Sydney University opener Nick Larkin literally hit the new year running when he cracked an unbeaten 72 to help the Students to a seven-wicket win over North Sydney in their Round 9 fixture at North Sydney Oval on Saturday.
Larkin hit six boundaries in a 92-ball occupation to guide Sydney University to 3-169 in reply to North Sydney’s 165. He shared a 70-run partnership with No.3 Sean Abbott (35) and a 74-run stand with Greg Mail (35 not out) to help secure the points.
After winning the toss and giving the hosts first use of the wicket, Tim Ley (4-35) and Will Somerville (3-19) justified skipper Greg Mail’s decision, helping to roll North Sydney in 48.3 overs. Although not taking a wicket, young leg-spinner Jonte Pattison turned in a tidy eight overs to finish with 0-31.
The win kept Sydney University on top of the Belvidere Cup board on 50 points, with Penrith breathing down their neck on 48 points, and Bankstown (37), Manly-Warringah (36), Randwick-Petersham (36) and Campbelltown-Camden (36) making up the top six.
Sydney University also lead the Club Championship on 818 points, with Sutherland (806), Randwick-Petersham (794) and Northern District (786) in close attendance.
Sydney University Seconds secured a bonus point in their 148-run win which was highlighted by a brilliant, unbeaten 121 from Steven Hobson, who hit 14 boundaries and two sixes in a 95-ball stay. It was his sixth century for SUCC since joining the blue and golds in 2011-12.
Sydney University rattled up 6-326 before rolling North Sydney for 178 in 35.4 overs, with spinner Tom Keirath collecting 4-17.
North Sydney secured the points in Thirds and Fourths, while Sydney University Fifths recorded a solid win at Tunks Park.
The school holiday break saw the commencement of the A.W. Green Shield (Under 16) competition, with Sydney University recording losses in the first four rounds – against Parramatta, St George, North Sydney and Sydney – before securing the points in a low-scoring affair against Blacktown.
Scoreboard
Sydney Men’s Grade competition – Round 9 (Limited overs)
First Grade: Sydney University 3-169 off 37.5 overs (Nick Larkin 72 not out, Sean Abbott 35, Greg Mail 33 not out; Jordan Peacock 1-12) d North Sydney 165 off 48.3 overs (Justin Avendano 36, Jay Lenton 29, Robert Aitken 28, Kurt Neely 25; Tim Ley 4-35, Will Somerville 3-19) by seven wickets at North Sydney Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: North Sydney. Points: Sydney University 6, North Sydney 0.
Second Grade: Sydney University 6-326 off 50 overs (Steven Hobson 121 not out, David Miller 51, Darius Visser 48; David Guthrie 1-46) d North Sydney 178 off 35.4 overs (William Affleck 67, Angus McKay 38 not out; Tom Kierath 4-17, Ben Joy 2-18) by 148 runs, with a bonus point, at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Toss: North Sydney. Batted first: Sydney University. Points: Sydney University 7, North Sydney 0.
Third Grade: North Sydney 164 off 47.3 overs (Matthew Fisher 37, Angelo 24) d Sydney University 149 off 45.5 overs (Charles Cull 35; Declan Hoare 4-33, Ben O’Connell 3-16) by 15 runs at Bon Andrews Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: North Sydney. Points: North Sydney 6, Sydney University 0.
Fourth Grade: North Sydney 7-212 off 50 overs (Christy Doran 50, Stephen King 35, Raymond Alexander 30) d Sydney University 155 off 41.3 overs (Alasdair Grant 28; Travis McKenna 3-30) by 57 runs at Sydney University No.2 Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: North Sydney. Points: North Sydney 6, Sydney University 0.
Fifth Grade: Sydney University 231 off 43.5 overs (Alex Mihalyka 99, Anthony Lown 27; Greg Denlow 4-37) d North Sydney 227 of 47.5 overs (Eknoor Singh 40, Mayur Kulkarni 40, Alexander Perry 35, Ben Mathews 30) by four runs at Tunks Park. Toss: North Sydney. Batted first: Sydney University. Points: Sydney University 6, North Sydney 0.
Metropolitan Cup competition – Round 9
Sydney University 297 off 50 overs (Robbie Ward 93, Brodie Frost 49, Andrew Wilkinson 34; Marcus Pasfield 3-52) d Blacktown (2) 143 of 37 overs (Divnesh Nambiar 37, Curtis Lucas 28 not out; Andrew Wilkinson 3-11, Brodie Frost 3-31, Rupert Coy 3-35) by 54 runs at Camperdown Oval. Toss: Blacktown (2). Batted first: Sydney University. Points: Sydney University 6, Blacktown (2) 0.
Poidevin-Gray Shield – Round 6 (Limited overs)
Blacktown 8-181 off 49.3 overs (Grant McCartin 34, Jordan Gauci 29, Matthew Foster 28, Nathan Hinton 25; Darius Visser 3-30, James Sheperd 2-26) d Sydney University 8-178 off 50 overs (Henry Clark 36, Kieran Tate 31, Max Hope 29; Nathan Sowter 2-40) by two wickets at Joe McAleer Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University. Points: Blacktown 6, Sydney University 0.
A.W. Green Shield (60-over Under 16 competition)
Round 1
Parramatta 3-139 off 39.3 overs (Cameron Court 37, Matthew Giumelli 36 Michael Bellam 36 not out) d Sydney University 138 off 53.1 overs (Sam Roby 40, Oscar Gibbons 27; Liam Gillies 3-25, Julien Greig 2-11, Owen Simonsen 2-11) by seven wickets at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University. Points: Parramatta 6, Sydney University 0.
Round 2
St George 1-47 off 10 overs (Tom Engelbrecht 24 not out) d Sydney University 46 off 22.1 overs (Ben Mitchell 11; Nathan Anderson 3-5, Saahil Parekh 3-16) by nine wickets at Sydney University No.2 Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University. Points: St George 6, Sydney University 0.
Round 3
Northern District 3-118 off 33.2 overs (Matthew McVay 66, Harry Fullerton 3-30) d Sydney University 116 off 49.2 overs (Sam Roby 23, Hugh Kermond 21; George Furrer 2-14, Kieran Jayasekera 2-17) by seven wickets at Mark Taylor Oval. Toss: Northern District. Batted first: Sydney University. Points: Northern District 6, Sydney University 0.
Round 4
Sydney 9-182 off 60 overs (Jack Biddle 63, Sam Cividin 36; Harry Fullerton 5-24) d Sydney University 74 off 32.1 overs (Hugh Kermond 19; Christopher Thompsett 9-17) by 108 runs at St Paul’s College Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney. Points: Sydney 6, Sydney University 0.
Round 5:
Sydney University 2-49 off 15.1 overs (Matthew Tom 28 not out; Ryan Hadley 1-11) d Blacktown 48 off 29.3 overs (Blain Rees-Patrick 14; Harry Fullerton 4-13, Bradley Burns 2-8) by eight wickets at Joe McAleer Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Blacktown. Points: Sydney University 6, Blacktown 0.
