February 2018 Welcome to the third edition of the St George DCC Stumps Newsletter for 2017-18. TWO ROUNDS OF THE SEASON REMAINING With two rounds of the season to play we can safely say it s been one of the more challenging seasons we ve ever experienced. The club has had to deal with a very high quota of injuries that have left us weaker than usual but all the more hungry to turn things around for 2018-19. Planning is already under way. The quantity of injuries has seen an unprecedented number of First Grade debuts. Nine in fact which the historians believe could be the 2 nd most in a single season in the club s history considering there were 11 debuts in the club s first ever 1 st grade game. It hasn t been all doom and gloom. Our very young 1 st grade side held a glimmer of hope of making the finals even up until a close 2 wickets loss last round to Randwick-Petersham. The young side welcomed back the likes of Henriques, Patterson and Copeland just after the completion of the BBL season and enjoyed some great performances particularly from Henriques who pieced together two match winning innings of 106* and 76. However, the club is particularly proud in which the way the young squad has gone about its business under the cool leadership of Nick Stapleton in the absence of Trent Copeland who has been turning in some solid performances for NSW in the Sheffield Shield. Some of the highlights in recent times have been a maiden half century to Mitch Gray (72 in Rd 13) as well as rising allrounder Peter Francis (51* in Rd 10). Our Englishman Ollie Robinson has been in great knick after Christmas and captain Nick Stapleton has turned in some brilliant stats having scored 497 runs and claimed 37 wickets in all forms. Jono Rose has continued to improve in leaps and bounds behind the stumps and has turned in some quality knocks. Matthew Lacey returned from injury and claimed a crucial 5 wicket haul in Rd 10 with his consistent leggies. Blake Macdonald has left us excited about a big future for St George and at representative level. Including PG s he has scored 741 runs which has seen him continue to get the call up for the ACT / NSW Country. Luke Bartier is going from strength to strength with some quality performances with bat and ball and is likely to have some very big seasons for the club in the very near future.
The first graders have a massive task against a very strong Manly side over the next two weeks. It is sure to be a cracking Rd 14 match up with day one also being celebrated as Members, Past Players Day and Sponsors Day. Please let us know if you wish to join us - kevingreene@live.com.au
AROUND THE GROUNDS
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SYDNEY SIXERS TAKE OUT WBBL TITLE Congratulations to our friends at the Sydney Sixers who recently took out the Womens Big Bash League title for the 2 nd year in a row. The Sixers once again used the beautiful Hurstville Oval for three of their home games. Their games at Hurstville were very well supported by Sixers fans and their impeccable record remains intact having never been beaten at the home of St George cricket.
VALE VIC MICHAEL We regret to inform the passing of former St George First Grade Cricketer (No.156) Vic Michael late of Mortdale aged 86. Vic was a very promising cricketer who attending the Crown Street School in Surry Hills. He came to St George from the Paddington Club in 1948 with an amazing record as a schoolboy cricketer and a very bright future predicted for him. In 1952 at Drummoyne Oval he broke the PG s (U21's) record by scoring 210 which included a record breaking 297 run partnership with his lifelong friend Warren Saunders. Both records still stand to this day. Unfortunately his work commitments with D. & W. Murray Limited did not allow him to train. He did still manage to knock out a very good career in 1 st Grade which included a premiership victory in 1952-53. In First Grade he had 164 innings scoring 3735 runs with a highest score of 144 not out. He also scored 898 runs in 2 nd Grade to end up with 4633 runs for the club all up. He is remembered by Warren Saunders as a gifted and natural sportsman who was also very handy at Tennis, Golf and Snooker and more importantly an all round good bloke to have at the club. We pass our deepest sympathies to his wife, Margaret and Daughter, Diane and son, Greg.
WHERE WAS WAZ It was suitably noted that Warwick Hayes was not in attendance for Day 2 of the Round 13 clash against Randwick Petersham. How can the usually reliable captain just leave his post. Well as always he had a pretty decent excuse, he was simply representing his country. Congrats to club legend and all time highest runscorer across all grades Warwick Hayes who was selected in the Australian Over 50 s team. Warwick has spent the last week in New Zealand playing 3 ODI and doesn t he look a treat in his Aussie Clobber. Is there no end to the pride that this bloke gives this club? The good news is he ll be back in time to lead the boys against Manly and there s a rumour that he will be up against an old team mate in Ross Trewartha. The former St George 1 st Grader (No.302) has probably retired as many times as Waz but has been called into 5 ths to take on his old club. There s a big chance that he was on the blower to the Manly chairman of selectors, in a bid to get the chance to sledge his ol mate and have a crack at those offies.
FOR THE DIARY New Physio We welcome Ciaran Williams & acknowledge Fit and Flow Physiotherapy as the club s preferred provider for physiotherapy services. Suite 6, 345 Kingsway Caringbah (02) 8544 3680 www.fitandflowphysiotherapy.com.au
2017-18 TOP PERFORMERS SO FAR
St George DCC 1st Grade Player No.19 - Alan Fairfax At our Facebook page you will find a number of interesting albums including a growing history of our First Grade players and their stories. Alan Fairfax was the first St George Junior Cricketer to represent Australia in Test Cricket and the 2nd St George DCC player to do so behind Sir Donald Bradman. His Wisden Obituary read - Alan Geoffrey Fairfax, who died in London on May 17, aged 48, played as an all-rounder in ten Test matches for Australia from 1929 to 1931. He had been in indifferent health following a serious injury received during the Second World War, after which he joined the staff of a London Sunday newspaper. Progressing through grade cricket, Fairfax reached Inter-State rank following an innings of 107 for New South Wales Colts against Queensland Colts in 1928-29 and he made his first appearance as a steady and somewhat restrained stroke-player for Australia in the fifth Test match against A. P. F. Chapman's team that season. In the first innings he scored 65, sharing in a stand of 183 with D. G. Bradman (123) which set up a record for the fifth Australian wicket. He visited England under W. M. Woodfull in 1930, taking part in four of the Test Matches. With 53 not out his best innings, he averaged 50 against England, and in all first class games during the tour scored 536 runs, average 25.52, and, with right-arm medium-pace bowling from a good height, took 41 wickets for 29.70 runs each. Next season in Australia he played in all five Test Matches against West Indies, being third in the batting averages with figures of 48.75 for six innings. He returned to England in 1932 as professional to Accrington in the Lancashire League essentially ending his test career and afterwards until the outbreak of War ran an indoor cricket school in London. In First Grade for St George DCC he made his debut at just 15 years of age and all up scored 2515 runs including 4 centuries and a highest score of 109. He claimed 63 wickets in First Grade and 7 in Second Grade. He played 56 First Class games scoring 1910 runs at 28.93 with 9 half centuries and 1 century 104. With the ball he took 134 wickets with a best of 6-54. In 10 Tests for Australia he scored 410 runs with a highest score of 65 and an impressive average of 51.25. With the ball he took 21 wickets with a best of 4-31.