Sydney University fields six teams in the Sydney grade cricket competition and one in the Metropolitan Cup, along with three teams in the women’s grade competition, and all bar one have made it through for finals berths in the 2011-12 season.
With one round of the competitions to be played, only the men’s Third Grade will miss out on the business end of the season.
Sydney University men’s First Grade are on target to defend their two-day competition (Belvidere Cup) title. The Firsts are second on the ladder with 77 points behind competition front-runners UNSW (85 points). North Sydney (68), Randwick-Petersham (64), Manly-Warringah ( 59) and St George (57) make up the top six.
With the final round being a limited overs fixture, even a win with bonus points over UNSW at the Village Green would not be enough to run down the Kensington boys for the minor premiership.
However, Sydney University Seconds can still push for the minor premiership depending on results this weekend.
Manly-Warringah head the Second Grade ladder on 84 points, with Sydney University (81), Northern District (78), Campbelltown-Camden (66), Sutherland (58) and Gordon (58) making up the top six.
The Seconds were in a strong position to claim outright points over Sydney and regain the competition lead at the weekend but were thwarted when rain caused the second day’s play to be called off.
Sydney University Fourth Grade head the ladder on 62 points and need to win this weekend to claim the minor premiership.
Sutherland (60), Northern District (58), Manly-Warringah (58), Parramatta (54) and St George (51) make up cluttered top-six ladder that could change dramatically depending on results in this weekend’s limited overs round.
In Fifth Grade Sydney University are currently in fifth position and cannot miss out on making the finals with one week to go.
Sydney University’s Seventh Grade team have also qualified for the finals.
Sydney University are also in contention for the elusive Club Championship which has come down to the wire with results across all grade vital this weekend.
Manly-Warringah head the Club Championship ladder on 1461 points, with Sydney University in close pursuit on 1421 and third-placed Sutherland 1376 indicating the depth and strength of the 2011-12 Sydney grade competition.
Sydney University had been frontrunners in the Metropolitan Cup for most of the season, but must win over UNSW at St Paul’s College Oval this weekend to lay claim to the minor premiership.
The Students are on 70 points, with Gordon (68), Penrith (60) and Randwick-Pertersham Green (53) making up the top four.
In the Sydney Cricket Association women’s grade competition, Universities have reversed their fortunes of last season when each of the three teams finished last.
With one round of limited overs matches to be played, SUWCC will be represented in the semi-finals in First and Third grades and the Brewer Shield (Under 17) competitions.
Bankstown Sports head the First Grade competition on 89 points, with Universities (71), St George-Sutherland (61) and Gordon (51) making up the top four.
Universities will meet last-placed Northern District at Mark Taylor Oval this weekend before the semi-finals are played on March 17 and 18.
Gordon head the Third Grade competition on 36 points, with St George-Sutherland (29), Universities (29) and Campbelltown-Camden (28) making up the top four.
And the second-placed Brewer Shield girls are assured of a semi-finals berth. Penrith, on 43 points, and Universities on 37 have the top two places in their keeping, while Campbelltown-Camden, St George-Sutherland and Northern District, all on 27 points, will fight out the last two semi-final berths.
In junior women’s cricket news, the UWCC Rivers team (Division 2, 8-14 years old) were declared joint Premiers after their grand final was washed out last on Saturday.
Six UWCC girls (the most of any club in Sydney) have progressed through the trials and been selected into the NSW Metro training squads.
The girls progressing through are Serena Liu (U/13), Maddy Darke (U/13), Jarawan Dixon (U/13), Dharshia Srinivas (U14), Clara Iemma (U/15), Rachel Li (U/16).
Scoreboard
Sydney Men’s Grade competition – Round 15 (Two-day matches)
First Grade: Sydney University 202 (Nick Larkin 46, Greg Mail 42, Mark Faraday 39; Angus Moncrief 5-51, Tom Ortiz 3-44) d Sydney 99 (Dominic Thornley 28, Tim Sparke 24, Nathan Ball 22; Ian Moran 7-20, Stuart Clark 2-16) and 6-122 (Daniel Smith 50 not out; Greg Mail 2-28, Tim Ley 2-29) on the first innings at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Toss: Sydney. Batted first: Sydney University. Points: Sydney University 6, Sydney 0.
Second Grade: Sydney University 4(dec)-228 (Will Hay 69, Adam Theobald 53, Liam Robertson 36, Tom Kierath 24 not out, Ben Larkin 23) d Sydney 97 (Dipin Sodhi 36; Josh Toyer 5-19, Michael Culkoff 3-14) and 2-21 on the first innings at Drummoyne Oval. Toss: Sydney. Batted first: Sydney. Points: Sydney University 6, Sydney 0. Day two washed out.
Third Grade: Sydney 137 (Joel James 31, Todd Hutcheson 30; Alasdair Grant 5-15, Kerrod McPherson 3-23) d Sydney University 99 (Matthew Gregory 62 not out; Philip Caruso 4-15, Nick Govers 2-24) on the first innings at Sydney University No.2 Oval. Toss: Sydney. Batted first: Sydney. Points: Sydney 6, Sydney University 0.
Fourth Grade: Sydney 199 (Matthew Pasternasky 62, Justin Mosca 36; Peter Murray 6-43, Stuart McLean 2-19) drew with Sydney University at Ryde Oval. Toss: Sydney. Batted first: Sydney. Points: Sydney 0, Sydney University 0. Day two washed out.
Fifth Grade: Sydney University 9(dec)-220 (Matt Skinner 86, Alex Toomey 25, Rowan Fessey 22, Timothy Croft 22 not out; Simon Nosworthy 2-32, Jock Wallace 2-60) d Sydney 123 (Mitchell Nicholson 62; Sam Mahabady 4-43, Alex Mihalyka 3-13) on the first innings at St Paul’s College Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University. Points: Sydney University 6, Sydney 0.
Metropolitan Cup – Round 15
Sydney University 162 drew with Western Suburbs 2-48 at Punchbowl Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University. Points: Sydney University 0, Sydney 0. Day two washed out.
Sydney Women’s Grade competition – Round 20 (Limited overs)
First Grade: Universities v Sydney at Drummoyne Oval. Match abandoned due to wet weather.
Brewer Shield (Limited overs)
Universities v Bankstown Sports at Boronia Park 2. Match abandoned due to wet weather.
