The rejuvenated UTS North Sydney Bears are next on the agenda for the Sydney University Cricket Club, following a hard-fought round against Manly. The Bears are flourishing under new head coach, former SUCC Director of Cricket Gary Whitaker, and sit above the Students in fifth position on the Club Championship ladder.
The Students faced UTS North Sydney in Round 4 in 2018/19 and recorded another clean sweep across the grades.
Highlights:
1st Grade – WIN with a Nick Larkin century counteracting the first of four golden ducks in the year for Liam Robertson, before the wickets were shared as the Units defended 258 at North Sydney Oval,
2nd Grade – WIN with a classy 85 from Varun George leading the Students to 272, as a Ryan Danne four-wicket haul did the damage through the Bears middle order,
3rd Grade – WIN with Alex Shaw’s 140* highlighting a dominant batting performance, backed up beautifully by bald and sweaty man Josh Toyer’s 4/19 off 10,
4th Grade – WIN with contributions from the middle order setting 206, before Henry Clark halted the Bears’ top order momentum with 3/17 off 9 to cap off a memorable victory,
5th Grade – WIN with 89 from Vince Umbers being supported by now first grader Will Masojada’s 3/35.
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1st Grade
Sydney University will be full of confidence following their record-breaking run chase against Manly last Saturday, before capping off the weekend with wins in both their T20 clashes on Sunday.
Ryan McElduff will look to convert his solid start to the year with a big score against the Bears whilst Nick Walker too will be chomping at the bit to put a big one on the board. Ben Joy, Charlie Cassell and Dugald Holloway will have their work cut out for them on batter friendly University Oval.
The Bears suffered a heartbreaking loss against Mosman last week in the battle for Military Road congestion bragging rights. Skipper Tom Jagot shapes as a key for the visitors following selection in the Sydney 6ers Academy Squad this week, whilst Matt Alexander’s left-arm slingers have already claimed an astonishing 19 wickets at 13 in 2019/20.
1st XI
McElduff
Walker
Mortimer
Kerr
Trevor-Jones
Robertson*
Cummins +
Holloway
Masojada
Cassell
Joy
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The Bears currently sit inside the top 6 in 2nd Grade and will be a handful for skipper Hope’s men to deal with, who remain winless at the bottom of the ladder.
Despite the loss last round, University will take plenty of confidence from the fixture into this contest after playing the tenacious brand of cricket they are renowned for.
A relatively unchanged XI for the Students sees Daniel Van Der Merwe back into the fold following last week’s unavailability *cough Sancta Formal cough*, as well as the return of Charlie Dummer.
Opening bastman James Leary is enjoying a solid start to the 2019/20 season for the Bears and has shared in the successes of his bowling counterparts James Aitken and Ali Shaikh, who both took four wickets each in last week’s victory over Mosman.
2nd XI
George
Dummer
Miller
Moran
Hope*
Walsh
Shaw +
Tate
McMahon
Van Der Merwe
Watts
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The Sydney University 3rd Grade side will be hoping to put a poor performance behind them this weekend when they return to fortress St Paul’s Oval.
Former North Sydney player Josh Joseph earns a well-deserved call up to the Threes following his blistering start to the year and will be looking to Danne and Craze for their match-winning capabilities in support. Rare spin twins Jack Lawson and Andrew Hazard will hope to tweak some magic against the Bears and will be joined by Sydney University Third Grade Premiership winning quick Sam Wood, who earns a promotion from the Fours.
The Bears XI includes damaging top order batsman Tom Hamblen, former housemate of 2nd Grade skipper Max Hope and current housemate of Joe Kershaw. Hamblen will be hopeful of adding to his season tally of 15 runs at 5 against his former club.
3rd XI
Danne
Fullerton
Craze
Hill*
Litchfield
Joseph
Arnott+
Hazard
Wood
Lawson
Toyer
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4th Grade
In devastating news to the Sydney University 4th Grade side, albeit very pleasing news to all Neutral Bay publicans, captain Ash Cowan will miss the next 6-8 weeks with a broken finger.
Michael Robinson will take the reigns of the undefeated juggernaut, a juggernaut which welcomes Oli Zannino for his first match for the Students. The highly rated wicket-keeper was originally selected in 2nd Grade for Round 1, however missed the fixture with appendicitis. Matt Powys will also take to the field for his first game following a broken rib in AFL season that saw him miss the first three rounds.
UTS North Sydney come into the fixture following their first victory of the season last week against the Whales. Jake Holmes has been consistent with the willow for the North Sydney boys, whilst Harrison May comes into the contest following his bag of 6/49 last week.
4th XI
Powys
Dilley
Veitch
Mitchell
Robinson*
Coelho
Zannino +
Ansell
Frost
Greaves
Peek
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A lower order batting collapse was the thorn in the side for the Sydney University 5th Grade side against Manly and skipper Andrew Wilkinson will be hoping for some more ownership in Round 4 against the UTS North Sydney side that currently sit fourth on the ladder.
UK import Lucas Wilson will be looking to make a strong impression, both on the field at Camperdown Oval and off it for the Blue & Gold’s, alongside his countryman Chris Thompson.
The Bears were unable to chase 227 against Mosman last week after opening bowler Nathaniel Stokes claimed an impressive 6/23 alongside former 1st Grade spinner Pat Lindsay who took 3/80 off 26.
5th Grade
Farrow
Osman Kayani
Islam
Wilkinson*
Wilson
Kirubanadan
Thompson
Fredriksson
Johns
Miles
Canagasingham