MR ROBERT EGAN
prep sportsmaster
C
ricket was once again one of the most popular GPS Sports at Prep this year. Boosting over 70 players and six teams, the Cricket enthusiast is alive and well in Year 5 and 6. There is plenty for the boys to get their teeth into throughout the year, with co-curricular clubs including T20 Blast, Junior Skills program and now Junior Blaster Cricketers running Term One and Four. New from Term Four 2018 is our Cricket Academy, run by our First XI coach Ross Wallace. This product provides bespoke coaching for our Cricket enthusiasts in Years 4 to 6, heading into the club season and GPS squad trials. It has been great to see Mr Wallace working with our boys over the past few months, providing his time and invaluable experience throughout the cricketing program. It doesn’t stop there, with Queensland Cricket coaches putting on additional net sessions for the boys in Term Four ensuring they have a plethora of opportunities to prepare for their GPS season.
Before discussing our Prep Season, we would like to congratulate our Director of Cricket, Mr Baker and First XI coach, Mr Wallace on winning the 2018 GPS Centenary Cricket Premiership. It is teams and coaches like these who provide such great role models for our Prep boys, working right down to the last over of the season to bring home the Earle Williams Trophy.
Every year of GPS is different, however, this year I have to say the spirit and fellowship of the competition in action at Prep cricket is outstanding. Competition for places is fierce, which saw the standard rise quickly over the season. It was great to see the boys move between teams seamlessly and embrace the progressive approach to their cricket, focusing on development over team position.
The 6A cricket team enjoyed a successful season. Identified early that minimising extras was a key component to building pressure and, conversely, broadening their array of run-scoring shots, improving calling and awareness are all important at this level. As a unit, the A’s committed 100% to becoming better players and, as a result, a better team. Highlights of the season included the away victories at Brishane Boys’ College and Ipswich Grammer School, as well as coming within a handful of deliveries of defending 72 in 28 overs 242
SOUTHPORTONIAN
against GT, with an incredible team effort. The boys of the 6B cricket team had a great season, they should be really proud of their efforts this season. Not only did they leave everything out on the field but they showed amazing sportsmanship, which was noted by several of the opponents. The 6C team had a mixed year in terms of results, however the boys demonstrated a top work ethic in training and maintained commitment to matches, improving vastly throughout the season. This was highlighted in their bowling performance against Brisbane Grammar School, with the boys more than doubling their wicket tally for the season in one game.
The 5A team that finishes the 2018 GPS season is barely recognisable from the side that started the year. The boys’ hard work and commitment to their cricket over the past nine weeks has seen them improve both individually and as a team. The tournament has
