John Tomko, former SUCC 1st Grader (1955-1957) died this week.
John was the father of former 1st Grade captain, Craig Tomko.
A comprehensive obituary will appear on the SUCC website in the next few weeks.
1st Grade vs Hawkesbury at University Oval (50 Overs)
Sydney University 9/293 (50.0)
J Gauci 105 (128)
L Neil-Smith 2-18 (10.0)
DEF
Hawkesbury 202 (46.5)
P Moore 47 (79)
P Moore 4-41 (8.0)
Round 6 saw the student’s take on Hawkesbury at Uni No.1. With the Big Bash commencing mid-week, we welcomed back Lawrence Neil-Smith to the side who is currently in Sydney with the Sixers squad.
Once again TC won the toss, bringing his winning streak to ten consecutive tosses. We batted first and got off to a steady start making it through the first ten overs with the score at 50 for no loss. Charlie Dummer and Jordan Gauci continued throughout the middle overs picking up the scoring rate throughout the innings until eventually Charlie was dismissed for 90 with the score at 185. Gauci continued to work hard through the middle overs ticking the scoreboard over and was complemented nicely by Liam Robertson who struck 37 off 24 balls to really boost the innings going into the last ten overs. Gauci brought up his first hundred for the club and soon after was dismissed for 105 off 128. Some strong running between wickets from Dugald Holloway (12 off 8) in the final few overs helped boost the score to 293.
Following the interval LNS took the new ball and put on a display, taking a wicket in his first over and then continuing to finish with figures of 2 for 18 from his ten overs. LNS was the pick of the bowlers showing what a player he has become, bowling with great skill, discipline and pace, a real level above. The other bowlers also did a job with Maladay (2/44 off 7), Holloway (2/63 off 10), Malone (2/37 off 10) and McElduff (1/40 off 10) combining to dismiss the Hawks for 202 in the 47th over.
Overall, a solid performance across the board with plenty of room for improvement saw the team continue the momentum which has been built over the last few weeks. We now sit in 10th place, six points outside the top 6 and with a great opportunity coming up against North Sydney to go into the Christmas break in a solid position.
Ryan McElduff
2nd Grade vs Hawkesbury at Owen Earle Oval (50 Overs)
Sydney University 9/206 (50.0)
R Wikramanayake 111 (119)
S Anandarajah 5-16 (9.0)
DEF
Hawkesbury 133 (40.0)
K Vicary 42 (65)
B Roughan 4-30 (10.0
Coming off a tough loss to Sutherland, the 2s boys looked to get back into their winning form against a strong hawkesbury side. The day began on a damp Owen Earl outfield with a slippery game of nash, with the A’s taking on the Z’s.
The A’s looked to show some fight early but it was no match for the class of Kieran Tate who led the Z’s to a comfortable victory with an early run through that set the tone for the rest of the match. The students lost the toss and were sent in to have a bat on a Bensons Lane green top. Wickets fell early and the Hawkesbury seamers looked to be right on top of the Uni batsmen.
Enter, run machine Ravi Wikramanayake (111), who held his nerve in the early overs of the game and went on to build a mature innings which saw him reach his first 2nd grade hundred. This set the platform for the books to launch in the latter half of the innings. Wikramanayake who combined with Kieran Tate (21) applied the pressure on the Hawkesbury bowling attack to get the students into a good position going into the last over of the innings. Henry Clark (13*) then produced some serious ball striking, hitting a 6 and a 4 to close out the Sydney Uni batting innings.
The students found themselves with 206 on the board, although it was under par they were confident in defending it. Charlie Cassell (2/32) began the proceedings for the dents, picking up right where he left off, dismissing both opening batsmen within the first 10 overs. Cassell and Tate (1/24) both got the students off to a great start with 2 brilliant spells of fast bowling. Off the back of 2 early wickets the hawks looked to build and were building a steady 2nd wicket partnership, however ‘Resident Yogi’ Max Hope (2/32) and Henry Clark (0/21) put together a strong couple of overs to break the partnership and put the students right back in the contest.
Spin twins Hope and Sanjay Anandarajah (5/16) then combined to put the pressure on the Hawks in a crucial time of the game and broke the 3rd wicket partnership, this put the Uni boys into a strong position to close out the game.
A clinical performance in the field and with the ball saw the students bowl out the hosts for 133 and saw the 2s win by 73 runs.
