A cricket club was formed at Upper Lansdowne as early as October 1898 with 25 names entered on the roll.
GRIFFITH SHIELD
The Griffith Shield was presented to the LMC Association in 1925 by Mr Reg Griffiths a well-known local sportsman.
The Griffith Shield was contested by members of the Lansdowne, Langley Vale, Cundletown, Harrington, Coopernook, Hannam Vale, Moorland and Upper Lansdowne Cricket Clubs. The combined clubs formed the Lower Manning Cricket (LMC) Association.
Upper Lansdowne cricketers won the shield in 1927, 1928 and 1931.
In August 1927 Upper Lansdowne Club were presented with the Griffith Shield which they won for the season 1926-1927.
In February 1928 Upper Lansdowne were again victorious in winning the Lower Manning premiership and Griffith Shield for the 1927-1928 season. They defeated Coopernook in the final with their superior field work. The following article appeared in the MR Times on 12 February 1928:
The Lower Manning cricketers finished their season on Saturday, Upper Lansdowne defeating Coopernook in the final for the shield after a four Saturdays’ play. The teams competing were very evenly matched. We congratulate Upper Lansdowne on winning the premiership and Griffith Shield. Their field work on Saturday was a revelation, being equal, if not superior, to anything I have yet seen on a rough ground. Their field work was the undoing of the Coopernook team. Too much praise cannot be given to Mr Robertson on his second day’s play. Going for the bowling from the start he played a chanceless innings, with well timed vigorous strokes, but was neatly caught by A Unger behind the wicket. Up till that stage Coopernook looked what the racey men call “the best of a good thing”. The two rival captains (L Unger and A Longworth) handled their teams admirably and good sportsmanship prevailed throughout. At the conclusion of the match both teams lined up, mutually congratulated one another, and at the call of the captains, gave three hearty cheers for each. Mr F Noonan, president of the Association in a neat and appropriate speech, presented Mr L Unger (captain of the winning team) with the shield, impressing on him to take it home, look after it, and make the best of it for the season, as they would be called on to hand it over to the Lansdowne Club, who were going to be the winners and holders next season. Mr L Unger humorously responded, and so brought to a close an epic struggle for the coveted honor in the 1928 cricket season.
On 4 July 1928 a cricketers’ ball was held at Upper Lansdowne Memorial Hall at which the gold medals and Griffith shield were presented, a large number of local people and visitors being present. The Griffith shield was presented to the Upper Lansdowne club by Mr Noonan, president of L.M. Cricket Association, who congratulated the members and referred to them as fair sportsmen; but warned them of the efforts to capture the shield next season. A gold medal was presented to each of the first eleven.
In 1930-1931 season, the Upper Lansdowne Cricketers were again the outright winners.
GULLEY CUP
The Gulley Cup replaced the Griffith Shield and was presented to the LMDC Association in 1932. It was contested by the clubs that formed the Lower Manning District Cricket Association.
Mrs Gulley, who presented the cup, was the proprietor of the Coopernook Hotel in the 1920s and 1930s.
There was also a Gulley Cup contested by members of the Lower Manning District League Association of which Upper Lansdowne was also a member.
The Lower Manning Cricket Premiership was won by Upper Lansdowne in 1932. It was stated in the MR Times that ‘no team can begrudge them their success as they are a very fine combination, their team work being their main strength and as a clean sporting team they are unrivalled.‘
In May 1933 the Gulley Cup was played between Lansdowne and Upper Lansdowne clubs, with Upper Lansdowne having a comfortable win over the other team and were congratulated on their splendid sporting spirit observed throughout the game.
In April 1934 Upper Lansdowne were again the winners of the Gulley Cup defeating Lansdowne in the final.
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Extracts taken from Les Eastaway’s book “Cricket in the Manning”
After WW2 Upper Lansdowne and Lansdowne cricket teams amalgamated. The A Grade won back to back premierships in the 1950s. Soon after, the Club fielded teams in 3 grades as well as promoting junior development. Efficient administration from the likes of Cec Burns, Alec Rae and Les McLaughlin placed the club on a sound footing. Players such as George Gilbert, Howard Minett, Bill Craig, Bob McKay, Dal Evenden and Max Burns ensured the club was more than competitive on the field. The Club dominated B Grade winning 4 titles in 5 seasons commencing in 1968. Following some 20 years the winds of change were evident with the club membership falling. 3 seasons into the 70s the club failed to register, a revival took place, then another lean period of 5 years without the club being represented. A resurgence in 1986 saw Lansdowne celebrate a B Grade title.
