Sutherland DCC joins Sydney grade cricket competition
Sutherland District Cricket Club | July 10, 2024
Sutherland DCC joined the Sydney grade cricket competition in the 1965-66 season. The first Sutherland team was Dick Taylor, Grant Le Huray, Merv Black, Bryan Hazell, Bruce Stephen (Scorer), Bob Bain, Stan Gilchrist, Norm O’Neill, Jack Slattery, Ted Cotton, Ron Neill, Don Harkness.
This is some of the media coverage leading up to the start of the season:
Extract from The Sydney Morning Herald – Tuesday 18 May 1965:
New Club in Grade Cricket
The N.S.W. Cricket Association, after another lengthy debate, last night decided to invite Sutherland Shire club to form a new first-grade district club. The association also decided that the Glebe-South Sydney and Paddington clubs should be amalgamated. Thus there will still be 16 clubs when Sutherland is admitted for next season. This was the association’s third meeting on the question of Sutherland Shire club’s application.
Extracts from The St.George and Sutherland Shire Leader – Wednesday 23 June 1965:
SHIRE COMES OF AGE (Editorial)
The formation last week of the Sutherland first grade cricket club means the coming of age in sport of Sutherland Shire. The shire has supplied many top-class sportsmen to other clubs over the years and has received recognition now of its worth in this field. Congratulations to the cricketers in being the first sportsmen to represent, as a shire team, in first grade.
"CHRISTENING" OF THE CRICKETERS
The club selected to represent Sutherland Shire in first grade cricket will be called the Sutherland District Cricket Club. The NSW Cricket Association gave official approval last month for the formation of a district first grade club in the shire.
Extract from The St.George and Sutherland Shire Leader – Wednesday 21 July 1965:
NORM IS "HOME TOWN" PLAYER (Horrier Maher's Sports Corner)
Test batsman Norm O’Neill shocked the annual general meeting of the St.George District Club last Wednesday when he said that he would play with the Sutherland Club in the coming cricket season. It was one of the most closely guarded announcements in sporting circles for many years. Recent rumours have said that O’Neill would become the first captain of the new Sutherland first grade team. Having represented the club in more than 10 seasons, he was qualified to continue with St.George, although living in the newly-proclaimed Sutherland district.
When called on to speak by club president, Mr Frank Cush, the Test star said the decision was a big one for him to make, but he felt in making it he would gain, not lose, friends. He said he felt he could do more for cricket by playing in his own district, with a new club. Mr Cush said O’Neill took with him the best wishes of the St.George Club.
Extract from The St.George and Sutherland Shire Leader – Wednesday 22 September 1965:
O'NEILL TO LEAD SHIRE IN CLASH WITH FORMER CLUB (Horrier Maher's Sports Corner)
Test batsman Norm O’Neill will play against his old club when he captains the new Sutherland first grade side against St.George at Hurstville Oval this Saturday. The match, which will open the 1965-66 grade season, will conclude the following Saturday. Coming from the St.George boys Saturday morning competition, O’Neill is one of the best batsmen this district has ever produced. St.George first grade captain, Warren Saunders, last week said, “O’Neill is a sensational grade cricketer. I have never played with or against a better one and believe me we hope to have him dismissed early in this opening match.”
Sutherland DCC inaugural 1st Grade match vs St.George at Hurstville Oval - 25 Sep & 2 Oct, 1965
St.George 5/366 dec. (Brian Booth 103, John Rogers 95, Graham James 54, Billy Watson 52, Rod Luckman 45 no, Grant Le Huray 2-35, Ted Cotton 1-38, Norm O’Neill 1-58, Stan Gilchrist 1-91) beat Sutherland 280 (Norm O’Neill 168, Don Harkness 30, Bob Bain 25, Vic Cristofani 2-39, Rod Luckman 1-0, Brian Booth 1-13, John Martin 1-43, Keith Francis 1-65, John O’Reilly 1-79).
Norm O’Neill’s innings of 168 was made in 197 minutes with 27 fours and 1 six. It remained the club record score until 7 January, 1984 when Phil Weatherall scored 173 n.o. vs North Sydney in 3rd Grade. It remained the 1st Grade record score until 9 October, 1999 when Matthew Bradley scored 212 n.o. vs Hawkesbury.
