Founded: 1864
Colours: Royal Blue and Silver
Home ground: Centennial Park, Oamaru
President: Reece Curle
Vice President: Ben Coleman
Treasurer: Reece Curle
Embedded Files
Oamaru Cricket Club is looking into its history. This website is the beginning of this investigation and will be updated with the results of these enquiries. Should you have any score books, photographs or be able to correct/add to our data we would love to hear from you .
Oamaru Cricket Club is looking into its history. This website is the beginning of this investigation and will be updated with the results of these enquiries. Should you have any score books, photographs or be able to correct/add to our data we would love to hear from you .
We are contactable by email: oamarucc@gmail.com
We are contactable by email: oamarucc@gmail.com
THE HISTORY OF OAMARU CRICKET CLUB IN SENIOR CRICKET
1864 was a significant year in the history of the game of cricket. It was the year in which "overhand bowling" was authorised, Middlesex and Lancashire County Cricket Clubs were formed, the legendary W.G.Grace scored 170 and 56 not out on his debut in "big" cricket at the age of 15, and the Wisden Almanack was published for the first time.
Unnoted by Wisden, on the other side of the world in the newly proclaimed Borough of Oamaru, a group of enthusiasts established the Oamaru Cricket club. On 23rd February 1864, this group successfully applied to the Borough Council for the use of the Government Reserve behind the Court House (the area now known as Takaro Park).
On 10th March 1864 the Oamaru Times reported that "The Oamaru Cricket Club is now in thorough working order, having provided itself with a capital set of cricketing implements and apparently a good working committee".
Although there is no definitive record it is very probable that Mr E. W. Roxby was the first president and Mr Nicol the first secretary.
The following day the first cricket match was played. A "pick up" game in which the final totals were 50 to 48.
The determination of Oamaru's first cricketers to establish the game they loved must be admired. Some of the men had played in England and brought with them an abiding love for the game. The wicket bore no resemblance to the flat surfaces of today and, with no other local clubs to play against, the club had to resort to many different devices to arrange matches for the players, such as Town v Country, North v South, Married v Single, Smokers v Non Smokers, Captain's Pick v Presidents Pick.
Timaru was the first recorded match on 10th March 1865 at the Old Courthouse Ground in Oamaru. The away team batted first being dismissed for 45 and the hosts managing to gain a 9 run lead. Timaru were all out for 52 in their 2nd innings and Oamaru past the required runs with 6 wickets to spare. The first venture outside the town came later that same year when the players journeyed by Cobb & Co coach to Dunedin, a long and arduous journey which undoubtedly took its toll as Oamaru could only muster 47 and 83 in reply to Dunedin's 163.
The following year, Dunedin returned the visit and this time the contest was much more even, Dunedin winning by 13 runs. George Sumpter (the first Town Clerk and later Mayor of Oamaru) took 6 - 26 in each of Dunedin's innings.
The early cricket matches were well publicised and were obviously important social occasions in the young community. When Dunedin again visited in 1870, the Oamaru Times devoted almost two columns to the match, including a description of a lavish luncheon supplied at the Volunteer Hall, complete with toast list. The spectators included many ladies which warranted the paper to state "there is nothing like parasols and dainty bonnets to put the knights of the willow on their mettle". The proprietor of the Commercial Hotel catered for these spectators with a booth on the ground. The match itself was another even affair and local captain Sumpter had another fine match taking 8 - 12 and 5 - 54. Despite this valiant bowling effort Dunedin succeeded in winning by a mere 7 runs.
Matches continued to be played with Dunedin on an annual basis and in 1874 two Oamaru players, Reade & Lynch, were invited to play for Otago against Canterbury. Otago won by an innings and 31 runs with Reade contributing 38 and Lynch 51 to the Otago total of 144. Three years later Millington and Nicholls played for Otago against an "All England" team but without the same success.
After using the reserve for 13 years, the club was forced to make its first move in 1877 when Takaro Park was "mutilated" by the construction of the Middle School and the straightening of the Oamaru Creek to make way for the railway. An area of 6 acres between Caledonian Road and Witham Street was leased from the Oamaru Recreation Ground Company. It was known as the North Road Ground and was the main cricket and football ground until sold for development in 1911.
