The Cumberland Connection - Volume 1 History of Penrith Cricket Club
Penrith Cricket Club | October 13, 2025
Geographically, it was always a given that there would be some movement of players between the western Sydney ‘counties’ of Nepean and Cumberland, especially in view of the early Howell family history.
In a later era, the Benaud family had links with the Nepean District. In 1922/23, a young Lou Benaud (father of Richie and John) was playing in a B Grade match, Penrith Waratahs v St Marys, and took all 20 wickets to fall. He took 10/30 (including a hat-trick) in the first innings and 10/35 in the second innings. Lou Benaud, a school teacher, played representative Country cricket and had a long career with the Central Cumberland Club, where he took in excess of 300 First Grade wickets.
Richie Benaud was born at Penrith (October 6, 1930) but played all his youth cricket with Cumberland, as did his younger brother John.
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Other notable Penrith cricket people whose careers prospered with Central Cumberland were Ron Mulock, Greg Beisler, Doug Timmins and Trevor Wholohan, all of whom played Firsts there with Richie Benaud.
Mulock was a clever swing bowler and Beisler an absolutely outstanding ‘keeper, fearless and who once gave a performance standing up on a ‘sticky wicket’ that was described by his Captain Richie Benaud “as the best he’d ever seen, or was likely to see”. Wholohan was a determined, thoughtful batsman, and ‘Dapper Doug’ Timmins, another wicket-keeper, was very busy and an
accomplished left-hand batsman.
A quartet of ‘Cumbos’ in the 50s. Padded up is Harold Goodwin, still involved with the ‘new’ Cumberland, Parramatta; Ron Mulock and Greg Beisler are behind him, and on his haunches is Trevor Wholohan, all of whom came home to Penrith.
Robbie Stevens came from Cumberland to Nepean in the mid-70s. In a quirky twist, John Benaud came out of retirement in the early 80s to return to Cumberland, and later made a comeback at Penrith, aged 47, captaining Fifths.
In 1981/82, a notable ‘Cumbo’ joined Penrith, the large-as-life Ray Hudswell, who was a local Blue Mountains resident. Ray was a smart right-arm medium-fast exponent of swing and particularly seam and cut bowling, and played both Firsts (1981/82, 11 wickets @ 27.91) and Seconds (1981/82, 32 wickets @ 12.13, including 6/32 v Randwick; 1982/83, 39 wickets @ 13.26, including 5/11 v
Sydney Uni, 5/43 v Mosman, 5/48 v Wests). Later, he became something of a ‘guru’ for budding fast bowling talent in the Club and a Club President.
The Monaghan Brothers, Ian and Greg, came to Penrith from Cumberland in 1982/83. Ian, nicknamed ‘Tarzan’, was a right-arm fastish bowler who started in Seconds, where his 13 wickets @18.77 earned him promotion to Firsts. There he took 18 wickets (Ave 16.28), including 5/20 v North Sydney and 5/34 v Sydney. Greg was a right-hand top-order batsman who had an outstanding first season with the Club, scoring 491 runs @ 29.84, including 67 v Balmain and 55 v Sydney. In 2004, he returned to Cumberland, then Parramatta, and became President.
The art of captaincy with Kevin Roberts. Creating a scenario that challenges the mindset of players – click to unlock the full conversation.
