OBITUARIES Mr. F.E.McElhone died on 21st July, 1981, aged 94. Thus passed the oldest former University player at the time of his death and the last survivor of a University 1st Grade Premiership side. Eric McElhone first played for University in 1905-06 and, during a career which spanned 8 seasons and earned him 2053 runs in 1st Grade, he was a member of the Premiership sides of 1909-10 and 1911-12. His all too brief first class career brought 369 runs for NSW at an average of 41. Eric McElhone was an upright, free-flowing batsman who scored elegantly on the off side with a fine flourish. As a cover point, he had few peers at a time when the University side was a brilliant fielding unit. A handsome pedigree assisted his cricket development immeasurably. His father, Frank, had been one of the founding members of the Waverley Club. One uncle, W.P.McElhone, was chairman of the Australian Cricket Board, and another. Dr. H.V.Hordern, captured 12 wickets with his leg breaks on his Test debut against England in 1911. After years of much success with University, where his trojan deeds in the annual Melbourne Intervarsity matches were legend, McElhone hit up an eye-catching 148 against Middle Harbour at the S.C.G. in 1910 and was chosen in the powerful N.S.W. side. He thus achieved double State honours, having also played baseball for N.S.W. In his second 1st Class match, his 101 against Victoria was made with the grace and ease of a veteran. Mr. McElhone recalled with modest honesty: "I found no difficulty with balls Warwick Armstrong pushed straight through with a leg break action." In February 1911, during a season which had been so taken up with cricket, that he failed his Law exams, McElhone stroked his way to an effortless 94 against the touring South Africans, adding 136 with Charlie Macartney. During this innings, which drew much praise for the "Varsity Colt" from the cognoscenti, his handling of the famed South African googly trio was faultless as he hammered the leg side pickets. Near perfect health allowed him to practise Law until just before his death and Mr. McElhone's contribution to and interest in the Sydney University C.C. continued for almost 70 years after his graduation. At the time of his death, he had been honoured by the Vice-Presidency and was one of only 3 Life Members. In a letter written to me only a week before his death, he recalled that the outstanding feature of his seasons at University was the "spirit of friendship and camaraderie. When anyone did well with bat or ball, all were just as pleased as if it was themselves.... I was privileged to have played for N.S.W. during part of 1910-12 under the captaincy of the famous batsman, Victor Trumper, who was not only the world's most beautiful batsman, but a man of the highest character and principles." His devotion to the memory of Trumper continued and his notes and reminiscences were used extensively by the late Jack Fingleton, whose biography of Trumper was published in 1978. Mr. McElhone also so espoused the virtues of good fielding that, since 1955, he made an annual contribution to the Club to enable a trophy to be given to the best fieldsman in 1st Grade. This award will now be continued each year in his memory. 10. I was fortunate to have )cnown such a grand gentleman and offer, on behalf of the Club, sympathy to his widow, Mrs. Dorothy McElhone, and to his generous faunlly who have presented many of his papers and mementos to the Club. JFR PAST WINNERS OF THE 'ERIC McELHONE FIELDING TROPHY* 1955-56 Eric Stockdale 1964-65 1973-74 Alan Crompton 1956-57 1965-66 Grahaun Dawson 1974-75 Alan Manzle 1957-58 Ken Wlllleunson 1966-67 Rob Thomas 1975-76 Greg Harper 1958-59 Tony Low 1967-68 Dick Mesley 1976-77 Mitch Thompson 1959-60 Tony Low 1968-69 1977-78 Mitch Thompson 1960-61 Tony Low 1969-70 Dick Mesley 1978-79 Bruce Wllcock 1961-62 Tony Low 1970-71 1979-80 Murray LeLlevre 1962-63 David Fox 1971-72 Peter James 1980-81 Ian Wilson 1963-64 1972-73 Peter Mackay 1981-82 Craig Tomko Readers with knowledge of winners not listed are asked to contact the Honorary Secretary. Dr.S .G .Whltfeld died In November 1981, aged 87 Dr Whltfeld, after success at Sydney Grammar School, played for University In 1915-16 while studying Medicine. As a left-handed opening bowler, he was promoted to 1st Grade after taking 6-15 In 2nd Grade In the 2nd round of the season. In a season when University were sadly depleted by the calls of the war, the 1st Grade struggled for success. Nevertheless, Whltfeld's 24 wickets were a respectable return for some fine bowling. His best was a particularly devastating 5-46 against Redfern In November. Dr Whltfeld was the grandfather of current Club Treasurer, Phillip Beale and retained his Interest In University cricket until his death, often appearing at the Oval on Saturdays. 