Not everybody was pleased at the way the club had developed however. An article in the Oamaru Mail on 24th October 1878, criticised the club for blackballing a " respectable and promising cricketer", Mr Snow, a clerk. The paper claimed that the club had "degenerated from being a cricket club into a gentleman's club", and urged that it " secure as members men who will teach them how to play the aristocratic game of cricket without corrupting their manners or lower their social status, if these attributes are anything more than superficial". Another wrote to the paper stating "I am not at all surprised at Mr Snow being black balled, for he is not known to have finished his education at one of the public schools in England, though that country may have been his country of birth." It is pleasing to record that Mr Snow did later play for Oamaru.
From 1878 overseas cricket teams began to include Oamaru on their itineraries because of the North Road ground facilities. That year saw the fixture against the Australian tourists which included such famous players as Spofforth and the two Bannermans. The Oamaru side contained 22 players being all out for 70 in the first innings and lost 10 wickets for 43 in their second. The tourists were restricted to 113 in their only innings.
Three years later the tourists visited again with the same format. Oamaru scored 54 and 88. The Australia side 118 and 18 without loss to secure a 10 wicket victory.
1882 the English touring side containing Ulyett, Barlow, Shrewsbury and Lillywhite, defeated the Oamaruvians by an innings. England made 146 in their innings and the locals 60 and 57.
Without any local competition games against outside teams provided the highlights of the season until the end of the century. Fixtures against other Dunedin teams grew (Carisbrook, Opoho, Grange, and Albion), with Sydenham from Christchurch, Timaru, Geraldine, and Waimate from South Canterbury, plus Palmerston and Kurow. With transport being a major difficulty, it was the practice to engage a "drag" for the season. This was used for away matches, for transporting visiting players from the station to the ground and for travelling out to the North Road ground for practices each Tuesday and Thursday. In 1896 records showed that the members had contributed 8 pounds for the hire of the drag. Four years later membership had grown to such an extent the club was able to have a 2nd XI playing regular fixtures against such teams as Timaru, Temuka, Combined Schools, Press, Ships in port and the newly formed local Excelsior club.
A New South Wales team played in Oamaru in 1890 but some "larrikins" flooded the pitch during the night and the venue had to be changed. Oamaru could muster only 16 & 53 to the visitors 124. One local player who appreciated the conditions was R Hewat, a prolific wicket-taker for many seasons, wh captured 6 - 31.
The tenure of the North Road Ground had not been without its problems and in 1894 a man was required to live permanently ont he ground so that "the ground and pavilion might not be damaged this year". A problem also developed over the Oamaru Football Club's lease which was supposed to run our at the end of August each year in order to give cricketers time to carry out topdressing before the cricket season began in the first week of October. In both 1898 & 1899 the cricketers complained about the lateness of the football season which delayed topdressing. Returfing was also necessary it was claimed due to the footballers cutting up the ground. Dances were held to meet the costs involved but the problem continued and in 1899 the cricket club applied for a reduction in its rental because of the annual expenditure involved in repairing the playing area.
In 1895 Oamaru decided to join the Otago Cricket Association. This decision was made to increase its status and to give players a better chance of representing Otago. The latter hope came to nothing and, after the North Otago Cricket Association was formed in 1897, the club soon tired of paying dual subscriptions and withdrew from the Otago Association in 1900.
By 1900 Oamaru had entered two teams in the local competition. For a few seasons the two teams alternated as the winning team beating off challenges of the soon to be defunct Tureka and Capulet clubs.
The same year pine trees on the south and west sides of the ground were felled, much improving the light, and the following year the grass was kept short all season by grazing the sheep.
Oamaru played Waimate in 1902 with R Hewat featuring prominently routing the opposition batsmen by taking 9 - 2 as the visitors tumbled to 14 all out. Oamaru replied with 127 and then completed Waimate's humiliation by dismissing them for 13 in their 2nd innings with M Ongley capturing 7 - 11.
1911 saw the club vacate the North Ground and a wicket was acquired for matches at the Waitaki Boy's High School. It was intended as a short term measure until the club found itself a new ground but, as events transpired, it was the beginning of a half-century of homelessness for the Oamaru club.
Practice facilities proved to be a major headache during this extended period and the club's minutes record a frustrating sequence of moves in an attempt to find a solution to the problem. In 1911 a practice wicket on Takaro Park was rented from Mr H Meek, together with a shed alongside for 30 shillings.
