RIP Vic Cristofani

L to R - Mac Chambers, Vic Cristofani and Hartley Anderson

VICTOR ATHOL CRISTOFANI died 11 January 2025, aged 93, on the same day as the first day of the 1st Grade game between Sydney University and St George at Hurstville Oval for the O'Keeffe/O'Sullivan trophy. Vic had played most of his 1st Grade career with Sydney University and St George. He began in Green Shield for St George in 1944-45, aged 13, and went on to captain the St George Green Shield side of 1946-47.

There are now only five former SUCC players aged in their nineties or more:

Bert Alderson, who turned 100 in December 2024.

Donald Scott-Orr, 94

Trevor Mitchell, 92

Saxon White, 90

and Graham Reed, 90

Vic's older brother, DR (Bob) Cristofani (1920-2002) whose obituary appeared in the SUCC Annual Report of 2002-03, had played Green Shield for St George in 1937-38 before making his 1st Grade debut for St George in 1940-41 (1st Grade cap no115). He played 18 first class games (749 runs and 48 wickets) for NSW before and after the war and for the Australian Services team after the war. He had served in the RAAF as a pilot, flying Beaufighters.

Both Bob and Vic were educated at Sydney High School. Both bowled leg spinners and both were dashing middle order batsmen. Both began studies after the war at Sydney University and both played 1st Grade for SUCC (Bob SUCC 1st Grade cap no363; Vic 1st Grade cap no374) Bob also captained University's 1st Grade (SUCC 1948-52. 735 runs and 103 wickets) while Vic's batting was often decisive in low-scoring games(SUCC 1949-52. 639 runs and 6 wickets).

Both then returned to St George after graduation for the 1952-53 season (Vic was St George 1st Grade cap no167) when St George won the 1st Grade premiership.

For St George in 1st and 2nd Grades, Vic scored over 4500 runs and took over 100 wickets.

Vic had a long and decorated career, with St George until 1954-55, then Western Suburbs 1955-61 before returning to the strong St George sides from 1961. When he was transferred by the ABC to Adelaide, he played for West Torrens. In October 1975, aged 44, he was quite remarkably recalled to the West Torrens 1st Grade side. When he moved to Canberra, he initially represented Western District.

From 1993 to 2003, Vic was President of the ANU Cricket Club, where he played and coached, and was made a Life Member of ANU and ACT Cricket. His coaching the City Club, ANU and Daramalan College was precise, exact and filled with long experience and innovative theories.

Cricket ACT posted a comprehensive obituary when Vic died:

"Vic's memory will live on in the hearts of all who were fortunate to know him and in the continued success of the players and clubs he so passionately supported."

SUCC stalwarts, Hartley Anderson and Mac Chambers, visited Vic at Glenhaven Aged Care Facility during 2024 and reported that he was alert, engaging and keen to hear news of SUCC.

Vic's funeral took place on Saturday 18 January which was to have been the second day of the 1st Grade match (washed out) between St George and Sydney University.

Vic's wife, Margaret pre-deceased him.

The Club's sincere sympathies are extended to his sons and daughters in law: Janice, Gregory, Kathryn and Paul.

JFR

AW Green Shield Centuries

AW GREEN SHIELD CENTURIES

Sydney University CC has been playing in the AW Green Shield competition since 1997-98. In that time, there have been only ten centuries scored by SUCC players. The first was in the first season, by Ed Cowan, who was to play 18 Tests for Australia and to  score 1001 Test runs.

The tenth SUCC Green Shield centurion, Archie O'Hara, scored a commanding 135 not out last Thursday against Bankstown on University No.1 Oval. Archie batted through the innings of 3 for 277, hitting 9 fours and 2 sixes from 158 balls. His 135 is the second highest by an SUCC player in Green Shield. 

Archie O’Hara 135 not out vs Bankstown DCC

The highest was scored by Pradeep Pathirana who plundered 138 not out against Nth Sydney in 2003-04. In 2006-07, Pradeep was to score a majestic 215 in 4th Grade against Parramatta.

The complete list of the SUCC  AWG centurions is:

Pradeep Pathirana  138 no      2003-04

Archie O'Hara          135 no       2024-25

Sam Hinton              127 no       2000-01

Julian Ryan               119            2022-03

Nick Arnold               115          2014-15

Ed Fitzpatrick            112            2015-19

Luke Reynolds           111 no       1999-2000

Ed Cowan                  107 no       1997-98

Nick Arnold              105            2014-15

Jack Bray                  101          2022-23

One more fascinating fact:

One of Ed Cowan's nephews, Charlie Cowan, was in the SUCC side last Thursday that enthusiastically applauded Archie off the ground after his historic innings.

 James Rodgers

RIP Michael (Louie) Lynch

Michael Lynch died in December 2024 aged 69.

Michael, known as 'Louie', Lynch played for the Club from 1976 until 1980 in the lower Grades, scoring 942 runs including a century, 102.

He had been educated at St Aloysius' College and then St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill and had spent four years in the St Joseph's 1st XI as a high-scoring batsman. His performances for the Sydney Club were subsequently outstanding.

While playing for the Club, he studied Chemical Engineering  and, in recent years, had run a successful business in computer software.

The Club's sympathies are extended to his wife, Sue, and to his adult children.

JFR

BERT ALDERSON 100 NOT OUT 24TH DECEMBER 20224

A.H. Bert Alderson

A Century of Cricket and Life.

