Stories

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The Oxenham Shield annual cricket matches between neighbouring boroughs, Randwick and Waverley, were first played in 1883. Some 12 years later in 1895, Humphrey Oxenham, a 41-year-old bookmaker and gambler, presented a handsome trophy for competition between the boroughs. A colourful character, as a youth, Oxenham won a bet of £100 to one shilling that he could ride the two miles (3.2 km) between Bathurst and Kelso within a certain time—with a pumpkin on his head.

The trophy was presented at a public meeting on 14 December 1895 presided over by the Waverley mayor. The arrangements for the competition were established for the first match scheduled for Boxing Day and New Year’s Day at Waverley Oval.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/258/randwick-petersham-cricket-club/blog/2637/the-oxenham-shield

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5 months ago

CricConnect Stories

Sutherland District Cricket Club

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257 Followers

A heads-up about something a little different. Cricconnect member, James Knight, has written a fictitiou kids' story that aims to promote relationships between Australia and India through the beauty of cricket.

The story is told through the eyes of a drought- affected farm boy, Jack, and an Indian boy, Ajeet, who has just arrived to live with his family in an Aussie bush town. They don't always see eye-to eye, but in the end, this is a beautiful story about the strength of human spirit.

Although it is aimed at upper primary school and early secondary school readers, there are messages in it for all of us. As part of the book, the boys write their own diaries. Here's a sample Chapter.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/56/cricconnect-fans/blog/2636/spirit-of-the-warriors-by-james-knight

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5 months ago

Sylvania, Australia

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22 Followers

Sutherland DCC 3rd Grade Premiers 2011-12

Insets: Liam Casey, Scott Dawes, Michael Kelly, Nick Sharman, Dylan Smith

Back row: Shane Duff (Coach), Josh Zywietz, Adam Whatley, Aaron Phillips (Captain), Grant Davies, Jarrad Roy, Nathan Whittingham.

Front row: Mark Rice, Kurt Brown, Matt Manton, Sam Newman, Nathan Loder.

Extract from Aaron Phillips’ 3rd Grade report in 2011-12 Annual Report:

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/294/sutherland-district-cricket-club/blog/2634/sutherland-dcc-3rd-grade-premiers-2011-12

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5 months ago

Randwick Petersham Cricket Club

Corrowong, NSW, Australia

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Billy Ellison joined Randwick as an 18 year old in 1931-32. A left-arm over-the-wrist spinner and hard hitting batsman, he was to become Randwick’s most successful bowler with more than 1,000 wickets as well as one of the greatest of his type, ever to play Sydney Grade cricket.

Bill’s ability was apparent from his first season when he was the star of the “A” Shires team which won the competition, taking 38 wickets at 9.50 runs each. But for an appendicitis operation which cut short his season, he would have taken many more. In a remarkable transition, the very next summer of 1932-33, Ellison was in 1st Grade where he won the bowling average with 19 wickets at 13.05. He was to play the majority of his cricket in that team over the next 30 seasons.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/258/randwick-petersham-cricket-club/blog/2633/bill-ellison-1913-87

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5 months ago

Brad Bannister

Teacher

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3 Followers

After Greg's heroics of his 272 not out. We then travelled to the beautiful Newcastle Number 1 Sportsground for our next fixture versus University of Newcastle.

However, the week before in a mid-week fixture versus the Touring Indian team, Greg represented Norther NSW from memory and made a stella 100 in this tour fixture. We batted first in the NDCA fixture against Uni, and unlike the round before their were no quick wickets, no toilet issues and a much more settled start to our innings. As we sat in the grandstand, all of us young fellas hung off every word as Greg regaled his innings against the Indian test attack.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/209/brad-bannister/blog/2632/greg-geise-golden-1991-92-part-two-and-three

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5 months ago

Sutherland District Cricket Club

Sylvania, Australia

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In 1967-68, Paul McCann, a young tearaway pace bowler from the Illawarra area, joined Sutherland and experienced an amazing performance in his first match for the Club. Playing “B” Shires (6th Grade) at Sutherland Oval, he took one wicket as Geoff Glover finished with match figures of 8-6 & 7-34. Paul went on to take 22 wickets at 11.6 in four matches in “A” Shires after that match.