Sanjay Anandarajah
WALTER DAVID LOVERIDGE
13 September 1867 – 6 January 1940
Wally attended Newington for five years from January 1880 to December 1884. Born on 13 September 1867, he was a member of the Newington first XI for three seasons and continued to play regularly with the Old Boys for 20 years or so after leaving the College. After Newington, he played with the Double Bay juniors and from around 1888, he was a first grader with Sydney University for several seasons.
On 19 January 1889 at the University Oval, batting at number three he scored 150 not out for University in their win against the Osborne club. At the Sydney Cricket Ground on 22 December 1894, he captained an 18 man junior NSW team against the touring Englishmen. This match was drawn but the NSW Colts, including a 17 year old Victor Trumper and Monty Noble did very well. NSW Juniors 9 declared for 443 (Noble 152 not out, Trumper 67) drew with England 6 for 151.
Wally joined the Central Cumberland club in 1893/94, which was the first season of Sydney Electoral cricket, or grade cricket as we know it today and captained this club to their first ever, Sydney first grade Premiership in 1899/1900.
At Brisbane on 8 November 1902, he was the NSW captain and wicketkeeper in the win against Queensland. This was a first class match.
A good batsman and bowler, he took up wicketkeeping by accident while with Sydney University after an injury to the club’s regular keeper. He retired from serious cricket at the end of the 1909/10 season after 16 years in the first grade ranks but continued to play some matches with the Newington Old Boys.
In his 16 seasons, he scored 831 runs at 10.5 with one fifty and as a wicketkeeper, he dismissed 117 batsmen, 54 caught and 63 stumped. In his first few years, he also bowled and took 10 first grade wickets at 8.3. Nine of these wickets came in his first season, at an average of just 4.2, including a best of 7 for 23, against Glebe at the SCG on 31 March 1894.
Wally joined the NSW Lands department as a cadet draftsman in January 1885. He quickly advanced through the NSW Public Service, becoming an Inspector for the State Treasury, a member of the Public Service Board and Chairman of the Sydney Harbour Trust from 1924 to 1929. He was awarded a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (CMG) in 1930 and died in Brisbane on 6 January 1940, aged 72.
Written by Barry Ross
CENTRAL CUMBERLAND CRICKET TEAM 1893.
From left:
Standing - J. Gurney (scorer), H. Thorpe, F. Iredale, W. D. Loveridge, J. Wilson, W. Forbes, J. Street
Middle - C. Church, S. Walford, W. Brodie,
Kneeling - W. Pye, T. Little, E. Miller, E. Kirby
__________________________________________
From - The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate Friday 12 July 1928 page 11
1st Grade vs Sutherland at Glenn McGrath Oval (50 Overs)
Sydney University 5/294 (50.0)
TP Cummins 76 (58)
CD Maladay 4-41 (10.0)
DEF
Sutherland 208 (49.4)
C Williams 101* (137)
D Rixon 2-62 (10.0)
Round 5 of our campaign saw the boys travel down south to the Shire to take on Sutherland.
TC continued his toss winning streak, which saw us batting first. We got off to a rocky start with the early wicket of Dummer, but in came Morts who was looking like the vintage Morts we all know, helping steady the ship along with Gauci. The scoring rate picked up after the first 10 and the runs were flowing easily with Morts making a classy 68 along with supports from Robbo (39), Duff (39) and Litchy (25). It was TC however who came in for an ever-reliable captains knock of 76 off 58 making the Sutherland boys constantly chase leather to the boundary helping us set our biggest total of the season of 294.
After setting a very competitive total of 294 from our 50, the bowlers took some confidence from the batsmen efforts and got off to a flyer taking a few early wickets thanks to Maladay. The wickets continued to fall with supports from Malone (2-29), McElduff (2-30) and Holloway (2-54) halting Sutherland’s chance of getting anywhere near the total. It was Maladay who took the honours with a brilliant 4-41 off his 10 to claim his best first grade figures for the club.
Overall, a very strong performance all round for the boys who will look to continue this momentum into the final few weeks until Christmas looking to cement a spot near the top 6.
Devlin Malone
2nd Grade vs Sutherland at University Oval (50 Overs)
Sydney University 196 (43.0)
RA Danne 74* (91)
H Clark 5-50 (10.0)
DEF BY
Sutherland 7/261 (50.0)
L Ball 72* (81)
C Barton 5-33 (6.0)
Second Grade welcomed the Sutherland Shark Attacks to an immaculate University Oval. Despite the incessant rain of the last fortnight the wicket was a joy to behold. In overcast conditions, Nashball was won by ‘H-Z Surname Alphabetical Orders’ as they defeated the ‘A-H Surname Alphabetical Orders’. A tightly fought contest that saw the underdogs triumph in a match where there were few clear cut chances. Captain Clark lost the toss and was invited to bowl.
