Just not cricket! Unusual 2020 NSW Premier Cricket season finishes in equally unusual circumstances

Bizarre would be putting it lightly.

However, with the rapid and violent nature that Covid-19 is spreading throughout Australia then there was no other decision to be made by the Board of Cricket New South Wales. The 2020 season will be a memorable one for as long as we live - playing conditions included hazardous smoke, incredible heat, damn near monsoons and then Coronavirus.

Our 3rd Grade completed an incredibly dominant season to finish atop the ladder, 13 points clear of 2nd place. The side won 75 points and lost only one fixture, finishing with the dominant quotient of 2.1627. Congratulations to skipper Henry Clark and the team, winners of the Mitchell Cup!

Sydney University 4th Grade are also now Premiers after finishing top of the ladder by a single point. Lead by Ash Cowan, the side recorded 9 wins and 1 outright win to the tune of 67 points and a quotient of 1.4480. Hawkesbury must be commended on an excellent season, falling agonisingly close in 2nd place. Congratulations to the winners of the Reid Cup!

1st Grade finished 2nd on the ladder to conclude another fantastic year that included the Limited Overs Title. The team was building excellently towards finals cricket having lost only the single fixture against North Sydney in Round 4. Congratulations to Randwick Petersham have been crowned winners of the Belvidere Cup.

In the other grades, Bankstown have won the 2nd Grade Premiership, edging Eastern Suburbs by one point at the top of the ladder, whilst North Sydney secures the 5th Grade Premiership.

In the Club Championship, the Students finished 3rd, close behind Eastern Suburbs. Congratulations to Bankstown who ran out deserving winners.

Farewell to cricket? James Rodgers reflects...

This morning, Gideon Haigh wrote a piece in ‘The Australian’ entitled ‘Farewell to Cricket. Will we meet again?’

His club, ‘The Yarras’ are actually playing today in The A Grade Final of their competition. He plays in the C Grade who aren’t contesting the finals. Nevertheless, he’s filled with excited anticipation.

     “Even when you’re not playing yourself, it’s brilliant to partake of the feeling around a club readying itself for a final. There’s the culmination of effort, the tang of anticipation, the preparing for giving all in the knowledge that you won’t be playing again for a while.”

That’s exactly what I was expecting to feel this morning. After a season’s involvement in school cricket (and a Premiership to savour!) and a consequent inability to be at the University grounds on the weekends, I was looking so much forward, freed from other obligations, to watching the club, over the next three weeks, marching towards grand finals, premierships. Exactly ten years ago, this weekend, I finally finished my Grade career. Since then, I’ve had wonderful experiences watching good cricket, good cricketers, especially the University players, from under the trees.

Phil Logan wrote a few weeks ago in some wonderment. Our former players, while still interested, still following our current teams, were just not coming down in numbers on Saturdays.

Perhaps this pandemic will have unforeseen consequences?

When order is inevitably restored, when cricketers begin to take the field again, when games are once more played and lost and won, then we’ll cherish the experience and turn up to watch, to enjoy, to exult. What is now lost and missed will be then regained.

James Rodgers

John Solomon, 1929-2020

The club is saddened to learn of the passing of John Solomon on 16 March 2020.

Mr Solomon, who was born on 15 October 1929, entered Sydney University after attending Scots College, and made his first Rugby Union appearances for New South Wales and Australia before his twentieth birthday. Despite the demands of his medical studies, Mr Solomon was awarded Blues for Rugby in four successive years - 1948 to 1951 - and went on to represent Australia in 14 Rugby Union Tests between 1949 and 1953.

Solomon was fast and versatile: in his first three Tests, he played in three different positions (wing, fly half and centre). In his second Test, in Auckland in 1949, he scored a try in Australia’s 16-9 victory. His team-mates on that occasion included Rex Mossop (a double international who later became better known as a commentator); Nick Shehadie (later Lord Mayor of Sydney); and Dave Brockhoff (a future Wallaby coach who also played cricket for Sydney University). Towards the end of his international career, he was Australia’s captain when the Wallabies earned a rare 18-14 victory over South Africa in Cape Town in 1953. Solomon’s impact on that game was so significant that the South African forwards chaired him from the field at full time. He made 19 appearances for New South Wales before his representative career was ended by a shoulder injury. In 2016, he was inducted into the Australian Rugby Hall of Fame.

