Cricket has always been a popular pastime in the Gunnedah district, with the first historical record dating back to February 1861 when a team formed by C.H. Lloyd, of Burburgate, challenged a combined Tamworth side to play Tamworth.
The players and their supporters, 78 in all, rode on horseback to Tamworth for a fixture that was more remembered for its revelry than performances on the field.
Rival captains Basil Penrith (City United) and Chris Barrington (Albion) with the Garrawilla Cup, Barrington had just completed his match-winning innings of 86. Photos: supplied.
Over the years, local teams have played in various district competitions, with a competition trophy usually the coveted prize.
One such trophy was the Garrawilla Cup, which was put into play around 1893, following a donation to the Gunnedah Cricket Club by H.H. Kelly of Garrawilla Station, near Mullaley.
The trophy that year was won by R. Roberts – and that is where the mystery begins because it is the only name inscribed on the cup.
It is believed that the Garrawilla Cup may only have been in circulation for the one season – either that or it was a “one-year trophy”.
Not much is known about the competition or how it disappeared, however a chance discovery by a second-hand dealer rummaging through rubbish on Jannali garbage tip in Sydney saw the Garrawilla Cup returned to Gunnedah in June 1993.
The cup was restored to its former glory with a new base and silver plating and returned to competition on 24 October that year.
The Garrawilla Cup restored to its former glory in 1993.
It was decided that the Garrawilla Cup would become a challenge trophy contested at the start of each season by the premiership-winning teams from the previous season.
The inaugural competition between Albion Police Boys and Tamworth’s City United resulted in a victory for Gunnedah by only seven runs.
The fiercely contested match was played at Wolseley Park, with a full report on the back page of the Namoi Valley Independent, describing three excellent batting performances – an unbeaten 86 by Albion captain Chris Barrington, a ‘livewire 54′ by teammate Ian Creer and a solid ’82 not out’ by City United opener Frank Gooley.
The report described the lush outfield and well-directed bowling by both sides as the reason for the restricted scoring.
While Albion managed 5-158 from 40 overs, sharp bowling, excellent control by the team’s bowlers and sharp fielding restricted City to 5-151.
The report went on to describe the attack by spinners Paul Herden (1-18) off eight overs, and Paul Hinchey (0-28 off eight) who ‘bowled a miserly line in the second half of the innings and the target was too many for City United in the four overs’.
Steve Grosser was described as ‘the most expensive bowler’ taking two wickets (2-38) off six overs while Creer, Herden and Mark Noonan, grabbed one each.
Today the location of the Garrawilla Cup is again a mystery while the end results of the competition have drifted into the mists of time.
MARIE HOBSON, GUNNEDAH & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY
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