St Patrick’s make winning start to ACC in cricket

The benefits of moving to an illustrious school sporting competition is already proving to be a winner for one regional Victoria powerhouse. Here’s why.

A new era in school sports has started for Ballarat’s St Patrick’s College.

And it believes the move can help them produce the next Matt Short.

St Pat’s made its Association Catholic Colleges (ACC) cricket debut last week, playing against De La Salle in the 35-over Division 1 competition, winning by four wickets.

After bowling out the opposition for 108, the Ballarat school chased down its target with 10 overs to spare.

Last year, St Patrick’s announced they would move all sports competition into the ACC after competing in some codes last year.

It follows the school dominating the Ballarat Association Schools competition.

This year, the school will be involved in AFL, cricket, soccer and basketball for the first time over the next few months.

For St Patrick’s cricket coach Steve Biggin the move was already a winner before a ball was bowled.

“In the BAS competition there, we got down to three teams,” he said.

“There’s only us, Clarendon College and Ballarat Grammar. So (with a) final there’s three games in the season.

“So down in ACC, with potentially seven games, if they make a grand final, there is a big difference and a bit more opportunity as a school sport rather than what it was in BAS.”

The St Patrick's first team that played last week against De La Salle. Logan Clark (back left), Archie Lalor, Connor Weidemann, Lincoln Koliba, Jack Jarvis, Luke Smith, Lachlan Brodie, Jack Kovacevic (front left), Harry Lawson, Darcy Aitken, Clarke Alaimo, Jimmy Duxson. Picture: St Patrick's College.

St Patrick’s admit it doesn’t know how it will stack up against the others schools in the competition.

Alongside playing De La Salle, they’ll face St Bede’s, St Joseph’s, St Bernard’s and Whitefriars before a potential semi-final and grand final.

“We came in sort of having never played against any of the other ACC schools in terms of cricket,” Biggin said.

“The first game, you never know what you’re up against, but we were sort of quite lucky to get away with a win.

“Especially when we had a couple of players that were sort of unavailable, our captain was injured (as well), so you never know when you've got a couple of players out how the other players stand up.”

The team features Archie Lalor and Connor Weidemann who played for Victoria Country at under-17 level last year and Will Lalor, who is the captain.

Sam Lalor, Archie Lalor and Will Lalor are talented young cricketers who have all gone to St Patrick’s College. Picture: Ben Higgins.

Biggin said the team was talented this year and is in good shape despite losing Sam Lalor to Geelong Grammar last year.

“There’s a couple of year 12’s here who are quite strong and then there’s a couple of the Victoria Country boys from this year will really help us going forward next year,” Biggin said.

“We’ve (also) got quite a strong Year 11 cohort that will hopefully sort of lead us to a stronger sort of team next year.”

Win, lose, or draw, Biggin is confident the experience against more schools will help St Pat’s cricketers in the future.

Matt Short is one of only two players from the school to play for Victoria in first class, one day or T20 cricket in the past 77 years.

Ballarat’s Matt Short won the BBL player of the tournament award this season. Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

His performance in the Big Bash recently, as player of the year, combined with the school making the move, could provide the perfect recipe for St Patrick’s to produce more talent.

“I think it’s the key thing that we’re looking forward to with the ACC and the chance to expand the opportunities they have,” Biggin said.

“We've obviously had it with the football quite a lot (role models), but for our cricketers (it’s been hard).

“Some of our boys who are cricketers aren’t footballers.

“So it’s giving them, well them seeing, that there’s those other opportunities outside of just football that they can excel in as well.

“And that St Pat’s boys can perform on the big stage in BBL or Internationals or AFL.”

On Wednesday, St Pat’s will take on Whitefriars in their next game at home.

It will be the first time a match in the ACC has been held at their oval.

“A lot of our BAS sport has been played after school, so this will be the first opportunity really to have a school cricket match taking place during lunchtime,” Biggin said.

“We will see probably a big event within the school and see students having the opportunity to go out and watch the first 11 play on the main oval.

“So it is going to be quite a special day for the school getting to be able to showcase that talent.”

The game starts at 1.30pm.