Stories

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33 Followers

Gordon's Ginger Meggs - Charlie Somerville

Charlie Somerville loved his cricket. He joined the Gordon District Cricket Club near the end of its inaugural season in 1905-06 at the age of 21 and played 7 games. The next season however he picked up 47 wickets in third grade at an average of 11.66. Charlie was a storekeeper by trade and worked for his father’s produce store in Hornsby.

With work taking precedence Charlie played as much cricket as he could and played most seasons between 1905 and 1914. Charlie played in both seconds and thirds and during that time took 118 wickets and scored nearly 1000 runs batting in the middle order.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/297/gordon-district-cricket-club/blog/3089/gordons-ginger-meggs-charlie-somerville

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Penrith Cricket Club

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20 Followers

Season 1978/79 witnessed Nepean change it's grade cricket name to Penrith. A direct result tied into sponsorship with the local Leagues club. That sponsorship and strong financial support from Sinclair Ford put the club on a more professional footing and allowed it to attract experienced players from the much stronger Bankstown club to bolster our weakness. Along with council support, the appointment of Peter Leroy, later the Sydney Cricket Grounds curator to a full time role at Howell Oval and the considerable improvement in the pitch played a role in the First Grades success for the season.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/3088/from-our-clubs-history-a-name-change-and-first-grade-premiers-penrith-cricket-club

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last year

St George Cricket Club

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54 Followers

100 Moments of 100 years of St George First Grade Cricket 1941-42 to 1950-51

Here is Part 8 of our 10 part series were we explore the decade mainly covering the 40's featuring 100 significant moments in 100 years of St George DCC First Grade cricket. With thanks to one of our trusty club historians Nathan Anderson.

1. Harold Stapleton completes a remarkable all-round season, scoring 479 runs, taking 19 wickets and securing 22 catches. (1941-42)

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/275/st-george-cricket-club/blog/3087/100-moments-of-100-years-of-st-george-first-grade-cricket-1941-42-to-1950-51

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last year

Manly Warringah District Cricket Club

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44 Followers

The 11th June 2025 was a significant anniversary for Australian One-Day International cricket, as it was 50 years to the day that Australia recorded its first century. The occasion was the second match of the 1975 World Cup against Sri Lanka in England at The Oval. The century maker was left-hand opening bat Alan Turner, wearing ODI cap no 30 and the first player from Randwick Cricket Club to play limited overs cricket for Australia.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/258/randwick-petersham-cricket-club/blog/3086/half-a-century-since-first-odi-century-alan-turner

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last year

Sutherland District Cricket Club

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22 Followers

Greg Bush made his first grade at the age of 17 and over the next 24 years amassed 10,171 runs playing for Mosman, North Sydney, Manly Warringah and Petersham Marrickville.

Bushy scored 15 centuries and 45 half centuries and averaged 29.14.

As an opening batsman he took on the fast bowlers with courage and skills and played across two eras – before and after the introduction of helmets.

A hugely popular figure across Sydney Grade Cricket, let’s find out more about Bushy’s time playing Sydney Grade Cricket

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/338/manly-warringah-district-cricket-club/blog/1930/greg-bush-true-competitor

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last year

Sylvania, Australia

29 Likes
22 Followers

Sutherland win first Poidevin-Gray Shield premiership in 1987-88

Back row: Julia Coote (Scorer), Murray Graham, Nick Howard, Darrell Mann, Duncan Coots, Ben Connell, Richard Bennison, Trent Harvey, Tom Iceton (Manager).

Front row: Jonathan Clark, Rodney Davison, Greg Horner, Phil Weatherall (Captain), Tony Clark, Greg Davison.

[Extract from 1987-88 annual report]

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/294/sutherland-district-cricket-club/blog/3085/sutherland-win-first-poidevin-gray-shield-premiership-in-1987-88

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last year

Parramatta District Cricket Club

Gordon District Cricket Club

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10 Followers

Matt Giumelli – The Quite Achiever - Parramatta District Cricket Club

In an era when Premier Cricket Clubs find it difficult to find in their midst, seasoned players with the skill set, to fill the role of lower grade captains / mentors. Parramatta has been most fortunate to have Matt Giumelli as its Third Grade captain over the past three seasons.