Solomon’s cricket took third place to his studies and Rugby, but he was a gifted player who - when available - illuminated University’s teams in the early 1950s. He made his First Grade debut in December 1951, becoming First Grade cap 382. He was an aggressive batsman, and exceptional fieldsman - usually at slip, although he sometimes filled in as wicket-keeper. Between 1951 and 1955, he scored 537 runs at 22.37, at a time when pitches were uncovered, Test bowlers played Grade cricket regularly, and average scores were much lower than they are today. His highest First Grade score was 53 against Gordon in 1952-53, made in only 48 minutes with seven 4s (he was caught from the bowling of left-arm spinner Ken Eastwood, who was to play his only Test 18 years later). He scored over 1000 runs in all grades and his highest score for the club was 96 against Paddington in Second Grade in 1948-49. His team mates remember him as a gifted cricketer and outstanding team man.

John Solomon enjoyed a lengthy career as an obstetrician and gynaecologist, during which he estimated that he delivered more than 7000 babies.

The club honours a remarkable life and extends its condolences to Mr Solomon’s family, especially his son Michael and daughters Caroline, Virginia and Georgina.

Students' Scoreboard - Round 15

Heavy afternoon rain meant that no grade was able to secure a result in the final round of the 2019/20 season. Unfortunately, circumstances have meant that the 2019/20 finals have been cancelled brining the season to an unexpected end. Minor Premiers are to be awarded the Premiership across the grades.

3rd Grade completed an incredibly dominant season to finish atop the ladder, 13 points clear of 2nd place. The side won 75 points and lost only one fixture, finishing with the dominant quotient of 2.1627. Congratulations to skipper Henry Clark and the team, winners of the Mitchell Cup!

4th Grade are also Premiers after finishing top of the ladder by a single point. Lead by Ash Cowan, the side recorded 9 wins and 1 outright win to the tune of 67 points and a quotient of 1.4480. Hawkesbury must be commended on an excellent season, falling agonisingly close in 2nd place. Congratulations to the winners of the Reid Cup!

1st Grade finished 2nd on the ladder to conclude another fantastic year that included the Limited Overs Title. The team was building excellently towards finals cricket having lost only the single fixture against North Sydney in Round 4. Congratulations to Randwick Petersham have been crowned winners of the Belvidere Cup.

In the other grades, Bankstown have won the 2nd Grade Premiership, edging Eastern Suburbs by one point at the top of the ladder, whilst North Sydney secures the 5th Grade Premiership.

In the Club Championship, the Students finished 3rd, close behind Eastern Suburbs. Congratulations to Bankstown who ran out deserving winners.

Students' Scoreboard - Round 14

A tightly contested Round 14 against St George concluded on Saturday with the Students claiming 3 wins. 1st Grade chased down the target of 163 for the loss of 6 wickets to retain the O’Sullivan-O’Keefe Trophy and confirm a top 2 finish heading into the finals. 2nd Grade suffered a tough defeat despite some quality bowling from skipper Max Hope; St George reeling in the target of 308 with 4 wickets in hand. 3rd Grade defended their score of 357 thanks in large part to a vintage performance by Josh Toyer who claimed 5/46. In 4th Grade, Andrew Hazard lead the way with the bat, supported by James Veitch, to secure 6 points whilst 5th Grade were unable to chase down the imposing total set by St George on Day 1. Metro Cup played excellent cricket across the two weekends to very nearly claim an outright win. Cullen Hathurusinghe finished the match with the incredible figures of 11/50 from 31.3 overs.

Next week the regular season concludes in a one-day fixture against Eastern Suburbs.

Students' Scoreboard - Round 14 Day 1

The Students turned in an excellent performance across the grades against tough competition from St George to be in a strong position entering the 2nd week of Round 14. Devlin Malone led the way with the ball for First Grade, his leg spin well supported by the pace of Dugald Holloway and Charlie Cassell. Max Hope played a captain’s knock to lead 2nd Grade to an imposing total after Wiz Masojada showed his class to lay a foundation. Charles Litchfield was superb on his way to 154, the innings marking his 5th century in 3rd Grade, the most in the Club’s history. Jazz Rinka turned in his best bowling performance in 4th Grade to lead the Students to a commanding Day 1 position alongside an all-round performance from the classy Andrew Hazard. 5th Grade fought hard during a long day in the field, Aiden Peak and Max Shanahan leading the way with the ball. In Metro’s, Cullen Hathursinghe bowled the house down to take 5/10, allowing his side to take first innings points.

