THE Berg Shield is in the hands of Saint Stanislaus’ College following their win over Saint John’s College Woodlawn on Tuesday at Campbelltown.
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A talented Stannies outfit accounted for Woodlawn by five wickets in the finale of the state-wide under 16s schools competition just a day after a dominant 173-run semi-final victory over Ryde’s Holy Cross College.
The Mark Elliott-coached Stannies team bowled Woodlawn out for 159 in the decider and we able to hunt the total down with more than seven overs in hand.
Luke Mutton did the damage with the ball for Stannies with figures of 3-13, before Ryan Cooke (46 not out), Ben Mitchell (37) and Sam Hall (28) helped the Bathurst school hunt down the target.
“The boys were really keen this year. We had most of the team back from last year and I think they felt like they had a bit of unfinished business after their bronze the last time,” Elliott said.
“That 160 was a pretty high total for the boys to chase down in just 30 overs but they batted well. Ryan Cooke hit some big shots to finish it off. He’s been excellent for us over the last three to four matches.
“They’re a really strong group of boys and it’s great to know that our school has a team who can take it to the rest of the state.”
The semi-final win was one to remember in particular for Stannies duo Bailey Brien and Myles Russell.
Brien smashed 121 to get Stannies a big total of 241. His explosive innings included six sixes.
With the ball it was Russell who came to the fore with his 6-22 off just four overs.
Russell also claimed a hat trick to rip through the Ryde middle order, taking their opponents from 4-52 to 7-52 and effectively booking Stannies a spot in the following day’s final.
Ryde were all out in the space of just 17 overs.
Stannies’ teacher John Welsh took the team down for the finals weekend in Elliott’s absence.
He said the shield win was a satisfying one for the school after several recent close calls.
”Last year they made the semi-finals and were defeated by one run. Then the previous year they made the quarter-finals and lost on a countback,” he said.
“We had a very strong team this year and their wins were full of great team contributions.
“In the final … [St John’s College] had a state player [Lewin Malady] who opened their batting but we got him out quite quickly, and we were able to catch their score just five down.
“I think Mark knew that this was the year that the boys could do it. A lot of these boys play Presidents Cup with their dads and play higher grades in the Bathurst competition.”