A mixed first hour saw Uni restrict the Sutherland top order in patches but also became wayward in others. Captain Clark (3-50 off 10) took an early breakthrough but then the second wicket partnership wriggled free of the Uni shackles and began to build some momentum. Sanjay Anandarajah (1-35 off 10) was introduced to great effect as he varied his pace coupled with subtle changes in trajectory, allowing Uni to slowly wrestle back some control through the middle overs. Sanjay was rewarded with the scalp of the Sutherland captain as he attempted a late cut to a flatter ball allowing Oli Zanino took a sharp catch behind the stumps. Scoring became tougher as Sanjay bowled in unison with Max Hope (0/44 off 10).
Although it was Captain Clark that did the damage on the scoreboard. Firstly removing the dangerous Barton leg before wicket. Followed by a piece of fielding that surely left scorer Russell in a spin when he was told it was executed by the generous frame of Clark. The batsman worked the ball into the legside and to the right of Clark who was stationed at midwicket, he proceeded to pounce cat-like, scoop up the ball and release one handed in a poetic piece of motion that saw the one stump he had to aim at demolished. Sutherland were now in a panic as they found themselves reeling at 4/115.
They began to rebuild and numbers five and six timed their run perfectly capitalising on some sloppy fielding and punishing any inaccurate death bowling. Their partnership swung the momentum back in the Sharks favour as they both made fifties. The Students would be chasing 262 for victory, many more than we would have hoped for at the halfway point.
The Uni openers started solidly with Hayden Storey (29) springing to life after being struck by an unfortunately directed beamer. Next ball was bludgeoned away through the midwicket region and Hayden appeared to be off and away. Top order wickets then began to fall at inopportune times and it was left to Ryan Danne (74) to pick up the pieces. He started cautiously but then began to gradually accelerate as partners settled around him. Unfortunately for Uni no one was able to go the distance with Ryan. It was a pleasure to watch his measured innings, in particular some of the lofted drives that he played against the medium pace.
The tail was left with the difficult task of chasing 8/over for the last ten overs. They tried valiantly to support Ryan but when he was run out by a sharp piece of fielding at the non-striker's end our chances were all but over. Sutherland were a class above in the field and this was a telling facet of the game when you calculate the swing in extra runs given away by Uni and runs saved by Sutherland.
Onwards and upwards as the 2s travel out to Bensons Lane this Saturday. At the time of writing Sydney is being hit by another storm so fingers crossed the Lane is not underwater come the weekend.
Jack Hill
By James Rodgers
(image courtesy of AWM)
MILFORD JAMES CUSICK
Milford (‘Mick’) Cusick was one of the very few cricketers educated at St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill
who played 1 st Grade for SUCC in the early 20 th century.
He is SUCC 1 st Grade cap no.163.
He initially studied Medicine after boarding at St Joseph’s with his older brother, Alton, from 1913 until
1916 on a half bursary. At the time, his parents lived at the Moorefield Hotel Kogarah.
On the cricket fields of St Joseph’s, he had captained the 1916 1 st XI side. He “batted well, bowled in a
very tricky fashion and fielded in excellent style.” He was said to have been a “bosie bowler”, a rare left
hand wrist spinner who enjoyed prolific success in the various junior teams, probably because his style
of bowling was so little known at that time. His 6-35 and 7-24 in an internal ‘colour’ match in 1913 and
his 6-8 in another game ensured selection in the 2 nd XI and then in the 1 st XI. He could also bat as his
unbeaten 113 in 1913 confirmed. He played in the same 1 st XI side as Bill Gissane who eventually went to
Riverview and who was also to play just once for SUCC.
Going to University in 1916 after passing the Senior Examinations and after winning the University
Medal for Inorganic Chemistry, he found himself in the 1916-17 University sides that had been severely
depleted because of enlistments for the Great War from 1914. That season, the 1 st Grade side was still
able to call on players of quality such as Mick Bardsley, Jim Bogle, Les Best and LC Donovan. But three of
the sixteen who played 1 st Grade that season played their solitary game at that level: Bill Bee, FV
McAdam (who had also attended St Joseph’s before the war) and Milford Cusick (whose surname was
consistently and incorrectly spelled as ‘Cusack’).
Tragedy followed these undergraduates. ENC Leggo,
who bowled left arm medium pace in 1916-17, was killed in France on 18 October 1917.
Cusick scored 11 and 1 in his only game and never appeared in 1 st Grade again.