1915 King George V park used for practices.
With the sale of the North Road Ground and the onset of the the First World War, little cricket was played in Oamaru for a number of years. However, with the return of the soldiers from the war and the formation of the Albion club in 1919, cricket entered a boom period.
1920 The practice wicket at Takaro Park was handed over to the new Albion Club, leaving Oamaru with no practice facilities of its own.
In 1921 thirteen new members were elected and Oamaru was able to field 2 senior teams and a junior team. Prominent among the new members were a contingent of school teachers from Waitaki including Uttley, Zimmerman, Hargeaves, Crimp and Kinross.
Uttley and Zimmerman were just two of the fine batsmen in North Otago between the wars who week after week plundered centuries on the excellent batting wickets provided on the Waitaki grounds.. Bill Uttley was a very consistent opening batsman who collected runs through correct technique and a willingness to wait for a loose delivery. In a different mould was Carl Zimmerman,(teacher, later turned solicitor) who notched centuries with ease. During his club career he amassed over 11,000 runs (4,000 more than second place) and 681 wickets which places him second in the list of all time wicket takers. His highest score was 212, a club record that still stands today, and he bracketed this score with innings of 113 & 151, giving him a total of 476 runs in three successive innings. His most amazing innings came in 1928 when he played for North Otago against an All Australian XI on the school ground. The hosts made 118 and Australia replied with 448. North Otago's 2nd innings began much more positively with Uttley and L Sumpter compiling an opening stand of 99. Quick wickets then fell and the score stood at 111 - 4 when Zimmerman came to the crease. An incredible 46 minutes later he had reached his century and, when the stumps were drawn two overs later, he remained unbeaten on 117. His innings contained 4 sixes and 17 fours and, not unnaturally, was highly praised by the opposition players who included Woodfull, Ponsford, Kippax, Richardson, Grimmett and Oxenham.
Zimmerman played a number of games for Otago but failed to establish himself as a regular member of the team, primarily because he was regularly sent in at the tail of the innings. He had a best score of 77 against Auckland and took 9 wickets with his left arm bowling.
Another outstanding player playing during this era was Fred Jones. A useful batsman who scored 62 not out against New South Wales in 1924 (and in the process was particularly severe on the famous slow bowler Mailey). Jones was a wicketkeeper of the highest quality who played for Otago and was regarded locally as good enough to have played for New Zealand. He was an aggressive player who sometimes clashed with the opposition. The year earlier saw him feature in an incident with the Union captain, Ongley, and the Oamaru club's minutes record that Oamaru refused to play Union until they changed their captain. Six years later Jones led his team from the field because, he claimed, that the Union player who was umpiring was not being suitably impartial in his decisions. The sequel to this incident was a request fromt he Oamaru club for the Umpires' Association to be re-established. Oamaru went as far as to guarantee transport for umpires to and from the grond.
1927 Fred Jones paid for the construction of an asphalt wicket in the south west corned of Takaro Park.
1928 - minutes record that the club was finding it hard to field two teams and in 1931 there was a fear that the club might not be able to carry on. However in 1934 14 new members were elected, including two brothers who were to become club stalwarts for almost 50 years - Jim and Bill Bee. The following year it was decided that the club colours be Oxford Blue with silver braid and monogram. In honour of this decision we continue to use this design today.
Oamaru fielded two teams for the rest of the 1930's but the 2nd World War was a difficult time for all the clubs because of the shortage of players and rationed petrol. The club's plans to hold a 75th Jubilee were also abandoned because of the onset of war.
When club cricket revived after the war, Oamaru was immediately successful in winning the competition. A member of this 1947/47 team was Brigadier J T Burrows, Rector at Waitaki.
1947 Congestion at Takaro Park Oamaru to move its practices to Waitaki Boys High School.
1949 Oamaru returned to Takaro Park for practices.
1953 practices once again at King George Park.
1956 a new malthoid pitch was laid at Takaro Park for practices. The junior team had to withdraw from the competition because of a lack of players leaving the club with only a senior eleven. This nadir in membership was offset by the arrival of John Reid, then New Zealand captain and one of the world's finest all-rounders. Reid's appearances for the club were restricted by representative obligations. However he averaged over 80 in his two seasons for the club and his presence created much interest in the district.
