The formation of Belmont District Cricket Club
Belmont District Cricket Club | August 23, 2024
Have you ever wondered how Belmont District Cricket Club was formed?
Belmont was admitted to the Newcastle District Cricket Competition in the 1944-1945 Season. Mr Pat Cahill (who our main ground is now named after) a prominent Detective in the area led a delegation of men with a proposal to the Newcastle District Cricket Association to allow Belmont to enter into the District Cricket Competition. Before this Belmont was playing in the City & Suburban competition, this proposition was accepted and Belmont District Cricket Association was formed.
Due to the lack of records, it is unknown who was on the first committee and it wasn't until 1959-60 that our records began.
The Belmont Hotel is a proud sponsor of the Belmont District Cricket Club
In the early years, your residential status dictated what club you were able to play for and this continued until the early 1960's. Much controversy was aroused by the boundary committee's decision to include in the Belmont residential area part of what is now known as Highfields, by doing this it meant that Reg Beatty was to play for the new Club. Reg was a former Sheffield Shield batsman and had been one of the premier batsmen in the competition for more than 20 years.
An extract of our very first official game in the NDCA competition vs Merewether. Belmont Opening Batsmen H. ("Cluggy"") Price is unavailable for the second day's play in the Belmont-Merewether first-grade match at Belmont tomorrow. Price who is a versatile sportsman will play for Swansea-Belmont in the Priest Cup Soccer semi-final against Woonona-Bulli at Arlington oval Sydney. Price will be missed as he is one of the club's soundest batsmen. He helped skipper Reg Beatty to compile a first-wicket partnership of 100 runs on the opening day. Belmont has a lead of 63 runs on the first innings. Belmont batsmen headed by the brilliant Beatty (78 not out) are sure to fight for every run to consolidate this first-innings lead.
Although Belmont won outright their first match in the senior ranks, players and supporters had anxious moments. In Merewether's second innings at one stage, eight had fallen for 110. The tail wagged and the score amounted gradually to the 160 region.
Two quick victims, however, ended the match with a local win.
Reg Beatty scored 274 runs @45.6 and Pat Cahill took 24 Wickets at @15.8 in their inaugural season