He set up dental surgery in Bellevue Hill and, in 1923, married Sylvia Somes. They lived for a time in
Wagga when Milford was in partnership in a dental practice with University’s Test player of the time,
Johnnie Taylor. Milford captained the Wagga side and during the 1932-33 ‘Bodyline’ tour he captained
‘Southern NSW’ at Wagga in their two-day game against Jardine’s English side. The MCC side consisted
largely of those who played little part in the acrimonious Test series. Cusick was bowled by Tommy
Mitchell for 12 in the 1 st innings and then stumped to give Pataudi a rare wicket in the 2 nd innings.
He returned to Sydney during the 1930s and turned out in the Dentists vs Undergraduates games at the
SCG.
The son of Milford and Sylvia, also named Milford James Cusick, also attended St Joseph’s College. He
was one of 841 from St Joseph’s to enlist in World War II and one of 74 to be killed. On the evening of
24/25 March 1943, piloting a Lancaster bomber, Flight Lieutenant MJ Cusick was killed in action. His
body was interred at the parish cemetery Wusten I West Germany.
Dr. Neil Thompson
Cricket, and particularly Sydney University Cricket Club, played a significant part in the life of Dr Neil Thompson who died on 30th October 2021, aged 81.
Neil grew up in Bondi, went to school at Bondi Public School and Sydney Boys’ High School. He was capable and competitive at many sports. He was in the Sydney High 1st XI, and also in the rugby, tennis and athletic teams.
While at University, where he started in Pharmacy but quickly moved to Medicine, he initially played with Waverley Club and reached first grade. He then moved to SUCC where, in the 1959-60 season he played second grade. The annual report (which contained some pretty blunt comments) noted: “It would seem obvious that each batsman must concentrate heavily on developing a defensive technique before he can hope to be a successful candidate for First Grade cricket. This problem applies to …….., Neil Thompson and others”!! The batting highlights included “Neil Thompsons’s 62 against Cumberland.” His batting figures were 13 innings, aggregate 116, average 13.6. He was mentioned in the bowling figures for taking one wicket for 21 runs. In the Poidevin-Gray Shield competition he scored 37 and took 1-13 against his old club Waverley, took 2-25 against Randwick, 2-49 against Western Suburbs, and scored 66 against St George. In the intervarsity match against Melbourne, he scored 25 in the second innings but Sydney was thrashed by an innings!
The following season (1960-61) he played mainly in third grade where his highest score from 3 innings was 50, he took 2 wickets at 28.5, 3 catches, and he was “particularly outstanding” in the field. He (and several others) “played one or two good innings marked by real evidence of concentration” (some progress from the previous report!).
In the 1961-62 season he scored 108 against Combined High Schools and 116 against the RAAF. In second grade he scored 198 runs in total and took 16 wickets. He also had four innings in third grade for a total of 102 runs and took four wickets. The Annual Report records that “Some of Neil’s sixes were quite fantastic.”
In the 1962-63 season he played two matches in first grade scoring 24 runs but played more in second grade where he was part of the premiership team. He took 30 wickets with best efforts of 3-17 and 5-49 in one game and 5-49 in another. He was described as an “under-rated” bowler who “used the new ball very intelligently and what he lacked in speed he made up in guile”. This might refer to his left arm “banana ball” which came into a right-handed batsman from a long way out!
The 2nd XI in 1963-64 were again premiers. The report states: “Neil had a most successful season taking 31 wickets and scoring 192 runs. He was most consistent and his 7-38 against Manly was as a result of a magnificent spell of bowling.” That year, in the intervarsity against Queensland Uni he took 7-50 and 2-20.
The following season the seconds won the premiership again. Neil was thus a significant contributor to three successive premierships, particularly as he scored a century in the final. He also took 18 wickets.
During his university days he also played cricket for the St Michael’s Vaucluse church team in their competition.
After graduation from university, he worked at Parramatta Hospital as a resident medical officer and played cricket with the University Veterans. In 1965-66 he had 5 innings with a top score of 59 and collected 22 wickets. The next season he batted 11 times with a top score of 61 and collected 30 wickets. He was selected in the combined City and Suburban team.
He travelled to the UK to further his medical education and worked in Liverpool and Cambridge. He also met and married Elaine, gained his FRCSE and FRCS diplomas and they had their first child. Life was busy! They later had two daughters. While living at Cambridge he played with the Cambridge Travellers team as well as hospital teams.