The following season, 1968-69, he was graded in 2nd Grade and he showed what he was capable of with 40 wickets at 17.8 in 13 matches, as 2nds made the final. The annual report read:

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/294/sutherland-district-cricket-club/blog/2631/paul-mccann-tearaway-paceman-from-illawarra

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5 months ago

Sutherland District Cricket Club

Sylvania, Australia

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Anthony Hale played 58 matches for Sutherland and took 201 wickets at an average of 14.3, the second-best average of the 56 players who have taken at least 200 wickets for the Club.

At the start of the 1988-89 season, Anthony was studying for and then sitting his HSC exams. He filled in for 5th Grade in round 5 in mid-November, taking 3-62 off 16 overs, and then he was gone. Anthony Hale had retired – two months before he turned 18!

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/294/sutherland-district-cricket-club/blog/2630/anthony-hale-a-remarkable-career-that-was-over-in-a-flash

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5 months ago

UTS North Sydney District Cricket Club

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19 Followers

From the Vault: 2020 PG Shield Preliminary Final vs Gordon

The baby Bears turned up to Chatswood Oval full of energy and keen to get on the field, while it appeared that their opposition were hoping for more rain.

The ground looked wet and the covers had accumulated plenty of water from overnight showers. This led to a delay in the start of proceedings. With the covers finally removed, the pitch looked hard and dry, but light rain threatened to derail our campaign and the covers were returned. Once the rain finally stopped (again), the umpires reduced the game to 44 overs per side and scheduled the start of play for 12:15. Gordon won the toss and elected to bat.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/380/uts-north-sydney-district-cricket-club/blog/2628/from-the-vault-2020-pg-shield-preliminary-final-vs-gordon

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5 months ago

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93 Followers

Renowned batting coach and Wests first grader of the 1990s, Neil D’Costa (Wests #545), brought Phillip Hughes to Sydney for the last match of the 2005-2006 season, to see if the 17 year old from Macksville on the far north coast of NSW could adjust to city life.

Hughes arrived to play the last game of the 2005-06 season in Seconds, versus St. George at Pratten Park, instantly indicating that he could adjust to cricket in the ‘big smoke’, in the process impressing with his distinctive attacking flair and a score of 141 not out.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/161/western-suburbs-district-cricket-club-sydney/blog/2627/western-suburbs-district-cricket-club-tribute-to-phillip-hughes-magpie-player-616

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5 months ago

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93 Followers

Adam Pengilly is a former West players and a sports columnist for the Sydney Morning Herald. Adam has kindly allowed the Club to share his personal tribute to the late Phillip Hughes first published in the Sydney Morning Herald November 28, 2014.

The kid was Macksville's Phil Hughes, playing his first Sydney grade game for Western Suburbs' second XI in the last fixture of the 2005-06 season, and hitting a six off the last ball to endear himself to his new teammates.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/161/western-suburbs-district-cricket-club-sydney/blog/1779/the-day-western-suburbs-met-phillip-hughes

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5 months ago

Parramatta District Cricket Club

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"One thing about playing for Wests", says Alan Davidson, "was that there were always great people around, helping out. When we played at Pratten Park, there'd always be Mrs Muller, and the Kelleards, doing all sorts of jobs for us. And the afternoon teas they put on! We'd get back to the rooms at tea-time and you soon found out who was there to play cricket and who was there to eat!"

Grade cricket clubs only exist because of the volunteers who perform the dozens of small tasks that make it possible to prepare for, and stage, matches. The economics of Grade cricket make it necessary for clubs to rely on unpaid labour and the goodwill of their supporters

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/161/western-suburbs-district-cricket-club-sydney/blog/2626/always-great-people-around-a-western-suburbs-district-cricket-club-story

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5 months ago

Randwick Petersham Cricket Club

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Parramatta’s Third Grade team produced an amazing Finals series campaign to capture the 2009/10 Premiership. They ran roughshod over their opponents in the Qualifying Final (Easts), Semi-Final (Manly) and Grand Final (St. George) along the way only bowling a mere 25.3 overs – all matches were played at Old Kings Oval.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/406/parramatta-district-cricket-club/blog/2625/parramattarsquos-rampaging-charge-to-the-200910-third-grade-premiership

