“The NSW team of 1902-03. Arthur McBeath is 3rd from left in back row. Jack Marsh is on the right of the middle row.”

ROUND ONE OF THE 1902-03 SEASON. HARRY STEPHEN LEADS THEM OUT.

Saturday 4 October 1902 dawned damp and grey over Sydney. Overnight rain continued until breakfast time but by the afternoon, the sky cleared, the sun shone. What was termed the ‘Federation Drought’ which had lasted since 1895 was gradually ending.

At 1.30pm, 120 years ago next month, a 22 year old medical student, Harry Stephen, led his young University players onto the field at Rushcutters Bay Oval. All of them were students who had just completed the first week of lectures in Michaelmas Term. A month before that, the University had marked its golden jubilee, 50 years since the formal inauguration ceremony was held at what was to become Sydney Grammar School, where Stephen was educated. At the same time, The University Cricket Club was 37 years old.

This game was one of five 1st Grade games played that afternoon to begin the 1902-03 season. It was the first time that University had taken the field in 1st Grade since the 1896-97 season.

Rushcutters Bay Oval, home to the ‘Sydney’ club, was crowned by a handsome grandstand that overlooked the bay and a gleaming white picket fence. The formidable Sydney team, premiers in 1901-02, a team which boasted seven NSW players, was considered by many to be clear favourites.

Having hopped off the tram at Rushcutters Bay, the University players prepared to field. Sydney’s batsmen would have to contend with a wicket affected by the overnight rain.

SYDNEY BATS FIRST

Stephen threw the ball to ‘Jack’ (sometimes known as ‘Johnnie’) Verge to bowl his right arm slows. Verge was also 22, an alumnus of The Kings School, resident at St Paul’s College, and studying Medicine. Two years later, he was Australia’s fiftieth Wallaby when he played two Tests against the touring Great Britain Rugby side. In 1915, he landed at Gallipoli where he fell seriously ill. He died in hospital in Egypt.

At Rushcutters Bay, Verge took the first three wickets cheaply. Only Karl Quist resisted for long. He was to represent three States and to father the renowned Australian tennis player, Adrian Quist.

Joe Woodburn, an Engineering undergraduate, was a surprising choice to open the bowling at the other end but he had Quist LBW for 37 and induced Cowper to hit a catch. During the previous season, Woodburn had not bowled at all, mainly because he was the side’s wicket keeper. This season, ‘Mick’ Waddy kept wickets and Woodburn concentrated on his batting and occasionally on his bowling.

Sydney was all out for only 111. Verge (5-45) took the honours; Woodburn took his two cheap wickets; medium pacer Vic Futter (2-20), an Arts student of The Kings School and St Paul’s, was steady. Later he played Rugby for NSW; Arthur Fisher (1-17), a great grandson of WC Wentworth who had been one of the prime movers in establishing the University, bowled his quick off breaks; Leg spinner Ambrose Freeman playing his first, and what was to be his last, 1st Grade game went unrewarded. Freeman, having already graduated in Arts in 1896, was the oldest University player at 29. He was now resident at St Andrew’s College and was studying Engineering after a few years on the gold fields of Western Australia.

University replied. Stephen was caught for 0 but Waddy and Les Cowlishaw were comfortable when University was 2 for 40.

UNIVERSITY COLLAPSES

Then, disaster struck.

Sydney’s potent opening attack were the two NSW bowlers, the tall left armer, Arthur McBeath, and the Aboriginal tearaway, Jack Marsh. They scythed through the rest of the batting which was a procession of failure, and University was teetering at a miserable 9 for 64 at stumps. McBeath’s relentless accuracy on the challenging wicket confounded the University batsmen. He was to take 111 first class wickets. Marsh was often wildly inaccurate but he was as quick as anyone else in Sydney at the time. He played only six times for NSW but picked up 34 cheap wickets. Further opportunities were denied him as his bowling action was continually questioned and he was no balled for throwing on a number of occasions. In 1916, his life ended in tragedy when he was killed outside the Royal Hotel in Orange. Two men were committed but both were acquitted.

THE SECOND DAY

On 11 October, Futter hit a four from McBeath but was then immediately caught. McBeath 6-23, Marsh 4-36.