The family returned to Australia in 1972. He trained further in Orthopaedics and obtained his FRACS. He resumed cricket with the Veterans. In the 1972-73 season he batted nine times for a highest score of 61 and collected 29 wickets. In the 1973-74 season he had 7 innings with highest score of 53 and collected 22 wickets. The report for the 1975-76 year states that he “made a welcome return. He batted and bowled as if he had never been away from the game”. The report however quotes only one innings of 27!
In 1976 he made another good decision and moved to Lismore to live. He was the only Orthopaedic Surgeon resident in the town, was on call all the time, and was very busy. He continued to provide a quality practice but was later to welcome other Orthopaedic surgeons to town. He retired after 25 years of dedicated service to the local community. During this time, he continued to play occasional games of cricket, notably in the annual Doctors v. Lawyers game. His bowling was restricted by a lower back problem. This hampered his golf too. He played tennis regularly.
In 1978 while in Hobart attending a meeting of the Australian Orthopaedic Association he was involved in climbing a telegraph pole to rescue a young man behaving erratically. He received the Australian Commendation for Brave Conduct and the Silver Medal of the Royal Humane Society. This was an example of his care for fellow humans.
In retirement he was not idle. He played tennis and occasional golf and managed to find time to write a book entitled “Sawbones, Saddle Burns, and Soothing Balms” on the history of medical practice in the Richmond Valley from 1866-1986.
Throughout his life and particularly while at University playing cricket Neil made good friends who remained friends for life. He was great company, with comments that were insightful and showed his quirky sense of humour. He was part of a large and loving family. He was described by his eulogist as “a gentleman and a great bloke”
Scott Harbison, who played for SUCC with Neil.
Lindsay Foster died 21 November 2021 aged 70.
He played two seasons, 1974-75 and 1976-77, with SUCC having previously played five seasons with Northern District.
Those two seasons were mightily successful and memorable for the University 3rd Grade side that was Runners Up and then Minor Premiers under the astute and inclusive captaincy of the much-respected Rob Thomas. Lindsay was an integral part in the success and harmony of those sides.
He had been educated at Knox College where he ‘took under his wing’ younger students who may have been otherwise overawed. One of those was Chris Elder who especially remembers Lindsay’s kindness and thoughtfulness towards him. Those characteristics, and a chuckling laugh that put everyone at ease, were to remain with him throughout a distinguished life.
Lindsay studied Arts/Law, was later called to the NSW Bar and was eventually appointed to the Bench.
Some of those who shared those seasons in the mid 1970s have written with much appreciation for Lindsay’s life and influence.
Rob Thomas his captain.
“He was an enthusiastic and jovial team-mate and club member; a stylish batsman with a flourishing cover drive; not only a contributor on the field but great company after stumps. I also recall him as a very dedicated law student. He carved out a successful career as a barrister and as a respected judge.”
Dr Lawrie Bott
“That year of cricket (1974-75) was the most enjoyable of my career…a wonderful bunch of people and future life-long friends.
Lindsay was one of the enthusiastic, happy players who allowed us to achieve great heights that season…a brave batsman with an excellent cover drive.”
Steve Ward
“As I try to picture him, every time the image that emerges is both youthful and cheerful. I cannot recall him without a smile on his face. He was typical of that team that provided me with a stable and highly enjoyable home.”
Chris McRae
“I used to catch up with Lindsay when Trinity played Knox in the Rugby, discussing legal matters…like the lousy refereeing!”
Jock Baird
I knew Lindsay in a number of other respects apart from our playing days: as a barrister when he was at the Bar. I, as solicitor, would brief him (and sometimes be opposed to him), as proud fathers when our respective sons were in the Knox Grammar rugby U13 – U15A’s where we spent many a convivial winter’s Saturday morning doing what fathers do, standing on muddy sidelines on such occasions (mostly drinking coffee to stay warm and discussing the plight of the world, or at least the Wallabies), and finally when Lindsay had been elevated to the Bench and I would appear before him (he was very kind to me and forgiving of my inadequacies on more than one occasion).
He was always good company, especially over a glass of red wine or two, with a lively wit and an engaging smile that often foretold some piercing observation or remark (but never delivered with any malice). He was generous with his time to those who sought his advice and never condescending to those less fortunate or who did not possess his powerful intellect: a true gentleman and scholar. Even when he became extremely ill he never lost his sense of humour or his curiosity at the world, but bore his pain stoically and with incredible strength and optimism.
Lindsay of course had a very distinguished legal career. I knew him as a friend: a good cricketer, raconteur and bon vivant. We shall all miss him.”
The Club offers its sincere sympathy to Lindsay’s wife, Anne, and to their four children.
James Rodgers