1958 practices being held at Awamoa Park.
History is all about learning from mistakes and none greater occurred than in the 1960/61 season. Oamaru learnt pride came before a fall. Oamaru entered the last game of the season 11 points clear of Union. The club was playing Waitaki Boys who still smarted under a heavy defeat by Christchurch Boys High School a few days before. Oamaru players indulged in a certain amount of patronising banter over Waitaki's disastrous 2nd innings of 29 against CBHS. Oamaru then went into bat and before long the side was back in the pavilion with a total of 31 runs to its credit. Needless to say Oamaru lost the match outright and Union with an outright win over St.Patricks took the Borton Cup by 3 points.
In 1962 the Oamaru Borough Council was approached to provide tenure of the newly built Awamoa Park pavilion as a permanent headquarters. These facilities were shared with the Men's and Women's Hockey Associations. However, Oamaru continued to use the Waitaki ground for its home games, an inconvenience compensated for by the quality of the playing wickets which produced heavy scoring.
The Awamoa Park pavilion was the scene of the club's Centennial celebrations over the Labour Weekend. A reunion of players was held on Friday night and a Banquet and Ball on the Saturday night. Sunday a Past v Present match had been planned but the weather intervened just as the Past players were getting into form with the bat. Needless to say, a hundred past matches were replayed as the festivities continued indoors for the remainder of the day.
Between 1963 and 1988 regular improvements were made to make the facilities at Awamoa Park more practical and enjoyable for members. The pavilion underwent two major changes, the first in 1969 when the frontage was extended and glassed in to improve viewing facilities. Hockey did most of the work and the cricket club provided much of the finance, largely through a 200 club raffle. A much more ambitious project began in 1976 when it was proposed to build a social room upstairs above the changing rooms at an estimated cost of $30,000 to be shared by the 3 main users. Difficulty in securing the necessary finance caused some delay but, after several fund raising schemes and much voluntary labour, the upstairs additions were completed and ready for use in 1980.
For most of the 1960's & 70's Oamaru fielded three teams - Senior, Second Grade, and Junior, although at times there was a struggle to find sufficient players to keep all the teams going. At senior level the club continued to do very well and, between 1951 - 77 the prestigious Borton Cup was won on 13 occasions.
A major contributor to the team's success was a fine all rounder, Tony Cartwright, who played from 1955 - 1987. A lively and accurate bowler who moved the ball both in the air and off the track, Cartwright, was regularly the leading wicket taker in North Otago. He also enjoyed one golden season with the bat, in 1966/67, scoring five centuries, four of them consecutively, with a best score of 175. Cartwright played 6 matches for Otago and captured 11 wickets.
Another prominent member during this period was Bill Cubitt. He served on the committee from 1958-1982 with 13 years as secretary. As well as taking the leading role in administering the club, Cubitt was a reliable player who had a best score of 99 not out (not currently displayed in his statistics as no record of the match can be found) and a best bowling performance of 9 - 29.
The most consistent batsman during the 1970's was Bob Wilson, who played twice for Otago (1972 and then 1979) scoring 62 in helping Otago win the Shell Trophy Final. As with so many other fine cricketers from the North Otago area, it seems inexplicable that he was never given further opportunities to play first class cricket. Wilson's highest score for North Otago was 170 v Central Otago.
Other players from the club to win honours were Russell Paul (an inswing bowler who toured Australia in 1961 with the New Zealand Colts team) and Brian Papps (played for New Zealand Universities 1960 - 1962 and score 136 not out for North Otago against the visiting Fiji team in 1968).
The 1972/73 season was a memorable one with Oamaru winning all three competitions as well as the Dick Hunt Trophy which at that stage was played for over the holidays. A member of the Junior Team, Mel Terry, twice complete the hat-trick. A few seasons earlier, in 1968/69, Terry had been set the impossible task of scoring 55 in only 17 minutes to win the match and the competition. Terry smashed 55 runs in 17 minutes to win with 3 minutes to spare.
The 1980's saw an unprecedented surge in membership, to the point where, in 1987, six teams took part in the competitions along with 2 schoolboy teams on Saturday mornings and another on Wednesday afternoon. During this decade, the club's policy of fostering schoolboy cricket paid off with a number of players coming up through the grades after beginning at schoolboy level.
