out? Padua seamer Prasad was consistent, leading the new ball attack on his way to netting hauls of 4-32, 1-7, 2-38 and 2-1
Finn Haller and James Turner (Iona)
The left arm swing bowler so often set the wheels in motion for his side. The brother of Jess, who made the Team of the Season, the under age Haller again bowled beautifully to snare 1-9 n round 7 against St Edmund’s. Turner is mentioned below.
Toby Collins (Iona)
The Iona captain was the next batsman off the rank into the side during a summer that was dominated by the bowlers. He batted well, but his captaincy and leadership in guiding Iona to another title should not be under-estimated.
BEST SUPPORT BOWLERS
Samuel Pauli (Villanova) and James Turner (Iona)
Pauli had a strong season in a strong side, complementing the Tesch, Fallon and Pauli bowling efforts. He built pressure and regularly found wickets. Leg spin bowler Turner had another high class season, and finished on a high in round 7 by delivering 7-2-10-2.
BOWLING PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON
Will Mortimer (St Patrick’s)
It just had to be Will Mortimer for his 7-23 that bowled his side to an unlikely victory. St Peters were home for all money chasing 110, but the spinner of Mortimer saw them collapse from 4-101 to lose by one run. All this on Mortimer’s birthday. He continued to contribute strongly through the season after that round 1 jackpot and was always among the wickets.
BATTING PERFORMANCES OF THE SEASON
Benjamin de Waard (Padua) and Henry Moore (St Patrick’s)
de Waard scored a game high 58 against St Pat’s fast bowlers Theo Tsingos and Alexander Bullock.
In round seven against Villa’s Finn Thallon, Oscar Tesch and Samuel Pauli, Paddies’ Henry Moore counterattacked with a thrilling 41 as wickets tumbled around him. It was an innings which gave his side enough runs to defend.
ROOKIES ON THE RISE
Kaelan Reynolds (St Laurence’s)
Put a watch on this young fellow. His 70 from 116 balls against co-premiers Iona College underlined him as a player to watch in 2026. Also watch Eddies’pair Samuel Morris (St Edmund’s) and Rylan McDonald (St Edmund’s)
Joshua Pope (Ashgrove)
Year 10 student Pope is an exciting leg spin prospect who rose to the occasion against Villanova with three important wickets, while also capturing a wicket in his first over again in round 7. Watch this space.
SPECIAL MENTIONS
Adam Hogan (St Patrick’s)
Alex Harrison (Iona)
Lachlan Smith (Iona)
Toby Collins (Iona)
Will Easter (Ashgrove)
Alister Bauer (Padua)
Archie Murray (Ashgrove)
Charles Cass (St Edmund’s)
Beau Guppy (St Peters)
Patrick Albion (St Edmund’s)
Alexander Bullock (St Patrick’s)
Carter McSweeney (St Patrick’s)
Christian Frederiksen (Villanova)
Max Knight (Villanova)
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