Sydney then batted sedately. Quist again scored 37 before Freeman had him stumped by Waddy. Waddy was to play 55 first class games and was once 12th man for Australia. His wicket keeping was discarded in favour of his technically correct batting. Freeman had taken his only 1st Grade wicket, a NSW captain. Verge took another four wickets; Futter another two. Sydney had a lead of 201.

University then lost Waddy and Stephen to Marsh before increasing gloom saw an end to the match with University 2 for 30.

RESOURCEFUL BOWLING BUT TIMID BATTING

It had been a promising return to 1st Grade for University. To bowl out the accomplished Sydney batsmen twice was a remarkable effort for such inexperienced bowlers. The batting, however, was undeniably weak. At University Oval, the University 2nds had also been soundly beaten, scoring only 99 and 118 against Waverley. In Round 2, the 1sts just avoided an outright defeat to Leichhardt-Balmain. 2nds struggled to 101 but were powerless to prevent Sydney from leading by 238.

NO DEPTH

1sts did not win a game until February when they overcame Glebe (with six present or future NSW players including three Australian players) by 16 runs in an inspiring display as Fisher took 7-55. Then in March, the potential in the side was demonstrably evident when Woodburn scored 119 before Fisher’s 6-48 demolished Redfern.

From nine games, University finished in equal seventh place with three victories.

The standard of the side’s fielding, however, caused the Annual Report’s writer (probably EF Waddy) to assert that it was “patchy, sometimes very good, at others, bad and slovenly.”

In 1902-03, University fielded only two teams in the Grade competition and the 2nds were consistently and comfortably humiliated, winning only one game. Towards the end of the season, things seem to fall apart completely in 2nds. In the penultimate round, they were defeated by an innings and 235 runs. In the last round came the worst defeat in the Club’s history in any grade. University scraped together a dismal 45. Redfern replied with an opening partnership of 296 and with an astounding 8 for 729.

THE DARKNESS BEFORE THE DAWN

1902-03 was the Club’s first season back in the 1st Grade competition for five years.

In August 1897, the NSWCA had announced that the University teams would, from then on, include only undergraduates. A rescission motion was lost and University consequently withdrew from the NSWCA.

In 1897-98, the Club played a motley assortment of opponents (Sydney Juniors, Illawarra, Warwick Club, Mudgee, Stoddart’s touring English team).

In August 1898, University, swallowing some pride, applied for readmission to the NSWCA.

In September 1898, University’s 1st XI was permitted to play in the 2nd Grade competition but restricted to undergraduates. The Club’s leading players were forced to leave the Club and play elsewhere.

In the next four seasons, University won the 2nd Grade twice, memorably in the Final of 1901-02 at the SCG when they beat Glebe by six runs, on the back of Fisher’s seven wickets.

In May 1902, Hermes observed:

“The usual application for admission to the 1st Grade competition has been made and rumour hath it that our prospects are exceedingly bright.”

By August 1902, despite the efforts of some club delegates to the NSWCA to restrict the Club to men living in one of the university colleges only, the club was readmitted with its players “matriculated students proceeding to a degree.”

THE PRIVILEGE OF PLAYING FOR THE CLUB

Since those days, we have been aware of not taking our position for granted in the Sydney Grade competitions.

In particular, in 1997, we were almost expelled.

Since 1997, we have won four Club Championships, six 1st Grade Premierships and 20 lower grade or under-age Premierships.

From these troubles we have emerged more confident, more successful, more aware of our traditions and the privilege that is associated with playing for University.

Within twelve years of the readmission in 1902 and despite initially faltering progress, University won three 1st Grade Premierships with its teams consisting solely of students proceeding to a degree.

VOICES FROM 120 YEARS AGO

FC (Cecil) Rogers played in that first game of the 1902-03 season at Rushcutters Bay.

Towards the end of his long life, he talked with Eric McElhone who made his debut for the Club in 1904. McElhone recalled that conversation:

“We regarded it as a great honour to get into the University team. Cecil and I were privileged to have played in an era when cricket was played hard and keenly but always as a sport and a game, and never as a battle.”

James Rodgers

THE REVIVAL SEASON - 120 YEARS AGO, 1902-03