Still in his mid-twenties, Matt has already built an awesome captaincy legacy with the Parramatta Third Grade team – 2022/23 Premiers, 2023/24 Qualifying Finalist and 2024/25 Premiers.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/406/parramatta-district-cricket-club/blog/3084/matt-giumelli-ndash-the-quite-achiever-parramatta-district-cricket-club

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last year

Belmont District Cricket Club

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33 Followers

Richard Stobo - Memories of that Grand Old Stand - Part 2

Sutherland had been sent into bat on a wicket with a bit of life early on, but their strong top order, which included NSW and Test player John Dyson and future NSW and Queensland player Rod Davison, saw them reach 2-70-odd without too many problems.

Bowling from the southern end before lunch, I decided to test Rod out with a bouncer. A compact left-hander and prolific run-scorer, Rod moved inside it and played a hook shot but caught the ball a little high on the bat. It sailed high towards the pavilion but Jamie Bray, fielding at fine leg, sprinted hard to his right along the boundary, dived, and held an extraordinary catch only inches from the ground, and perilously close to the gutter – no ropes in those days. It was skillful, brave and magnificent.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/297/gordon-district-cricket-club/blog/3083/richard-stobo-memories-of-that-grand-old-stand-part-2

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last year

Newcastle, Australia

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10 Followers

Jace Lawson is a dedicated cricketer for Belmont District Cricket Club. Jace played for Belmont for 3 decades and is a life member of the club. Jace captained the Belmont District Cricket Club Under-23 team during the 1999–2000 season, leading them to victory in the competition, and foreshadowed a long career in the first-grade competition.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1608/belmont-district-cricket-club/blog/3077/snapshot-of-a-belmont-district-cricket-club-legend-jace-lawson

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last year

Sutherland District Cricket Club

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44 Followers

Ray Hall was a relative late-comer to Petersham-Marrickville, joining the club just prior to his 28th birthday. He had previously played with Cumberland and Auburn Shires. A tall, lanky right-hander he had the build for a fast bowler but his skill was in the delivery of off-spin, where his height gave him the benefit of extra bounce. And despite his late arrival on the scene with Petes, when he retired 11 years later at age 40, he did so with the impressive record of 324 wickets across three grades. He was no slouch with the bat either, as his 1,914 runs confirms.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/258/randwick-petersham-cricket-club/blog/3082/ray-hall

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last year

Sylvania, Australia

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22 Followers

Sutherland DCC 5th Grade Premiers 1986-87

Back row: Trent Woodhill, Jim Atkins, Derek Spencer, Col Christie, Craig Parsons, Matthew Brennan, Darren Holley, Chris O’Hara.
Front row: Robert Tully, Ted Behl, Craig Holden, Mick Jones (Captain), Kevin Rynne, Jeff Smith, Mathew Duff.

[Extract from 5th Grade team report in 1986-87 Annual Report]

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/294/sutherland-district-cricket-club/blog/3080/sutherland-dcc-5th-grade-premiers-1986-87

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last year

Parramatta District Cricket Club

UTS North Sydney District Cricket Club

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10 Followers

Lou Benaud - The Teacher - Parramatta District Cricket Club

Louis Richard Benaud was born at Coraki, Northern NSW on 28th February 1904 and died at North Parramatta on the 8th of January 1994.

Lou achieved the persona of a cricketing sage within the Central Cumberland club. Quiet and gentlemanly, he deeply cared about the ethics and traditions of the game he loved and endeavoured to play and coach with the ‘Spirit of cricket’ in mind. His knowledge and philosophies on the game are probably best illustrated by the way they contributed to the development of his sons Richie and John - both dynamic attacking cricketers – both representing Australia in Test cricket.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/406/parramatta-district-cricket-club/blog/3081/lou-benaud-the-teacher-parramatta-district-cricket-club

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last year

Belmont District Cricket Club

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19 Followers

Robbie Aitken - a truly dedicated servant of the game

In March this year, Cricket NSW announced the inaugural winners of its Distinguished Service Awards, honouring 43 volunteers who have made significant contributions to cricket for more than 25 years. One of the 43, and indeed the first on the alphabetical list, was our own Robbie Aitken. In Robbie's case, the award recognises well over 30 years as a player, coach of our women's teams, and advocate of the game amongst everyone he crosses paths with. We are so fortunate that Robbie is a Bear, and congratulate him on this immensely well-deserved award.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/380/uts-north-sydney-district-cricket-club/blog/3079/robbie-aitken-a-truly-dedicated-servant-of-the-game

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last year

Newcastle, Australia

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10 Followers

Pocket Profile - Kael Keast - Belmont District Cricket Club

Who’s been the biggest influence on your career so far?

