The Genesis of a unique partnership - Randwick Petersham Cricket Club and Cricket Ireland
Randwick Petersham Cricket Club | August 05, 2024
Coogee Oval has hosted a number of ‘international’ matches over the past 3 decades. In 1988 the Galloping Greens hosted the World Champion All Blacks in front of a record-breaking crowd of 9000+. Then in September 2019 they hosted Argentina prior to the 2019 RWC, this time in front of 10000+. While in the summers of 2015 and 2022 Randwick Petersham hosted Cricket Ireland prior to the 50 overs and T20 World Cups in Australia.
In late January 2015 Cricket Ireland landed at Kingsford Smith Airport kickstarting one of Randwick Petersham’s most historic weeks. In the lead up to the match, the Irish team stayed in Coogee and trained at Coogee Oval, while integrating with the community by holding clinics for local children and giving Randwick Petersham players a chance to train against an international team.
Ishaks Conveyancing is a proud sponsor of Randwick Petersham Cricket Club
The weather leading up to match day was more Irish than Aussie but dawn on Friday 6 February brought clear and sunny skies. The marquee was erected, sponsors signs decorated the entire perimeter, the flags were flying and groundsmen were putting the final touches to what was to be the most historic day for Randwick Petersham since it arose from the Randwick / Petersham-Marrickville merger 14 years earlier.
Nathan Ellis bowling from the Southern End
To add to the occasion, the Irish Ambassador flew up from Canberra to join the Consul General as ‘Ireland’s Call’ resonated around the oval and Ireland Superfan Larry the Leprechaun patrolled the boundary. After Ireland captain William Porterfield, who earlier won the toss, with 74 (107) and Ed Joyce with 49 (62) led their side to a creditable 7-255 (wickets spread around) off their 50 overs.
Randwick Petersham President Michael Whitney AM, His Excellency Noel White (Ambassador of Ireland) and Joe Dohery (President Cricket Ireland, 2015) with the Waterford trophy
At lunchtime, Mike Whitney gave a heart-felt welcoming address in the company of the Irish Ambassador, the President and other officials from Cricket Ireland, Randwick City Council representatives, local members of Parliament and a host of sponsors. Immediately after, Ryan Higgins, a young recruit for the season from Middlesex and wicket-keeper / batsman Anthony Sams, who had scored a century in 1st Grade the previous week opened the batting as the sun came out in full force. Sams 80 (84) top scored and was well supported by Nathan Price 51 (71) and Alex Kemp 31 (45) before skipper Adam Semple (33*) in trademark fashion sealed victory with a six and later lifted the Waterford Crystal Trophy struck to commemorate the match and the New Balance Community Cricket Week.
Andy McBrine bowling to Ed Joyce (with Malaysian International Umpire Khoo Chai Huat overseeing the Ireland centre wicket)
Less than two weeks later, the Irish would go on to open their World Cup campaign with a resounding win over the West Indies in Nelson, justifying their assertions that their preparations with Randwick Petersham were the best lead in they could have had.
The success of the week was wonderfully summed up firstly by Richard Holdsworth, Cricket Ireland’s Performance Director writing from Dublin, “Just so disappointed I was not with you all in Coogee to see it all for myself. The Cricket Ireland Team and Management are indebted to you all for such making them feel so welcome, bending over backwards to support their needs, and for organising such a tremendous week ahead of the ICC World Cup. Whilst I shall say little over your wonderful victory (we know we need to be better than that!), the players have had great preparation ahead of next week when it gets that much more serious, and we could not have done it without your commitment and hard work. The players felt they lived in Ireland (apart from the weather!) by the time they left with so many locals supporting them. We really are so grateful to you all for your efforts and please pass on our thanks to the club and all the volunteers who supported us so well. Thank you all again for all the efforts this week, and best of luck for the rest of the season.”
John Mooney and Niall O'Brien (10 days later they would stand unbeaten at Nelson as Mooney hit the winning runs v West Indies)
Cricket Ireland President Joe Doherty commented “I arrived in Sydney late on Thursday night, in time to rock up at Coogee Oval the following morning to support the Ireland XI in the friendly organised as the climax to the squad's week long training camp provided by the Randwick Petersham club. The setting is 100 yards from a golden beach of which Donegal would be proud and a similar distance from the team hotel overlooking the ocean - the most idyllic cricket setting imaginable”. Additionally, Ireland wicket-keeper and former Surrey County captain Gary Wilson wrote in his World Cup Diary: “I’ve got to say they (Randwick Petersham) are taking their hosting duties unbelievably seriously, guys have taken the week off work to help with work on the ground, there are flags and posters advertising the week up all around town and everywhere we walk people want to talk to us about our chances. It really has been a first class effort by all concerned.” In support of Wilson’s notation, coach Phil Simmons and manager Roy Torrens said they “had no complaints and the team did not go wanting throughout the week.”
The Victors
Back Row: Shaun Eaton, Daniel Sams, Jake Wilson, Soumil Chhibber, Sam Doggett, Hayden McLean, Tom Jagot, Nick Stapleton, Ryan Higgins
Front Row: Nathan Ellis, Nathan Price, Jarryd Biviano, Adam Semple, Anthony Sams, Alex Kemp, Jake Scicluna
The crowning glory of the week was the genesis of the Official Overseas Scholarship Programme, with Barry McCarthy joining the club as the first recipient in 2015-16 and also received First Grade #103 v Penrith. Up to 2023-24 eight Irishmen have called Coogee home, now colloquially known as ‘County Coogee’ with each player returning to the Emerald Isles and receiving call ups to the Irish sides including 3 that have represented at the highest level in Test cricket and played in both of Ireland’s Test victories so far: Andrew Balbrinie, Barry McCarthy and Harry Tector.