The former Sydney Grade cricketer Bert Alderson turns 100 on 14th December, 2024. In a long career with Central Cumberland and Sydney University, Bert a left-hand batsman, made over 14000 runs in all grades, with 13589 in first grade,

He played A.W. Green Shield for Central Cumberland, now Parramatta, in 1939-1940 season. Bert also played some Shires and 1st grade that season, while still a student at Parramatta High.

Bert at Merrylands Oval

He played twenty seasons in First Grade at Central Cumberland from 1941-1942 until 1973-1974, plus seven seasons with Sydney University. At Cumberland he amassed 7740 runs @ 28.04. He played until 1973-1974, his fiftieth year.

Bert attended Sydney University to complete his degree in Engineering in Seasons 1951-1952 and 1952-1953, returning as graduate captain of the First XI for five seasons in the 1960’s between 1961-1962 and 1965-1966. For Sydney University he scored 2991 runs at 42.98.

Bert In his whites, about to take the field.

During his career there were no 50 over matches, no T20 cricket or Sunday play but he made over 500 runs in a season on at least eight occasions.Three of these were in his time at Sydney University.

Bert Alderson

Recipient of both Cricket (1951) and Baseball (1961) Blues at the University of Sydney.

Photo arranged by his family during the week leading up to his 100th Birthday celebration

(Thank you Jessica Edwards, Bert’s Granddaughter, for coordinating this)

Bert was awarded a Blue for Cricket at Sydney University in 1951, awarded to undergraduates for outstanding performance. He also played Baseball for Sydney University where he was a fixture for many years as the First Grade short stop. His consistency and high performance were rewarded with selection in the NSW Claxton Shield team in 1961, and he also gained his Blue for Baseball.

Bert the Baseballer

Away from his cricket career Bert Alderson worked for the Holroyd Shire Council, where he became their Chief Engineer. His contribution in the area was honoured with the naming of the Grandstand at Merrylands Oval being named “The Bert Alderson Stand”.

Bert’s Brother Ken also played lower grades for Central Cumberland, and his sons Greg and Doug played for the Club in the 1970’s with some success. Both were left-handed batsmen and right arm bowlers like Bert.

All cricketers will salute Bert on his century of life, particularly those who had the pleasure of playing against him and knowing him.

The Board, Management, Members and Supporters of the Sydney University Cricket Club, wish Bert a very happy 100th Birthday Celebration. May he enjoy good health and happiness in the years ahead.

H.A. 14.12.2024

RYAN McELDUFF 206 NOT OUT

AT THE DOUBLE

RYAN McELDUFF 206 NOT OUT.

Double centuries are rare at any level. The Club's list of  double centuries, stretching from 1853-54 to 2024-25 in Club cricket, Electorate cricket, Grade cricket and Premier cricket, indicates how rare this event is.

Until last Saturday, there had been 24 instances of double centuries scored by SUCC players. Greg Mail scored three; Nick Larkin two and Steve Hobson two. 20 players had scored at least one double.

On Saturday in 2nd Grade against Blacktown, Ryan McElduff scored the Club's twenty fifth double. He became the twenty first SUCC player to do so and the first since 2013-14 when both Scott Henry, in 1st Grade, and Jack Hill, in 2nd Grade, scored 200 not out.

In 1888-89, the first SUCC double century was scored by the Australian Test player Tom Garrett (who had played in Australia's first Test Match in 1876-77).  Garrett scored 274 in the Club's 1st XI against the Albert Club. Garrett and Herbert Lee put on 348 for the 1st wicket (a Club 1st wicket record that still stands) and University made 635. Garrett finished with 620 runs @52.6 for the season. In his prolific season in 2024-25, Ryan has already scored 599 runs in just six matches.

He is in illustrious company.

James Rodgers

WILL SWANTON - SPORTS JOURNALIST

Will Swanton was SUCC’s 1st Grade wicket keeper and useful lower order batsman in 1988-89 (1st Grade cap No. 571).
Since then, he’s worked as a sports journalist and author, most recently with ‘The Australian’, covering an array of sports.
In that time, he’s received a number of prestigious awards including ‘Sports Journalist of the Year’ in 2017 and a ‘Walkley Award’ for a Features Writer.
This week, at the 20th annual News Awards, Will picked up another well-merited award for his fine writing.

Many congratulations from his old Club.

James Rodgers

RIP Greg Newman

Greg Newman died October 2023

We have learnt only recently of Greg Newman’s death. 

Briefly, his playing record includes: 

1959 Sydney Grammar School 1st XI Premiers 

1957-60. Balmain

1960-61 and 1961-62. University

1960-61. 4ths. 2-0-20-25-12.5. 2wkts for 149

1961-62. PG. no batting recorded. 1wkt for 50

 4ths. 11-1-17-69-6.9. 14 wkts for 277. In this season, he took 4 for 0 in his first over v Randwick. 

1962-63. Returned to Balmain where he played most seasons until 1974-75

1st grade. 33 wkts

2nd grade. 171 wkts

3rd grade 155 wkts

4th grade 72 wkts

Total 431  wkts

Highlights:

1962-63. 4ths. 29 wkts @8.5

1962-63. Won the club trophy for under 21s

1970-71. 2nd grade premiers

1971-72. 3rd grade. 58 wkts @11.2. 6 for 10 v Manly. 

Greg came out of retirement for one season, 1976-77, when he played 4ths for Waverley. 

Played golf at Killara where his brother, Justice Peter Newman, was President. 

Jim Cattlin, who played in the Sydney Grammar School premiership side of 1959 with Greg, remembers him as “a gentle giant of a fast bowler at school…He had the height and could move the ball. A warm hearted and committed team member who was frustrated only if he performed below his best.”

James Rodgers