I’m fortunate to have some great players supporting me, such as my dad (Dave Keast), Dave Wrixon and Tony Bristow.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1608/belmont-district-cricket-club/blog/3076/pocket-profile-kael-keast-belmont-district-cricket-club

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last year

Gordon District Cricket Club

UTS North Sydney District Cricket Club

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33 Followers

Richard Stobo - Richard Stobo - Memories of that Grand Old Stand – Part 1

The Trumper Pavilion holds great memories for me, including my first game in First Grade in November 1983, against North Sydney. I had turned 18 only a few months before and found myself for the first time in the same changing room as such great Gordon players as Trevor Chappell, Phil Antman, Michael Falk and Rowan McGregor, among others.

I distinctly recall the atmosphere of that day; it was clear as soon as I walked through the gates behind the stand that First Grade was different. I had been fortunate to play in Wacka’s Third Grade premiership side the previous season and understood the pressure of finals. However, there was something very grown-up about First Grade.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/297/gordon-district-cricket-club/blog/3078/richard-stobo-richard-stobo-memories-of-that-grand-old-stand-ndash-part-1

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last year

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19 Followers

When Tunks Park was announced as the Lower Grades Ground of the Year at the recent Sydney Cricket Association 2024-25 Premiers’ Dinner, there can’t have been anyone in the room who was surprised - because, in a 25-year career, Bernie Vince, the legendary curator of Tunks, has won the award no fewer than 20 times!

Bernie started with North Sydney Council in 2000 at Bon Andrews, where he picked up three Lower Grades Ground of the Year awards, before moving to Tunks after the 2003-04 season.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/380/uts-north-sydney-district-cricket-club/blog/3075/bernie-vince-quotthey-should-just-name-the-award-after-himquot

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last year

Penrith Cricket Club

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20 Followers

Geoff Davies First Grade Cap 4 - Penrith Cricket Club

He only played three seasons with Nepean, but in that time took a remarkable 140 wickets at 14.74 and hit 1614 runs at 31.03. If there's any justice in the grade game, his season haul of 61 wickets in 1973/74 will never be surpassed. His strike rate that summer was a phenomenal wicket every 28 balls!

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/3074/geoff-davies-first-grade-cap-4-penrith-cricket-club

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last year

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44 Followers

Denis Hinds - A Cricketing Life

Randwick has quite a history with left-arm spinners. Bill Ellison, an over-the-wrist spin bowler who played for 37 years in taking 1,072 wickets across all competitions, heads the list followed by the orthodox-style Trevor Jay who took 950 overall, including 709 in 1st Grade. Then there was the orthodox Denis Hinds, who completed his career with an astonishing 1,059 wickets, 739 of which were with Randwick and Randwick Petersham. It was a brilliant career by a dedicated player and a great contributor to the game.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/258/randwick-petersham-cricket-club/blog/3073/denis-hinds-a-cricketing-life

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last year

Penrith Cricket Club

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20 Followers

Caringbah Oval set the scene for Penrith’s inaugural match in the Sydney Grade competition, but the welcome was anything but warm.

Three months before the season began, the newly appointed Penrith team launched a recruitment drive to ensure a strong showing. Former First-Class players John Benaud and Geoff Davies assessed the playing group and determined that experience was needed. As a result, several seasoned cricketers joined the ranks: Tony Carroll (North Sydney), David Nicholls (Wests), Ian Forrester (Randwick) and Phil Dingle (Petersham). Local talent also bolstered the squad, including Bob Morris, Colin Hall, John Morphett, Ron Hall, and Greg Gavin, all of whom had representative experience at the Hawkesbury Cricket Council level.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/3071/the-first-dance-penrith-cricket-club

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last year