There was a huge amount of matches played during this time with regular games on Sunday for the Dick Hunt Challenge Trophy. Twilight inter-firm cricket was also played at Awamoa Park on two evenings a week under the guidance of the Oamaru Club.
A player instrumental in guiding the club through the 1980's was Ken Thickett, who has been involved in all aspects of administration from building programmes to coaching schoolboys to preparing wickets. Ken's off spin made him a consistent wicket taker over many years.
Other notable players during this period were Nigel & David Cartwright, David Reid, John Hills, Mark Julius, Bruce Sewell, and Todd Paton. No player has achieved 10 wickets in an innings but Mark Julius almost achieved that distinction in 1987 when he captured the first nine wickets at a cost of 17 runs, but Union declared its innings closed and deprived Mark of his opportunity.
During the 1990's the club typically fielded four sides. Players who achieved sustained levels of success in this era were:- Paul Selbie, an off spinner who continued to pick up wickets with his flight, guile and variations (and handy runs); Robbie Duncan, a typically correct batsman who accumulated runs; Gerard Cunningham, an opening batsman who could play both aggressively and take on the role of innings builder. The late Stuart Dean, a top class all rounder who played the game hard and was a true gentleman off the field. Craig Wilson, a fine all rounder. Michael Aker, a prolific middle order batsman. Mark Julius, one the region's best seam bowlers and Aaron Dawe, a compact top order batsman who possessed a wide array of shots.
It should also be noted that during this period until the present day Mark Julius took on a leadership role within the club and at North Otago Cricket Association level.
The 1990's also saw the emergence of Gary Clearwater, genuinely threatening swing bowler and, of course, David Sewell, one of the greatest and most consistent players to ever represent the club. In this era the Borton Cup was won in 1990/91 & 1991/92, the Dick Hunt trophy 4 times 1989/90, 1990/91, 1994/95 and 1998/99 whilst also winning the newly commissioned trophy the Ray McBeth Memorial Trophy (named for a respected and long serving member of both Oamaru and Celtic Club in Timaru who died suddenly and tragically in a car accident0 once in 1998.
David Sewell who by now was establishing himself as not only one of North Otago's best players but as the opening bowler in Otago in first class matches, was selected to represent New Zealand in his only test in Zimbabwe with the touring side in 1997, Although that was to be David's only tests, he went on to become one of Otago's great bowlers playing in 67 matches taking 218 first class wickets at 28.72 and 200 wickets for North Otago from 49 matches at 15.92.
Off the field, one of the club's leading administrators in recent years, Murray Munro, had a single and long term beneficial impact on the club's profile and playing numbers. Murray, the principal of St. Joseph's primary school at the time, had an extensive network of contacts which he used to increase the club membership dramatically during the late 1980's & 90's. As a result of this the club's junior and social teams flourished and Murray was a leading light in recruitment during this time.
Into the early 2000's saw a very talented crop of schoolboys from Waitaki Boys High School in particular join the club after their final year - Andrew Sewell, Julian Willetts, Tim Geeves, Matt Slater, Scott Simpson, Matthew Dawe, Brett McLeod and Mark Creighton. With established members Stuart Dean and Paul Selbie, Andrew Sewell as captain led this team to a Borton Cup double in 2001/02 & 2002/03 with many of its members being selected for North Otago's honours.
2000 Centennial Park and the Excelsior clubrooms became the club's new home. The club, somewhat reluctantly, relinquished its tenure at its spiritual home at Awamoa Park in 2000 due to a number of circumstances. Chief among those was the ongoing cost of maintaining, insuring and paying the electricity and other associated costs in respect of the clubrooms at Awamoa Park. Waitaki District council made the decision to establish a high class hockey turf at Centennial Park and naturally shift hockey's headquarters there, leaving Oamaru Cricket Club as solely responsible for the upkeep of Awamoa Park. Murray Munro, the President of the club at the time, negotiated a relocation package with the local council which saw the club shifts its headquarters to the Excelsior club rooms and establish a cricket pitch on what is known as Centennial Park number 2. The club received a generous grant from the council which was applied toward establishing itself as its new home and creating a new wicket block. Latterly this block has been used for North Otago representative games.