A picturesque oval in the Lansdowne village contained a concrete wicket and serviced the community for various sports. On 1 December 1956 outstanding spin bowler Bill Craig achieved bowling figures of five overs, two maidens, eight wickets for six runs against Nabiac. In the 1955-56 season, Gus Unger, playing for Lansdowne against Aletheans, captured 9 for 17 on the home ground.
The village of Upper Lansdowne had the use of land owned by Harry Clinch. The oval with a concrete wicket was situated on Koppin Yarratt Road in the village. Home ground to players such as Bill Craig, Alec Rae along with the Unger and Minett clans. A fine match performance was achieved on his home ground by Bill Craig when he took 4-48 and 5-62 along with 81 runs.
Alec Rae 1911 – 1991
Alec, a schoolteacher came to the Manning and taught at Koorainghat in 1935. His initial season playing cricket was with the Taree Cricket Club.
A transfer as Principal to Koppin Yarratt (Central Lansdowne), a rural area near Lansdowne availed Alec to join the Upper Lansdowne Club in 1937.
Just after the war Upper Lansdowne and Lansdowne Clubs merged and Alec continued to play till 1965, at that stage he was in his mid-fifties.
He was a formidable right hand opening bat and served his team as a highly effective wicket-keeper. As a gloveman, he formed a lethal partnership with the outstanding spinner Bill Craig.
Club records reveal at least three centuries to his credit and a swag of dismissals as the regular ‘keeper. He was both Captain and President of his club for several years. In the mid 1950s, Alec was a member of the strong Lansdowne team winning back to back premierships.
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Other outstanding players from the Lansdowne valley mentioned by Les Eastaway in his book are:
Ian Rae (son of Alec Rae). Ian played an A Grade game at 13 years and 2 years later held down a batting position in the top team on his own merits. His time in the Manning was relatively short due to a move to Newcastle Teachers College. Sadly, failing eyesight at a very early age forced Ian to retire from cricket.
Brian McKay 1944 – 2015. Brian grew up in Lansdowne village playing backyard ‘test’ cricket. He commenced cricket in 1958-59 in the junior competition but was ruled out due to age discrepancy. For the next 2 seasons he played B Grade with the Lansdowne ‘men’. In 1966 he made the NSW Combined Country X1 and played at the SCG No 2 against Metropolitan Colts captained by John Benaud. Over his lifetime he played for Gordon, Dubbo, Stockton and Lambton. He retired from cricket after the 1988-89 season.
Neill Evenden grew up in Lansdowne village, the son of Dallas. He was 7 years old when he played his first competition match with the under 13s. His junior cricket commenced in the 1960s. Neill’s cricket developed, gaining him a Premier’s cap with his first century achieved at Central Park, Wingham. He was chosen as an Emu Colt to play Tasmania in 1972. During his cricketing career he also played for Balmain and Taree.
John Unger came from Upper Lansdowne. He played for the Lansdowne Club in the 50s and 60s. John’s name is still listed in the record books for the fastest 50 in the MRDCA. The blitz took 12 minutes. Lansdowne were playing Tinonee at Tinonee Oval.
Max Burns came from Lansdowne village and he also played for the Lansdowne Club in the 50s and 60s. He was a lively bowler. Max relays a story where he was pushing through a quicker delivery, the ball nicked the top of the off stump. The batsman retreated and the stumps were reset. One bail was missing. After a search located the missing bail, team-mates proceeded to pace out the distance the bail had flown. It was measured at 102 feet or just over 31 metres.
Upper Lansdowne won the MRDCA A grade title against Mount George in 1938-39, their sole win. These teams met as a result of them winning the respective East and West Zone competitions in the Manning Cricket competitions. The Upper Lansdowne team consisted of Alec Rae, E Fleming, E Potts, H Phillips, A Unger, Howard Minett, Cecil Minett, George Minett, Arthur Minett, Percy Minett. Throughout the season F Minett and W Minett also competed.
Sometime after, Upper Lansdowne merged with Lansdowne and after WW2 Lansdowne won in 1954-55 and 1955-56. Two very high class teams.
“IT TAKES TWO MINETTS TO DISMISS MOUNT GEORGE” This could have been the headlines when Upper Lansdowne dismissed Mount George in the 1938-39 Grand Final. Howard Minett took fifteen wickets in the match and his brother Cecil claimed three other batsmen. The remaining two were absent. Among the Upper Lansdowne team were George, Arthur, Howard, Percy and Cecil Minett. They had time on their side, with “Minetts” to spare!!
Howard Minett also officiated as umpire in 1962 when the NSW State Sheffield Shield team played in Taree against the Mid Coast XII.
A big thank you to Les Eastaway for his help.
Compiled by Gloria Crittenden – October 2024