Students overcome Randwick Petersham to win Limited-Overs Cup

To amend the old adage, there is indeed no rest for the successful First Grade sides in Sydney Premier Cricket. On Sunday, the Students fronted up for their third Sunday fixture in as many weekends after navigating through the Quarter and Semi-Finals of the Limited-Overs Cup to book a top of the table clash with Randwick Petersham in the big dance.

At Rosedale Oval the day prior, the Students had endured a long day in the field against a determined Fairfield-Liverpool middle order that very nearly reeled in the target of 263; Uni winning the match by 14 runs. This tight Saturday win would headline a successful Round 13 for the Students who further claimed two outright wins in 3s and 4s with 5s falling only two wickets short of victory to end in a draw. On Sunday morning, skipper Liam Robertson named an unchanged side to do battle in the Grand Final, before winning the toss and electing to bat on what seemed a typical University Oval wicket.

Courtesy of Ian Bird Photography

As the loyal Uni Army assumed their positions, Hayden Kerr and Charlie Dummer commenced the SUCC innings positively, before Kerr was removed by Adam Semple, caught at mid on with the score on 25. Much to the dismay of the SUCC faithful, Chuck’s dismissal followed soon after at the hands of skipper Daya Singh as the visitors applied pressure. Damien Mortimer also fell victim to Singh (6/31), whose initial spell undoubtedly landed the first blow in what would be a back and forth fixture. With the score at 3/40, wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Cummins joined skipper Liam Robertson at the crease with neither Student off the mark. Tension was rife in the sizeable crowd as both home and away supporters sensed a potential watershed moment. It was again the visitors who would further their advantage thanks to the control and discipline of Riley Ayre (2/34). Bowling in tandem with his captain, Ayre claimed the huge wickets of Cummins and Ryan McElduff to pile more pain on the Students, falling to 5/49.

Having taken 4/9, Randwick Petersham had well and truly demonstrated the class indicative of their berth at the top of the First Grade ladder. However, in the face of seemingly overwhelming momentum, the Uni Army found solace in the experienced tandem of Robertson and David Miller. The pair absorbed pressure with diligence and patience, the score ticking along as the Uni faithful anxiously rode each run of the rebuild.

Courtesy of Ian Bird Photography

Courtesy of Ian Bird Photography

Punctuated by a vintage Miller pull shot and the typical hard, straight hitting of Robertson, a partnership began to flourish and the pressure that had plagued the hosts earlier had seemingly shifted. As each Student reached 50 and the score passed 150 the Army’s forensically deduced par score of 230 suddenly seemed well within reach, the most bullish suggesting 260 was on the cards.

Sensing the moment, Daya Singh would again take the ball and deliver. With the score on 168 he trapped Miller (51) LBW before having Robertson (66) caught behind. He would then crash through the dangerous Uni lower order, bowling both Holloway and Cassell to remove any hope of some late-innings ball striking. The innings was brought to an end in the 47th over by Daniel Sams, the Students dismissed for 194.

“Runs on the board in a final” was a line that could be heard early and often in the stands during the break and buoyed by the efforts of their clubmates, the supporting Students were extremely up and about for the commencement of the second innings. Known for his knack of taking a wicket in his first over, the slow clap was a constant feature as Charlie Cassell (3/36) began proceedings with the ball. Just as promised, he delivered, capturing Shaun Eaton caught behind in the first over of the innings with the score on 1. Despite some ominous stroke play from the visiting top order, Cas struck twice more in his opening spell to leave the match poised at 3/48.

Courtesy of Ian Bird Photography

A dangerous bowling attack was well supported by excellent catching from the Students. Wiz Masojada set the tone in the field, holding his nerve under a swirling high ball as the crowd fell silent. Following suit, Tim Cummins and then Hayden Kerr both reeled in sharp screamers to support a relentless bowling performance. Dugald Holloway (4/19) combined with TC to dismiss both Daniel and Anthony Sams to continue what has been a brilliant season for the left arm quick. Devlin Malone (2/17) and Hayden Kerr (1/22) also picked up wickets to dismiss Randwick Petersham for 113 inside 35 overs and comprehensively secure the Limited-Overs Cup by 81 runs.

Courtesy of Ian Bird Photography

Both captains spoke graciously, each commenting particularly on how well supported the Final was by both the visiting and home fans. SUCC skipper Liam Robertson was awarded the Michael Bevan Medal for Player of the Final in recognition of his fighting innings which, in partnership with Dave Miller, surely made the difference in a match where no batsman outside of the pair passed 21. An excellent spectacle that showcased the best of Premier Cricket between two very strong sides was a wonderful way to finish the Limited Overs season.

Courtesy of Ian Bird Photography