APS cricket: Oliver Peake, Henry Melville lead way as Geelong Grammar claim Tait Cup
Two future stars of Geelong cricket shined bright as their school claimed a historic APS trophy dating back almost 165 years.
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It was a round filled with many moments to savour.
Geelong Grammar took a major step towards lifting the premiership trophy after defeating Scotch College in the Tait Cup to go two games clear on top of the ladder.
Geelong College continued their unbeaten win streak while Melbourne Grammar played for a worthy cause.
See all the top moments from APS cricket Round 9 here.
MELVILLE SHINES IN HISTORIC TAIT CUP WIN
Geelong Grammar skipper Henry Melville scored a match-winning century of 103* to claim the Tait Cup for his side for the seventh time in the last decade.
The year 12’s stunning knock featured 15 fours and edged his team closer to breaking a nine-year premiership drought after going two games clear on top of the ladder with the win.
Congratulations Skipper! Henry Melville 103no seals the deal on a fantastic win for GGS in emphatic style, retaining the Tait Cup in the process. #165yearsofhistorypic.twitter.com/y45ftEDAfI
— GGS_Cricket (@CricketGGS) March 4, 2023
Making the victory even more special was the history behind the two competing schools.
Scotch College and Geelong Grammar were the first two schools in Victoria to officially play a sporting match.
The match occurred on February 26, 1858, almost 165 years ago, with Scotch winning the encounter by 14 runs.
Scotch’s David Ogilvy finished the match with 13 wickets, while brothers John and George Tait took 11 wickets between them for Geelong Grammar.
In the following year, in 1859, the Tait brothers moved to Melbourne and enrolled at Scotch, strengthening the team.
To commemorate the Tait brothers’ connections to both schools and recognise the historical encounter between the two schools in 1858, the Tait Cup was established in 1997 as a perpetual trophy.
Scotch and Geelong Grammar have both won the Tait Cup 12 times with a wash out and Covid confirming the other results from the 26-year-old trophy.
Less than six months after the first match between the schools in 1858, Scotch played the first recorded game of Australian rules football against Melbourne Grammar on August 7, 1858.
The match ultimately led to the formation of the Associated Public Schools (APS) Association in 1877.
Some wonderful memories from a great weekend of Cricket between two proud schools! #TaitCup#165yearsofhistorypic.twitter.com/4giib1Nu4v
— GGS_Cricket (@CricketGGS) March 4, 2023
Oliver Peake is unstoppable
The year 11 is having a dream season with Geelong Grammar.
Peake took 4-61 off 28 overs before scoring a blistering 80 off 84 balls against Scotch in Round 9 on the weekend.
In every round except for one so far this season, the all-rounder has either taken five-fa or scored a half century.
Round 8 was the only round the Geelong premier cricketer didn’t achieve it, but he still managed to take two wickets in that game.
The left-hand batter has two centuries and four half centuries from eight innings.
His top score is an unbeaten 106, batting at number three.
Peake has taken two five-wicket hauls with his off-spin and has best figures of 5-15 against reigning premiers Melbourne Grammar in Round 3.
Rollercoaster Wesley-Xavier match ends in draw
It was a game that had it all.
A century, five-fa, momentum swings and a draw as the final result.
Wesley were on top early thanks to Sam Anderson who hit a blistering century of 128 off 131 balls which led his side to a handy total of 10- 296.
Sam Anderson (yr 10) of @Wesley_College@sport_wesley vs @XavierCollege 101* off 101 on the Kroger front turf. pic.twitter.com/0st68AqGVN
— josh sugden (@joshsugden6) March 3, 2023
Xavier Austin starred with the ball for Xavier with a five-wicket-haul of 5-62 off 18.3 overs.
In reply, Xavier gained back some steady ground as Benjamin Wickham (51) and Xavier Austin (55) notched half centuries.
Ollie Entwisle led the way with the ball for Wesley taking three wickets.
Needing one wicket, Xavier batters Nicholas Francis (36*) and Sebastian Donnellan (9*) held on to their wickets for the draw after 85 overs in a captivating finish.
â¦@XC_Sportâ© finish on 9/270 drawing with Wesley 10/298 â¦@APS_Sportâ© pic.twitter.com/TdvBvdRtYg
— JoeForrest (@joeforrestcric1) March 4, 2023
Geelong College can’t be stopped
After going winless for the first six games of the season, Geelong College has gone on a stunning three-game unbeaten streak.
On Saturday, College defended 176 at Brighton Grammar to record a stunning 12-run win away from home against Haileybury who are in the premiership race.
Max Franklin was the player-of-the-match after taking a five-wicket-haul of 5-49 off 14.2 overs including the final two wickets which he claimed to win the game.
After scoring a century last week, Tom Patterson continued his important contributions to the side with four catches as wicketkeeper and a 22 opening the batting.
The nail biting victory comes after College pulled off an impressive win over premiership facies Geelong Grammar in Round 7 followed by a draw last week against reigning premier Melbourne Grammar.
Bowlers dominate St Kevin’s-Carey clash
A total of 29 wickets were taken for the game with both St Kevin’s and Carey heading out for two innings in the match.
St Kevin’s debutant Albert Macgowan took four wickets each in the first innings and followed it by an additional two to gain six for the match.
The Year 9 was alongside Carey’s Jamie Blackman in taking an equal game-high six for the match.
Carey came out reverse outright winner from the match passing St Kevin’s lead of 192, four wickets down.
Melbourne Grammar gear up for good cause
MGS and CGS 1st XI players supporting Beyond Blue with blue bat handles #bluebaggy2223pic.twitter.com/o5vXFyU43t
— Baggy Blue (@BlueBaggy) March 5, 2023
Melbourne Grammar cricketers changed their batting grips to the colour of blue in support of Beyond Blue, an Australian mental health and wellbeing support organisation.
Founded in 2000, the organisation provide support programs to address issues related to depression, suicide, anxiety disorders and other related mental illnesses.
Mental health support is available.
If you or someone you know needs assistance:
Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 or at www.beyondblue.org.au
Lifeline on 13 11 14 or https://www.lifeline.org.au/
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