AIC First XI premiership goes down to the wire
Who claimed the AIC First XI premiership following a dramatic last round today featuring twin hundreds by Villanova batsmen? Here’s a hint - it is the old school of Test cricket great Matt Hayden. Story here.
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Marist College Ashgrove have claimed the AIC First XI cricket premiership today on a day when two Villanova College batsmen struck unbeaten centuries.
Ashgrove’s nine wicket outright win over St Edmund’s College and Iona College’s win over St Patrick’s meant the premiership trophy headed west to Ashgrove.
It was the college’s first outright premiership win since 2015.
But there was drama at Andrew Slack Oval where Villa pair Connor Moloney and Cameron Bukowski both hit 102 not out as Villanova defeated St Peters.
Moloney faced just 63 balls and Bukowski 75 balls in an extraordinary wag of the tail of Villa’s summer.
In the other fixture, St Laurence’s College (4-194) had a rousing win over Padua 8-137. More on those games below.
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Ashgrove, the old school of Queensland and Australian batting champion Matthew Hayden, won well courtesy of right arm pace bowler Joey Laner claiming 5-8. Marist off spinner Louie Morris (2-5) and Flynn Cleary (2-7) were also among the wickets before Frank Piper (21 not out) and Will Nickelson (12 not out) took their side to a nine wicket win.
While all this was unfolding, Iona was dismissing second placed Paddies for 126 at Davine Oval before Liam Johns (51) and Liam Carter (45 not out) lead a successful run chase.
St Patrick’s had needed to win, and hope St Edmund’s repeat last weekend’s shock result by also defeating Ashgrove to claim the title today.
“We set a goal to win the comp this year,’’ said coach Michael Abbott.
“We only lost the one game to Iona by a close margin and the good thing is we’ve improved every game.’’
He said the team’s culture helped. “They are all great mates. They have fun and they’ve been improving.’’
Abbott praised the leadership group of Ben Ferguson, Louis Morris, Will Nickelson and Tom Davies. “They were spot on all year.’’
He said Nickelson’s batting, where he averaged well over 100 for the season, was amazing. But he stressed it was a team performance.
Around Nickelson, he said Jimmy Brandon got runs and Ben Ferguson “was right up there before his injury’’.
“Tom Wex got a few and Joey Laner down the order chipped in,’’ Abbott said.
Abbott said Louis Morris led the attack well all season.
“Tom Davies opened the bowling and he went without a lot of reward at times, but I thought he led our attack well. And Sam Lewis bowled really.
“I am stoked, really happy for them. They’re a good group and they deserve the success. They worked hard for it.
“It’s been a good competition. Even today results were in the air. That’s what you want in a competition.’’
Earlier, Marist College Ashgrove were handed a gift from Iona College’s unsung medium pace attack which unravelled St Patrick’s premiership campaign in sensational fashion across the first session of play.
Paddies were 7-47 in an hour of play as Adam Richter (4-25) and Harley Malpass (2-15) hustled through their overs to put Iona into the driver’s seat before a St Patrick’s recovery by Henry Moore (33) and Ryan Jessop (38 not out).
Lachlan McClure (4-24) then claimed the vital wicket of Steve Hogan, caught gleefully by Collins, after Richter had removed the first three batsmen of the day during a dramatic new ball effort.
Richter was a wrecking ball and by the time he had finished his five over burst, he had 3-7.
McClure also claimed the dangerous Liam Hartshorn as pressure built on St Patrick’s middle order.
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Richter then came back for a second spell and with McClure, the pair removed No.8 and N.9, and at 8-62 St Patrick’s Henry Moore looked like he would be left stranded.
But Moore and Jessop went above trying to give their bowlers a target to bowl at, adding a rousing 72.
Moore batted for 107 minutes while the aggressive Jessop went at a great clip, scoring his 38 not out from just 58 balls.
Hats off to St Patrick’s College who fought hard all the way to the finish line and the team’s fighting spirit was again emphasised today by Moore and Jessop.
They had a wonderful season, as did St Peters Lutheran College and 2022 premiers Iona who finished the summer strongly.
Iona were not far off, with a top three of Harley Malpass, Liam Johns and Zayne Thomas as good as any in the competition.
At Andrew Slack Oval, Moloney and Bukowski teed off in remarkable fashion to score hundreds.
The boys added 183 in no time, with Bukowski, a First XI player since year 10, farewelling this portion of his school sporting life with an amazing knock.
It was only his third match of the season due to club rugby league commitments with Wynnum-Manly (Meninga Cup).
Brisbane Broncos contracted, he hit eight fours and five sixes while another multi-talented schoolboy, Moloney, struck nine fours and six sixes as Villa managed an unbeatable 302.
Jackson Moloney then took three early wickets as St Peters, having enjoyed a fabulous season, struggled in reply.
Moloney then took a fourth wicket as St Peters struggled despite a terrific innings by Luke Dyer.
Laurie’s Xavier Santos produced arguably a man of the match effort to lead a spirited batting effort with a half century before retiring hurt, but he had plenty of helpers as Finley Arnold (23), Daniel Gray (27), Tom Stenhouse (33 not out) and Mackenzie Douglas (22, 20 balls) chipped in.
Will Tozer took two wickets but it was a strong team bowling effort helped by Plackett, Black, Webster, Walton and Nixon all doing well.
When Padua batted, Evan Chamberlin and Aiden Mohr were outstanding at the bowling crease for St Laurence, with Mohr bowling his 10 overs, 1-20.
Ben Stallman, Lachlan Wigan and Mackenzie Douglas also shone, while Douglas snared the best bowling match figures of 2-19 from 10 overs.
But Santos would not stay out of the match, taking 2-23 from eight overs.
At 5-38 Padua looked out of the contest, but we have seen it all before when it comes to Padua, haven’t we.
And up jumped that man Tozer (58 not out) who found support from Cameron Plackett (33, 56 balls) added 91 before Laurie’s closed out the game.
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