Parking

As we approach the winter sports season we will be hosting a number of sporting events at the College. We encourage and welcome all support and will ensure the College courts are available for parking. Please refrain from parking on any grass areas, including the field. This also applies at after-school sport trainings. 

Cricket 1st XI

Cricket report - 1st XI vs Takapuna Grammar 2nd XI

Batting first, Takapuna struggled against the accurate St Paul’s pace attack of Deputy Head Prefect Solomon Nash and Prefect Stephen Thomas (both Year 13), with Takapuna failing to score at more than one run per over while losing two wickets inside the first eight overs. A 3rd wicket stand of 41, including 20 off 30 balls, looked to be righting the ship for Takapuna. Enter leg spinner Arthur Gabriel (Year 11), who bowled with consistent accuracy before collecting the middle stump and dismissing Takapuna's best batter on a team score of 50 runs. Takapuna were eventually dismissed for a modest 89 in the 35th over.

In reply, opening batters Solomon and Stephen took a cautious approach in the first few overs, adapting to the pitch, and in particular to the angle and length of Takapuna’s impressive left-arm opening bowler. Solomon eventually took charge and played very powerful shots. Unfortunately, two of these proved a little too much for Takapuna's bowlers, but not in the usual manner, with both opening bowlers forced to retire from the field, with their promising left-armer unfortunately hit on the head by the ball while trying to stop a strong Solomon drive, and their other opening bowler being hit on the shin by an even more powerful shot.

Following these setbacks for Takapuna the St Paul's run rate accelerated quickly, moving from 25 in six overs to reach the target inside of 12 overs, with St Paul’s finishing on 94 when Solomon hit a six to bring up the victory.

Standout performers were Solomon and Stephen, respectively scoring 60 not out and 20 not out, and taking three wickets for nine runs off 7.2 overs and 1 wicket for 8 runs off 7 overs. They were supported in the bowling department by Jett Nash (Year 9) who took an impressive three wickets for 11 runs off eight overs; Matthew Blanch (Year 11) who took two wickets for 23 runs off six overs; and Arthur Gabriel with the one key wicket for 29 runs off five overs. Well done to Nico Smith (Year 13) who did an outstanding job in taking over the wicket keeping gloves early in the innings after regular keeper Hugo Lloyd (Year 9) took a blow on the end of a finger, Nico taking an impressive catch behind the wickets to compliment one he had already taken in the field before donning the gloves.

St Paul’s now look forward to their cross-over pool final against either the Mt Roskill Grammar 2nd XI or the Ormiston/Botany Sky team to finish off a season of much development, personal bests, high scores and vast improvement across the board.

Cricket Colts 

St Paul's Colts vs Westlake BHS

The St Paul's Colts won the toss and chose to bat, with a wet outfield and heavy grass meant hitting boundaries was hard and the going was initially slow. However, a nice opening partnership between Jett Nash (Year 9) and Ryan Halfpenny (Year 10) developed with great shot play and exceptional running between wickets. This partnership was only broken when Jett retired on 50. Hugo Lloyd (Year 10) then strode to the crease and scored a well struck 38 before being caught in the deep out field. St Paul's finished the innings on 168 runs off 20 overs and Ryan Halfpenny with an impressive 37 not out, his highest score to date at St Paul's.

This was always going to be a tough total to get for Westlake, where tight bowling from Peter Creevey (Year 11), Neil Fernandes (Year 11), Arthur Gabriel (Year 11) and Perekina Uaisimeni-Puepuemai (Year 10) took two wickets in his two overs.

A highlight of St Paul's bowling was Leeroy Skudder (Year 9) taking two wickets including a clean bowled to finish with two wickets for 12 runs from his two overs. It was a strong win and overall St Paul's were too strong for Westlake. The Colts are looking forward to their final competition game of the season next Saturday.

Sports Fees

Sport fees should now be paid for all students in Cricket Colts, 1st XI Cricket, 1 day Tag tournament, Senior Volleyball and Volleyball championships. If your son has played in any of these teams and you haven't made payment, please do so as these are now overdue. All families signed an electronic commitment form where fees information was communicated and agreed to. Please support our growing sport program, our increasing sport participation rate and your Son's college, by paying what was agreed upon in the google form submitted as a condition of playing.  

Coaches Wanted 

Calling all Old Boys, parents, family members and passionate volunteers ! We are looking for coaches, assistant coaches and sports volunteers to help out in 2024. If this sounds like you or someone you know, get in touch today.

Email Dave McDermott, Director of Sport: [email protected]