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5 months ago

East Albury Cricket Club

Albury, NSW, Australia

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East Albury Cricket Club A Grade cricket team 1953-54

Back Row - Bruce Seale, Allan Hunter, Terry O'Shaughnessy, Arthur Allen

Front Row - Geoff Bray, Kevin Hunter, J McDonald, Col Richardson, J O'Connell, Arthur Larkin, Ron Richardson

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5 months ago

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Over 8,000 spectators had crammed into Marrickville Oval on Saturday 1 April 1944 for the clash between defending four-time premiers St George and the hopeful Marrickville First XI, attempting to win the 1st Grade competition for the first time. Chasing Saints’ 9-150 declared, Wally Horne, listed at no. 7, came in to bat with the score a shaky 5-115. He skied the second ball he received from the St George champion and Australian Test spin-bowler Bill O’Reilly but was dropped in a fielding mix-up

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/258/randwick-petersham-cricket-club/blog/2624/wally-horne-1912-89-the-man-who-hit-bill-orsquoreilly-for-six-to-win-the-1st-grade-premiership

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5 months ago

St George Cricket Club

Gordon District Cricket Club

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54 Followers

When Eric Johnson joined St George DCC in 1937, having previously played with the Marrickville Club, no one could have anticipated the impact he was to have over the next 5 decades.

Eric played the majority of his cricket over the next ten years in second and third grades, with the occasional appearance in first grade when the legendary Ernie Laidler was unavailable. He still holds the club record for most dismissals in a second grade season, 1942/43, of 45, including an extraordinary 33 stumpings, undoubtedly influenced by the presence of spinners, Ernie Green 111 wickets and Mick Favell 52 wickets as the team won the premiership.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/275/st-george-cricket-club/blog/2623/administrator-series-eric-johnson

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5 months ago

Gordon District Cricket Club

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25 Followers

On 25 March 1922 probably the fastest double century of all time in either representative or grade cricket was scored at Chatswood Oval on the first day of a grade match between Gordon and Central Cumberland. We will describe the innings and maybe why it happened later in this story, however we should first refer to the Gordon player and the incredible role he played both in cricket circles and in the war.

Johnnie Moyes (full name Alban George Moyes) was a batsman who played for South Australia in the 1912-13 and 1913-14 seasons scoring 883 runs with a highest score of 104 against Western Australia. He was considered good enough to be selected for the Australian tour of South Africa in 1914 but the tour was cancelled due to the outbreak of the war.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/297/gordon-district-cricket-club/blog/2622/johnnie-moyes-at-chatswood-oval

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5 months ago

Corrowong, NSW, Australia

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25 Followers

With Gordon facing a 7th Round clash against Manly at Manly Oval on Saturday 23rd November 2024, it is fitting to recall the tenth anniversary of one of the closest fought matches ever played by Gordon.

Manly had scored 387 the week before and Gordon faced a formidable attack of Nic Bills, Mickey Edwards, Nick McLachlan, James Munting, Stephen O’Keefe and Ahillen Beadle. The Manly team which also included Jack Ritchie, Tim Cruikshank, Cameron Merchant, Adam Crosthwaite and Jay Lenton went on to win the premiership that season.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/297/gordon-district-cricket-club/blog/2621/gordon-vs-manly-circa-2014-when-is-a-draw-not-a-draw

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5 months ago

Brad Bannister

Teacher

32 Likes
3 Followers

In the 1991/92 season I switched from Lambton - New Lambton DCC in Newcastle to have what turned out to be one season with Wallsend DCC. It also happened to coincide with a bit of a golden period for one Greg Geise in Newcastle Grade Cricket. As a young 21 year old cricketer who just wanted to be better and better, a season under and with Greg was an absolute godsend.

There was one particular two week period where Greg just showed everyone just how good he actually was. Three innings of an incredible nature.

The first was the first day of a two day game against Stockton DCC at the beautiful Lynn Oval on the peninsula.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/209/brad-bannister/blog/2620/greg-geise-golden-1991-92-part-one

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5 months ago