Much credit for the early work on the block must go to Gerard Cunningham, Stuart Dean, Bruce Sewell, Matthew Murphy and James Mallinson, devoting lengthy periods of time producing such a high quality wicket. The ground itself is picturesque, sheltered from the menacing southerly and easterly by banking and surrounding trees.
The dispersal of the majority of that team who went to universities around the country saw the club enter something of a rebuilding phase, especially as far as the senior team was concerned. It also saw the arrival of Ben Coleman, a solicitor from Wellington, who, from a casual conversation with Stuart Dean as a spectator watching the senior side play, would go on to lead the club as captain of the senior side, as North Otago Association representation and as President throughout the next 20 years.
Coleman recruited a number of players who grew immensely in terms of skills, stature, commitment and passion for the club over a period of years until the culmination of the late 2000's saw the club win one of the best Borton Cup finals in recent memory by beating Valley with 2 wickets to spare and three balls remaining in the final over in 2008.
Some of the outstanding players in this decade were: Nathan Mitchell, a gifted all rounder who went on to represent North Otago on many occasions. Brett McLeod, who bowled left arm seam and picked up wickets constantly but who will be best remembered for his swashbuckling 100 against St Kevin's in 2006. Scott Wilson, one of the club's best fielders and a fine all rounder. Mark Creighton who developed into an intimidating swing bowler and who formed a feared partnership with David Sewell. Joshua Gutsell who made gritty runs, took important wickets and was at his best when faced with adversity. Khalil Ur Rehman the club's Pakistani connection who could turn a match with his aggressive yet measure batsmanship and fine seam bowling, one of the games true gentleman. The hard hitting Glenn Paterson, the continued excellent of David Sewell with bat and ball, the ever green Paul Selbie, who picked up countless amounts of wickets with his off spin. Nick Johnston, the live wire all rounder. James Ferris the enigmatic and brilliant all rounder. Jordan Horrell, an excellent left arm orthodox bowler and classical left hand batsman, social and events leaders in Bevan Smith & David Rusbatch. Regan George one of the town's most naturally gifted batsmen and fielders who took on a leadership role, Anthony Sewell, a hard working opening bat and Ben Coleman with middle order runs and above all his perceptive, enter[rising captaincy and strong leadership.
In this decade the second grade side has been led on and off the field by Andrew Brookes, a talented accumulating batsman and orthodox bowler. Andrew has done an incredible job over the years organising the team and deserves much praise and respect for his continued service.
Matthew Murphy took over the reigns as captain of the senior side and did a fine job whilst Mark Julius (once again) and James Backhouse took prominent administrative and organisational roles.
The club won the Borton Cup 3 times in this decade; the Dick Hunt in 2009, the Ray McBeth Memorial 5 times against an always strong Celtic side and the newest club competition, the Wild Buck T20 tournament twice.
The second decade of the millennium was one of mixed fortunes for the club as it went into a slow decline with the club struggling once more to consistently raise a side.
For the 150th anniversary in 2014 the ODT asked for an all time Oamaru Cricket Club XI.
Below is the link to the team selected by the committee
In the latter part of the decade thanks to the triumvirate of Ben Coleman, Reece Curle and Robbie Breen the club once again became a leading force in the district. This new found energy and the recruitment of Craig Smith (who had represented New Zealand u19 in the World Cup, and Otago) led to 2 Borton Cup Final records being broken; in 2017/18 they scored the highest ever total in a final scoring 288-8, thanks to a century by opening batsman Ashley Abraham; and the following season dismissed the opposition for the lowest ever total of 44. Craig Smith and Stephan Grobler took 3 wickets, and a brace for Matt Murphy and Nick Johnston.
With the commencement of the third decade Oamaru Cricket Club had a strong foundation for success. Craig Smith left the club to develop the St Kevin's College 1st XI but Stephan Grobler (an outstanding South African all rounder who represents North Otago by opening the batting and taking numerous wickets with his leg spin) remains. 2021/22 saw the 1st XI regain the Borton Cup in the last season under the stewardship of Captain Robbie Breen. Nick Johnston became the Borton Cup captain in 2023 and led the side to consecutive victories. That same year Liam Direen was the new Captain for the Dick Hunt competition seeing his team reach the final in 2023/24 and being victors the following season.
Google Sites
Report abuse