Iona College community celebrates premiership victory
Iona College has won the AIC First XI premiership after another enthralling final round of action today.
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Members of the AIC cricket community, please stand, one and all, and clap the Iona College First XI side for winning the AIC premiership.
It is the second time in four seasons Iona have won the premiership. Captained by Lachlan McClure and coached by Wayne Niven, the title is another rubber stamp of approval for a cricket program which, this decade, has produced players like Harley Malpass, Cayman Toole, Zayne Thomas, Liam Johns, Liam Carter, the Linning boys, the Bragger brothers, Lachlan McClure and Adam Richter.
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Just like the 2022 premiership winning side, the strength of this Iona side was not one or two key players. Rather it was consistency across the team which was a feature.
“At the end of the day we have had different people contribute across the course of the season,’’ coach Niven said.
“When we needed people to stand up with bat and ball. And that is the reason why went so well as a team.’’
Iona College director of sport Craig Stariha also heaped praise on Niven, the former club cricket ace and Queensland colts representative all-rounder, and the playing squad.
“The College is fortunate to have such a passionate and experienced First XI coach in Wayne Niven.
“A lot of time and effort and expertise goes into every season. We are proud of our team and we are extremely happy with their success this season and the way they represented our College.’’
Yesterday at Curlew Park, Iona (231) secured the premiership by defeating St Patrick’s College (138).
After the loss of an early wicket, and then the dismissal of Harley Malpass, Liam Carter (52) and Nic Bragger (37) combined to guide their side forward.
After they were dismissed Lachlan McClure (46 not out) and Liam Johns (26) continued on, and Iona had a good total to defend, even though St Patrick’s had Steve Hogan in their side.
Toby Collins 36 not out (28 balls) then produced a very important innings to enable his side to move to 231.
The big thing which would have concerned Iona was the presence of batting ace Steve Hogan for Paddies. And Hogan did fire, making 77 before Adam Richter trapped him LBW.
Captain McClure was outstanding with the ball (3-15), but unsung Clancy Muniandy chimed in with three wickets as well.
It was also a double celebration for the Iona community, with the school’s Firsts volleyball team becoming unbeaten premiers after a 3-1 win over St Peters.
In Ashgrove, Marist College Ashgrove chased down St Edmund’s 152 in the afternoon, winning by nine wickets after Frank Piper scored 85.
Eddie’s Tomi Wilson countered after Ashgrove’s early success, making 38 from 56 balls, while Rylan McDonald (35, 84 balls) and Samuel Morris (19) proudly defended their wickets. It was gutsy stuff by them all against a good attack.
McDonald, gallant with the ball all season, is clearly made of stern stuff.
St Peters, the home side had a rousing win by dismissing Villanova.
“I am extremely proud of St Peters. To be a chance to be joint premiers at one stage today is definitely punching above our weight,’’ said coach Gary Munday who said, as a community, St Peters had wins in the Firsts, seconds, thirds, 9A and 9B games against Villa.
Saints struggled early in the match against the bowling fire power of Frederiken, Corbett, Joyce and Waites, but then Isaac Krause (35) and Lars Sagorski (20) and Liam Bahemia (48 not) got stuck into it.
Villa’s Henrik Frederiksen was threatening at the bowling crease again with two wickets, while Zac Joyce (2-25) shone and Lachlan Whaites claimed wickets (three). It was a fine team bowling effort by Villa to restrict St Peters to 176.
When Villa batted, Zac Joyce scored 47 but it was the Saints bowlers who shone – with Austin Croll taking 4-28 and Ashish Neredumilli two wickets.
At Banyo, Padua’s Cameron Plackett claimed 5-28 while Will Tozer (85) saved his best until last in Padua’s win over St Laurence’s.
William Tozer scored a matchwinning innings after Laurie’s were on top early, joining with Plackett (37) to steer his side to a four wicket win.
Earlier, after Plackett struck early, Aiden Mohr counterattacked as St Laurence’s recovered from the shock loss of three early wickets.
Mohr made 57 runs from 95 balls, while Daniel Gray (45) was just as defiant. It was good, gritty stuff from the pair, with their efforts rewarded by Thomas Stenhouse’s fluent 40 whose stylish innings enabled Laurie’s to reach a competitive 180.
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