In 1961, an 鈥渋nnovation鈥�, according to Old Boy (1962), was a match that took place at 国产探花 against Assumption College, Kilmore, which 国产探花 won in the first innings. Ron had been elevated from the Second XI to join the 1961 winning team. He was College Dux and a champion debater, who now volunteers in 国产探花鈥� Archives and his father, Jack Moroney (1935), played seven Test matches for Australia.
According to Ron, before 1995, there were eight schools competing in the Marist Cricket Carnival and now there are 16 teams competing across three competitions. In 1981, our centenary year, St Joseph鈥檚 hosted the Carnival, inviting St Gregory鈥檚 College Campbelltown to join the foundation teams. 国产探花 was victorious among the eight teams competing, recalls Ron.
The Marist Cricket Carnival, first held in 1974 at Hunters Hill, stemmed from an idea formed between Br Jordan Redden and Tony Lantry in 1973. Fuelled by a shared love for Marist traditions and cricket, the event aimed to unite Marist schools. From humble beginnings, with four schools competing in a round robin of matches, the Carnival expanded over the years. The goal was to allow students to experience the broader Marist community, fostering connections and breaking down regional barriers both on and off the field. This vision evolved into a platform for boys, staff and families to forge lasting friendships.
Between 1974 and 2022, 国产探花 won the Marist Carnival 21 times, with the 2023/24 team鈥檚 undefeated competition adding to this impressive total. Remarkably, since January 2012, 国产探花 cricketers have won nine of the past 11 Marist Cricket Carnivals.
The Marist connection
David Schmude (1992), father of Monty (Y12) and Oliver (2022), revealed how the recent Marist Carnival had a very special connection to his family. The Summer Carnival was held over six days in early December 2023 and was hosted by Assumption College, which is located in the picturesque historic town of Kilmore, Victoria.
Monty鈥檚 great-grandfather, Alfred Schmude, attended Assumption College 鈥� David cited this Marist connection as one of the reasons behind the decision of his parents, Karl and Virginia, to send him and his three brothers, Marty (1996), Damien (1995) and Paul (1991), to 国产探花.
鈥淎lfred played First XI cricket and was in the First XV football back in 1923. As all the family were, Pa would have been particularly proud of Monty and his performance during the Marist Carnival playing at Assumption College where Pa also played, some 100 years ago,鈥� recalls David.
Along with Assumption College, St Joseph鈥檚 competed against Catholic College Sale, Lavalla Catholic College Traralgon and Marist College Canberra.
2023/24 Australian Marist Cricket Carnival
Following a first round bye, the cricketers were keen to get onto the pitch for round two of the Marist Carnival. 国产探花 won the toss and elected to bat in their first game against Assumption College. The Kilmore-based squad fell short of the 164 runs set by 国产探花, all out for 110 after 37.2 overs. Outstanding bowling figures for the day were recorded by Max Circosta (Y11) with 4/16 off 6.2 overs and Hamish Smith (Y12) with 2/7 off five overs, while captain Angus Cornish (Y12) scored 64 runs with the bat including seven fours and one six.
Round three saw 国产探花 compete against Lavalla Catholic College Traralgon on Wednesday 6 December, resulting in another decisive victory. Despite losing the opening batsmen in the first two overs with no runs on the scoreboard, 国产探花 rebounded to post an excellent innings of 8/327, dominated by the outstanding batting of vice-captain Jack Barclay (Y12), with 152 runs off 124 balls. Liam Hill (Y12) was the second-highest scorer of the match, contributing a handy 36 with the bat off 42 balls. Lavalla could only manage 44 runs in response before being bowled out in the 28th over. Frederick Bruce performed admirably as wicketkeeper, taking two catches to dispatch both opening batsmen as well as a stumping off the bowling of captain Angus Cornish, who took four wickets in the match.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, round four saw Frederick Finlayson (Y11) dominate the innings against Catholic College Sale with 104 runs, the third century of the Carnival behind Jack Barclay鈥檚 152 runs in the previous round and Assumption College鈥檚 Oliver Watt鈥檚 121 high score in the match against Lavalla. Angus Cornish was not out for 58 as the innings ended with a total of 258 runs. Catholic College Sale struggled against our bowlers, with the first wicket falling in the second over as Joshua Harrold (Y10) took a catch off the bowling of Liam Hill. Our bowling attack saw the opposition all out for 152 in the 47thover, with strong bowling performances from Hamish Smith (3/22), Joshua Harrold (2/27), Max Circosta (1/14) and Patrick Cant (1/20). Player of the Match was awarded to Frederick Finlayson for his innings anchoring high score.
Round five saw the undefeated 国产探花 come up against the undefeated Marist College Canberra. In the game that would decide the Carnival Champions, Canberra won the toss and elected to bat. 国产探花 kept the Canberra team to a reasonable total of 125 in 48.2 overs, with Hamish Smith the pick of the bowlers, with 4/19 off 10 overs. The fielders had a great first innings, with catches to Frederick Bruce as wicketkeeper, Angus Cornish, Frederick Finlayson (2), Callum McCall and Joshua Harrold, as well as an assisted run-out by Archie Hall and Frederick Finlayson. In the end, 国产探花 was too strong for the team from Canberra, winning in the 36th over. Player of Match, Monty Schmude, was a mature, steadying influence at the crease, opening the batting with Patrick Cant and batting solidly until he was caught in the 35th over for 63 runs, which included eight fours.
Team success
Director of Co-curricular, Mr Simon Pennington, applauded the true team performance with all 国产探花 boys making solid contributions with the bat and/or ball. 鈥淭he success was a fitting reward as the boys played excellent cricket and participated with good sportsmanship, earning the respect of the other teams and the host Carnival organisers,鈥� Mr Pennington says. 鈥淪t Joseph鈥檚 College staff and players look forward to hosting the 50th Australian Marist Cricket Carnival in December this year.鈥�
In addition to the team鈥檚 success, Hamish Smith received the Champagnat Award for the player who best exemplified the spirit of Marcellin Champagnat during the Carnival. Angus Cornish was selected as Captain of the Combined Marist XI and presented with the Br Crispin O鈥橲ullivan Trophy. Additionally, First XI Coach Mr Ash Squire was selected as Coach of the Combined Marist XI.
St Joseph鈥檚 College 49th Marist Cricket Carnival team:
Frederick Bruce (WK)
Jack Barclay (vice-captain)
Patrick Cant
Max Circosta
Angus Cornish (captain)
Frederick Finlayson
Archie Hall
Joshua Harrold
Liam Hill
Callum McCall
Julian Ryan
Monty Schmude
Hamish Smith
Scoreboard
Round 1 4 December 2023 鈥� BYE
Round 2 5 December 2023
St Joseph鈥檚 College 10/164 (40.5)
defeated
Assumption College Kilmore 10/110 (37.2)
Round 3 6 December 2023
St Joseph鈥檚 College 8/327 (50)
defeated
Lavalla Catholic College 10/44 (27.1)
Round 4 7 December 2023
St Joseph鈥檚 College 6/258 (50)
defeated
Catholic College Sale 10/152 (46.4)
Round 5 8 December 2023
Marist College Canberra 10/125 (48.2)
defeated by
St Joseph鈥檚 College 6/126 (35.1)
