Incoming Director of Cricket at Sydney University Cricket Club (SUCC), Cameron Borgas, is more than happy with his new surroundings, but he’s even happier with the standing of the Club.
Having coached at another sandstone campus, Adelaide University, for the past three seasons Borgas, who played 37 Sheffield Shield matches for South Australia, has inherited a solid band of cricketers through the grades. “A number of our young First Graders have hit early season form, including opener Ben Trevor-Jones, leg-spinner Devlin Malone, all-rounders Ryan McElduff and Hayden Kerr, and left-arm quick Dugald Holloway,” Mr Borgas said.
“All of them have the potential to go to the next level.” Trevor-Jones, who posted 124 in the Round 4 clash against Fairfield-Liverpool, is averaging 105 from four knocks, while Malone has already taken 19 wickets.
“Devlin and Ryan have already played for NSW Under 19s, while Hayden recently made his NSW Future League debut for ACT-NSW Country,” the coach said. “Hayden’s a handy top-order right-hand batsmen, who also bowls left-arm medium pace, while Dugald is a deceptively quick left-arm bowler. He’s also a hard hitter down the batting order.”
“Of course skipper Liam Robertson, Ed Cowan and opening bowler Joe Kershaw, another Future League player for ACT-NSW Country, have also been contributors.”
Sydney University’s solid start to the season began in Round 1 with a clean sweep in all five grades (limited overs fixtures) against Manly-Warringah. The Students collected a bonus point in First, Second and Fourth grades to take an early lead in the Club Championship.
First Grade cleaned up Manly-Warringah by 144 runs at University Oval. The hosts posted 7-277, with Cowan (69), McElduff (63), Robertson (50) and Damien Mortimer (38) the main contributors. Batting at No.4, Cowan cracked seven boundaries and a six in his 57-ball stay.
The Students then earnt a bonus point by dismissing Manly- Warringah for 133 in 37 overs, thanks to Malone’s nine-over spell which produced 4-35, complemented by Ben Joy (2-13) and Tim Ley (2-25). Steven Hobson provided the highlight of Sydney University’s collective Round 1 afternoon with a sparkling 122 in Third Grade’s 43-run win at Camperdown Park. He shared a 102- run opening partnership with Jack Hill (37) as the Students amassed 8-265 before dismissing Manly-Warringah for 213. Newcomer Nihir Gandhi led the University bowling assault, taking 4-35 off his 10 overs.
Malone’s early season form continued in the rain-affected Round 2 draw with Eastern Suburbs at University Oval. In the first of the two-day fixtures the visitors were all out for 215 thanks to the leg-spinner’s 6-73 in a 27-over spell, including six maidens. The Students were 3-44 at stumps and both sides had to settle for a draw when the next Saturday’s play was washed out.
A Liam Robertson century helped Sydney University to an 86-run win over Sydney in their Round 3 NSW Premier competition match at Drummoyne Oval. With the first day of the two-day fixture washed out, the match was rescheduled as a 50-over contest, with skipper Robertson electing to bat first after winning the toss. He entered the fray with the Students 3-91 and posted 105 off 125 balls, with eight boundaries, as Sydney University amassed 8-235.
Tim Ley and Joe Kershaw struck early as Sydney struggled to post runs. Ley finished with 3-15 and Kershaw finished with 2-41. Malone (2-27) and Holloway (2-19) also shared in the spoils.
Sydney University had a second century-maker in their ranks on the day. Newcomer Nicholas Walker cracked an unbeaten 104 in Second Grade’s 87-run win over Sydney at University Oval. Batting at No.4, Walker hit seven boundaries and six sixes in his 112-ball occupation, and shared a 112-run seventh wicket stand with Charlie Cassell (70 not out) as the hosts amassed 6-258.
They then rolled Sydney for 171, with Cassell collecting 4-19 in a big day out on the campus. With four wins and a draw in the five grades against Sydney, Sydney University extended their lead in the Club Championship ladder on 278 points, with Randwick- Petersham (245) and Penrith (239) sitting second and third.
The first day of Sydney University’s Round 4 match against Fairfield-Liverpool was highlighted by Trevor-Jones’s 124 at University Oval. Having been called up to open while Nick Larkin was on NSW duties in the Sheffield Shield, Trevor-Jones made the most of his promotion, hitting 12 boundaries and a six in his 262-ball stay. Skipper Robertson declared Sydney University’s inning closed at 9-295.
Day two saw Malone’s early season wicket-taking streak continue, when he claimed 5-65 as Sydney University took first innings win over Fairfield-Liverpool who were all out for 206. He bagged another two in Sydney University’s 79-run win over Australian Capital Territory in a Twenty20 fixture at University Oval the following day to take his season tally to 19.
In the women’s premier competition, Georgia Redmayne cut loose with the willow in Universities 105-run win over Northern District in their Round 5 limited overs fixture at Mark Taylor Oval.
The opener hit 20 boundaries in scoring 165 as Universities tallied 7-336. She shared partnerships of 168 with No.4 Carly Leeson (66) and 74 with Maisy Gibson (26). Universities held Northern District to 5-231 with Stella Campbell claiming 2-26. Campus cricket is in good hands.
