Blackfriars Old Scholars Cricket Club joins Adelaide Turf Cricket Association

A group of Blackfriars old scholars is padding up for its inaugural season in the Adelaide Turf Cricket Association.

Blackfriars Old Scholars Cricket Club (BOSCC) has become the school’s third official old scholars’ sporting club.

It joins Blackfriars Old Scholars Association Soccer Club (BOSA), established in 1998, and Blackfriars Old Scholars Football Club (BOSFC), established in 2005.

Former First XI Captain and Frassati Sportsman of the Year Dylan Bignell was thrilled the club he started in 2022 to compete in the SACA T20 competition would now be part of the 93-year-old Turf Association.

“The day we get to play in whites at our home ground of St Dominic’s will be something I will always be proud of,” said Mr Bignell, who was also President of the club.

“It means a lot to me, because I enjoy giving people the opportunity to enjoy themselves with mates playing cricket.”

BOSCC will field a side in the B1 two-day competition, with St Dominic’s Oval as its home ground, as well as T20 teams in the ATCA mid-week and SACA Super Cricket (Sunday) competitions.

Mr Bignell hoped the club would “bridge the gap” between school and senior cricket.

“Blackfriars Old Scholars CC has been established to continue the enjoyment of school cricket and mateship following school, while striving for progress,” he said.

“This season, our goal is to reach finals and see how far we can go, while also setting up a successful environment for people to play cricket to the best of their ability and maximise enjoyment. 

“(But) the main aim of the club is to hopefully create an avenue for Blackfriars old scholars to play cricket for many years to come.”

Blackfriars Director of Development and keen cricketer Patrick Kelly (BPS’90) said after years of playing for other schools’ old scholar sides, he looked forward to – on occasion – taking to the field for Blackfriars.

“It has long been a dream to play cricket for Blackfriars and it will be nice to finish my cricket career here,” said Mr Kelly, who was also on the club’s committee.

“It’s great to see the establishment of this club and to add cricket to our suite of old scholar sporting clubs.”

Mr Kelly said Blackfriars’ old scholar sporting clubs provided important post-school connections.

“These clubs extend that sense of belonging, that we so value at Blackfriars, well beyond graduation,” he said.

“They provide a lifelong connection to the Blackfriars community, where past students continue to share in the values, friendships and traditions they first discovered here.”

Blackfriars links

The Archer Hotel – owned by old scholars Joe (BPS’94) and Ross Calabria (BPS’99) – has come on board as BOSCC’s major sponsor.

In another Blackfriars link, old scholar Joe Siciliano (BPS’01), from Belgravia Apparel, has helped develop the team’s uniform.

Belgravia, the Australasian elite teamwear partner of New Balance, has partnered with some of the top sporting teams in Australia and New Zealand, including the Brisbane Lions, GWS Giants, the BBL/WBBL and Paralympics Australia.

Mr Bignell looked forward to seeing “everything come together”.

“Our training improving on-ground performances where the players get the best out of themselves. The work people on the committee are doing translating into a successful club. And the enjoyment everyone can have this season while playing and off the field.”  

• Anyone interested in joining BOSCC can contact [email protected]