11 HISTORICAL FEATURE SYDNEY UNIVERSITY v MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY EARLY HISTORY Due to the enterprise of Richard Teece, Secretary of the Sydney University C.C. in 1870, the possibility of arranging matches with Melbourne University was raised at the Club's AGM on 14th March 187 0. Negotiations with Melbourne were eventually successful so that the Sydney University players made the arduous journey south in December that year. All members of the two University Clubs were eligible and graduates could, and did, play. This position remained until 1891 - the first year when eligibility for both sides was restricted to Under­ graduates only. Jealousy between the two cities existed even then. There were customs barriers on the Murray as Victoria was passionately Protectionist and New South Wales was just as strongly Free Trade. After the exhausting trip, the Sydney team was treated to overwhelming hospitality by its hosts. One of the Sydney men wrote that the "Southerners provided all in the way of solids and liquids which even the most fastidious could desire." The first 'Intervarsity Boat Race' took place on the following day but, unlike the picture that now conjures up in University sportsmen's minds, this was an actual race rowed on the Lower Yarra on 23rd December, over three and a half miles. The Sydney University Four (A.Yeomans - stroke, R.Teece, E.Barton and E.A.Iceton) was coxed by Tom Iceton who was only a stone lighter than his brother who sat in the bow. Melbourne beat a tiring Sydney crew by 4 lengths. On Christmas Eve, 187 0, the Sydney openers, Richard Teece and Ed Iceton, decked out in their uniform of blue and gold with a nondescript ^hirt, made their way to the centre of the Melbourne Ground. They made only 12 and 16 respectively but these were two of the higher scores in a match which produced little good batting. Melbourne demonstrated that they were champions on dry land as well as on water and were victorious by 2 wickets in the three day match. For them a'Beckett scored 42 not out and Hepburn took 6-23 in the 2nd innings. The Sydney players produced only glimpses of form. Joseph Coates top scored in both innings with 24 and 37 and took 3-50 in Melbourne's 1st innings. Tom Iceton took 5-30 in the 1st innings, put H.M. (Monty) Faithfull's effort apparently won over even the partis­ an Melbourne crowd of 6,000. He scored 18 and 37 and took 7 for 19 off 74 balls in Melbourne's 2nd innings. For this feat, he was presented with a Cobbett bat, resurrected 86 years later from a pile of rubble under the old grandstand at the University Oval, with the inscription still intact: "Presented to H.M.Faithfull, esq. by the M.U.C.C., as a mark of appreciation of his splendid bowling in the Intervarsity match, 1870." A contemporary account of the after-match activities makes for interesting reading: "At the close of the match, the two elevens adjourned to the luncheon tent, where Mr. Rusden, as President of the Melbourne University C.C., in a few remarks expressive of the hope that the establishment of these annual contests in the cricket field would tend to the cultivation of a friendly feeling between the two colonies. 12. proposed the health of the visitors. The compli'inent was acknowledged by R.Teece, who returned thanks for the courteous treatment the Sydney players had received in Melbourne. Mr. Faithfull, captain of the Sydney Eleven, toasted the 'Melbourne University Club.' Mr. Dan Wilkie, captain of Melbourne, responded. The umpires and scorers were also proposed and the utmosts cordiality was evinced on all hands." The return bout, in Sydney in December 1871, was won conclusively by Sydney. These games became an annual fixture and an inducement when such inducements have been necessary, for students to play for their Alma Mater. Apart from the occasional break (including one of 7 years between 1871 and 1878 due to the unwillingness of Melbourne to carry on contests and the gap in 1899-1900 when Melbourne were reticent about visiting Sydney because of the plague!, the matches have been played regularly. The contest has fortunately been revived in recent seasons, after another break - this time due to the short lived Intervarsity Carnival idea, SYDNEY UNIVERSITY v MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY Results 18^-1982 Played "tS Won by Melb 34; won by Syd 30; drawn 12 Highest Team Totals Sydney Melbourne 607 • 1904-05 609 - 1936-37 -432 - 1961-62 578 1897-98 509 - 1931-32 421 - 1959-60 490 1900-01 469 - 1947-48 411 - 1893-94 411 1903-04 7-443 - 1963-64 -406 - 1965-66 407 1911-12 438 - 1892-93 Lowest Team Totals Sydney Melbourne 67 - 1896-97 87 1966-67 38 - 1902-03 78 - 1938-39 88 1978-79 82 - 1958-59 86 - 1953-54 92 1961-62 97 - 1948-49 Highest Partnerships 1st wkt (Syd) 1898 294