1) 16A – Grit, Grind, and a 38–36 Thriller

Under the guidance of Coach Jack Aman, the 16As opened the season with a nail-biting win over a strong Newington side. Though the offense sputtered at times, with just 38 points on the board, the defensive grit was outstanding. Down 36–27 with five minutes left, the boys locked in, went on an 11–0 run, and snatched the lead after two clutch free throws from Brooklyn “Ice” Ippolito. Gabe “The General” Karam provided steady scoring, while the collective effort and composure down the stretch sealed a gutsy 38–36 victory.

2) 9ths – Business and Banter in a 50–28 Blowout

Coach Gabe de Haast’s 9ths opened the season in dominant fashion, storming out to a 38–10 halftime lead before deciding, mid-game, whether to chase records or just enjoy the ride. The vote was clear: fun first. The boys shared the ball beautifully, played with swagger, and all but one found the scoresheet (I feel a 30-piece coming this week, Henry Rose). A resounding 50–28 win to start the year with style and laughter.

3) 15F – The Great Second-Half Revival

Coach Max Joosse’s 15Fs showed what resilience looks like. Trailing 4–15 at halftime, the boys regrouped and came out firing after a much-needed pep talk. Improved communication, sharp defensive rotations, and unselfish offense flipped the script completely. They outscored Newington 30–7 after the break, taking a 33–22 win that embodied teamwork, effort, and belief. A comeback for the highlight reel.

4) 16D – Nail-biter for the Ages (19–18 Win)

With guest coaches Archie Eckert and Gabe de Haast on the sidelines, the 16Ds eked out a dramatic one-point win. Alex “Dimes” Fairservice dished passes like a seasoned pro, Bosco “The Menace” Cheung caused havoc everywhere, and Stewart “Superglue” Ellis held the team together when things got tense. A gritty 19–18 triumph that showed heart, hustle, and chemistry.

5) 14E – Bright Start and Balanced Basketball

Coach Cormac Kelly’s 14Es kicked off the season with a 26–20 victory built on teamwork and commitment. Backed by great efforts from Fergus and Eli—who doubled up for extra minutes—the boys played with energy and discipline. The fundamentals were solid, and with some new offensive sets to come, this group is just getting started.

A strong opening weekend for Riverview Basketball—five wins, plenty of grit, and a whole lot of promise for the weeks ahead. Go View!

The chase belonged to our openers. Archie Owens and George Bradford produced a masterclass in opening partnerships, rotating strike smartly, punishing anything loose, and running with real intent between the wickets. Their excellent 100 run stand laid the perfect platform for victory. George Bradford, playing his first match for the 1st XI, announced his arrival with a magnificent maiden half century, scoring 69 off 76 balls. Archie fell agonisingly short of his fifty, run out for 46, and shortly after George was caught in the deep as fatigue crept in. Xavier Coyle and Hugo Gaudry came together and steered Riverview home comfortably for a fantastic opening round victory.

The one blemish was our catching, with five chances going down. However, this was ultimately a dominant performance showcasing disciplined bowling, sharp ring fielding, and composed batting. The perfect launchpad heading into Round 2 against Shore next week.

16Bs

The mighty 16Bs secured a thrilling victory against Kings, winning by 8 runs on run rate after Kings failed to bowl their overs in time during the first innings.

Batting first, Riverview posted 134/7 from 32 overs, with captain Toby Lau leading by example with a composed 55 off 70 balls. Alexander Blaney battled hard for 21, combining with Toby for an outstanding opening partnership of 88 runs. Hugo Lennon chipped in with a handy 15, while 27 extras helped push the total to a defendable score.

With the ball, the boys showed tremendous discipline and effort. Angus McNamee was the standout with 2/16, brilliantly supported by Bastian Klok (1/10) and Jack Healy (1/9). Albe Stephens and Ben Hartcher bowled tidy spells to maintain the pressure. Hugh Hogg was electric in the field, snaring a crucial catch and being involved in one of two vital run outs, with Bastian Klok producing the other with quick thinking.

When Kings ran out of time to complete their overs, Riverview sat ahead on run rate, sealing a well-earned victory built on energetic fielding and disciplined bowling.

4ths

Riverview lost the toss and took the field first. Jack Stanic, Charlie Caine and Niall Kinchington were the bowling highlights, claiming the bulk of wickets and strangling Newington's run rate late in the innings. Harry Ridgewell took two sharp catches behind the stumps and set the intensity in the field.

Chasing 132, Riverview lost a couple of early wickets before Harry Ridgewell strode to the crease at number 6. What followed was a brave innings of 69 not out, culminating in Harry smashing the winning runs with a towering six. A fantastic game played in excellent spirits by both sides.

The 18s Boys grand final delivered an unforgettable conclusion to the tournament, with both Queensland Representative School Sport QRSS and NSWCIS demonstrating elite-level skill and athleticism in front of an enthusiastic crowd. After forty minutes of high-intensity play, NSWCIS defended last year’s title, narrowly defeating QRSS 7–6 in a spectacular contest. Hugh played a pivotal role throughout the tournament, demonstrating exceptional gameplay, teamwork, and sportsmanship. His performance in the grand final was a highlight of the championship, contributing significantly to the excitement and competitiveness of the game. We congratulate Hugh on this outstanding accomplishment and look forward to seeing his continued success on the field.