The Catholic Weekly 25 December 2022

NEWS 25, December, 2022 SPORT SYDNEY CATHOLIC Schools (SCS) hasmade the effort to not overlook their smaller schools this year, and in doing so have made history by entering a combined cricket team into the Mark Taylor Cricket Shield. The students fromSt Joseph’s Oatley and St Finbar’s San Souci took the opportunity and ran with it, chasing down a spot in the Shield’s Grand Final. “We’ve never been in it be- fore until this year, and we nev- er would have been because of the numbers” explained San Souci teacher, Lynette Jackson. Having only met each other at the first game of the com- petition, students from both schools proved they came to play as they tore through their pool and climbed the ladder over by over. Facing Holy Family Menai in their final pool game, the com- bined SCS teamchased 196 and ¾ Tasmyn Haynes Small can still win SCHOOL SPORTS ended the impressive feat with a victory on the very last ball. The SCS team came up against StAugustine’sBrookvale in the final, where they hit big and displayed surprising teamwork. However, it wasn’t enough to secure the win and Brookvale were victorious by 6 wickets to continue their cham- pion status for a third consecu- tive time. Annie and Libby, the only two girls in the combined team, reflected on their time in the tournament, saying “you get used to playing with people you don’t know.” “Being in a teamwith anoth- er school has been really fun! We’ve met new people and the boys have been really nice and supportive. It’s a great opportu- nity to make new friends” they said. SCS Conference 1 Sports Co- ordinator, Ryuta Kato, was es- pecially excited about what this St Augustine’s bats while St Joseph’s and St Finbar’s fields and bowls. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED ¾ Tasmyn Haynes ‘Tis the Season for sport SCS shows that no matter your size or numbers, if you’re in it you can win it Each and every game was played in great spirit and tries were the essence of the day - Mark Hildebrandt THE SYDNEY Catho- lic Schools (SCS) Summer Championships continues in Volleyball as the winners from each Conference go head to head to see who is the best of the best. Billbergia Indoor Sports Centre was filled with high school students just itching to dig, set, and spike their way Volleyball Summer Champs ¾ Tasmyn Haynes OZTAG to glory. Over the ambiance of pump-up music, teams hooted and hollered as match point meant victory for some and groans of defeat for oth- ers. After long rallies and dy- namic movement around the court, the results were in. The Junior Girls trophy was hoisted by Mary Mack- illop College Wakeley, their game stretching out to three sets. Marist College Koga- rah’s game also went to three sets before they took out the Junior Boys division. The In- termediate Girls was won by Bethany College Hurst- ville, and in keeping with the theme of the day, Marist Col- lege North Shore were victori- ous in the Intermediate Boys after three sets. The Senior division was dominated by All Saints Liverpool who took home gold for both girls and boys categories. The SCS Term 4 Sports Program can be marked as successful, as all players throughout the competition competed with ear to ear smiles and bucket loads of spirit. Teams performance at the Summer Championships has left spectators with antic- ipation for the 2023 program. merger could mean for schools moving forward in sport. “This could be the start of seeing smaller schools come on board to participate in large tournaments where they usual- ly wouldn’t have been able to” he said. St Joseph’s Oatley and St Finbar’s San Souci have put in the hard yards to show that no matter the size, anyone can be a force to be reckoned with when given the chance. CRICKET Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) Combined cricket team - Mark Taylor Cricket Shield. WINNER St Augustine’s College, Brookvale VOLLEYBALL Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) Summer Championships WINNERS All Saints Liverpool - Gold for girls and boys categories - Senior Divison The Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) Oztag Summer Champi- onships was described as “an action packed day of quality Oztag” by Conference 3 Sports Coordinator, Mark Hilde- brandt. The event brought all four Conferences to a standstill as the top teams competed for the glory and bragging rights of being crowned Sydney Oztag Champions. When the Junior Girls sides fromBrigidine College Rand- wick and Bethany College Hurstville stepped onto the grass at Heffron Park, they were unaware that their Grand Final game would be the talk of the day. The sound of the velcro tags being torn fromhips could hardly be heard over the tactical communication fromboth teams as the game kicked off. Quick play by Randwick saw themhead into the second half with a lead of 3 to 2, however, as it generally goes in finals rounds, its never over until it’s over. With Hurstvillemaking an aggressive comeback, the girls put their bodies on the line as they dodged, weaved, and chased down absolutely everything. Both teams were not backing down and proved they were in it for the long haul with the score tied at 5 with under aminute to go. The ten seconds on the clock were ticking away fast and Randwickmade a break for it. Just millimetres from the try line a pink tag was flung into the air as Hurstville narrowly escaped a loss at this stage. The game now in extra time, the race was on to be the first to score. The girls fought hard until the very end but eventu- ally it was Randwick that would hold the trophy above their heads with a final score of 6 to 5. In the Junior Boys division Champagnat College Pagewood defeated St Patrick’s Suther- land 12 to 2. The Intermediate category was taken out by the Our Lady of The Sacred Heart Kensington girls, andMarcellin College Randwick were victorious in the boys. Brigidine College struck again in the Senior Girls, as did the Senior Boys Marcellin College team to claim the gold. Although this was an SCS combined-conference event, Conference 1 stole the showwith a clean sweep of 6 from 6 Grand Final wins. Something that is sure to get the other Conferences hungry for next years Summer Championships. North Shore winning their Conference finals. IMAGE: SUPPLIED Won by 6 wickets Students were itching to dig, set and spike their way to glory”