​Lougharn has the last laugh

​St Patrick’s College, Silverstream are the Wellington Premier Youth First XI cricket champions for the
first time since 2006 - defeating Hutt International Boys’ School (HIBS) by 15 runs in the final on Saturday. 

In 2006 High School Musical was released.

HIBS have set the pace locally for the best part of a decade, but they surprised Silverstream when they elected to bowl first in the Premier Youth final.

“It was the first game of the year on grass and the surface looked pretty solid,” Seth Lougharn revealed. 

“HIBS usually set the score, but we thought our best chance to win was to bat first. When HIBS won the toss and bowled that was fine by us,” he said.

Silverstream didn’t make the most of the surface however, limping to 212-7 off their 50 overs.  Sam Morgan impressed with 74, but the remaining batsmen succumbed after starts.  “It wasn’t a huge score, but we knew if we bowled our lines, stopped every run we could, and built pressure it was defenable.” 

“Things were pretty comfortable in the first 25 overs; they only scored 70 odd, but when Campbell (Webster) and Nikunji (Patel) started building a partnership we were under pressure,”  Lougharn said.

Webster fell for 34 in the 35th over when the score was 116. Patel was dismissed by Ryan Jackson a dozen overs later for 81 - at which point HIBS chase petered out lamely, finishing 202-9 off 50 overs.

“It was a great effort from the boys,” Lougharn acclaimed. 

“We are typically a quiet team, except for Rory Wollett, but our chat and energy was exceptional. It was our last game together. We were keen to make it memorable.”

In the winter Loughran was a member of the Silverstream First XI football team. The season wasn’t memorable at all with Silverstream finishing last in the Trevor Rigby Cup and 27th at Nationals. 

Loughran stood above the pack as leading goal scorer and team MVP.

“It’s not easy when your losing with boys who are essentially your brothers. Our pre-season was real promising and losing definitely took its toll,” Loughran admitted. 

“You kind of learn how to accept defeat and work harder to be better next week.”

Loughran lost his sporting father when he was 10 years old. His perspective and ambition is largely driven by his late dad. 

“I try to do my best for him in everything I do, even if it’s just little things,” Loughran concluded. 

Wellington College will represent the capital at the Nationals next week after they defeated Silverstream in the qualifying fixture earlier in the season.

Wareham Sports Media Stat Attack
Premier Youth First XI Top Five Run Scorers
1: Sam Morgan - St Pats Silverstream - 273
2: Jonty Cameron - Wellington College 2nd XI - 229
3: Adam Richardson - Wellington College 2nd XI - 170 
4: Hugh Morrison - Wellington College 1st XI - 158 
5: Peter Bonar - Wellington College 1st XI - 157 

Premier Youth First XI Top Five Wicket Takers
1: Ryan Jackson - St Pats Silverstream - 11 
2: Sam Stewart - St Pats Silverstream - 10 
3: Max Sargentina - Wellington College 1st XI - 9 
4: Charlie Wilson - Hutt International Boys School - 9 
5: Elliot Seddon - Scots College - 9