In 2009 James McPherson was the Captain of Marist College Ashgrove First XI cricket team, a school with a rich cricket history..

During the season the team went through the competition undefeated and the team included a year 10 student by the name of Lachlan Thompson who went on to become the school’s First XI captain in 2011.

Incredibly, 9 years after playing together in the Schools First XI, James and Lachlan were opposing Captains in the Queensland Premier Cricket Grand Final when Northern Suburbs played Sandgate Redcliffe in March 2018.

James was the skipper for Northern Suburbs and Lachlan for Sandgate Redcliffe.

Prior to the Grand Final in 2017/18 Lachlan had already led Sandgate Redcliffe to victory in both the T20 and Limited Overs Grand Finals in the same season.

To the Grand Final, Lachlan won the toss and elected to bat. Sandgate Redcliffe were bowled out for 232 with Lachlan scoring 28 and Lloyd Aspin rescued the team with a fine 118.

Northern Suburbs replied with 347. Tom Healy scored 124 and skipper James McPherson 18.

In Sandgate Redcliffe 2nd innings Michael Simmers hit 103 and Lachlan Thompson 55.

Northern Suburbs after leading on the first innings only needed to bat out the final day and did so to be 3 for 121 with James McPherson at the crease, 1 not out, and Northern Suburbs became the Queensland Premier Cricket Premiers for season 2017/18.

The rich history of Marist College Ashgrove continues.