MaitIand had phenomenal success in the 1943-44
season when it almost had a clean sweep in
the Newcastle competition, winning six of the seven
trophies – club championship, first and third grade .
premierships and all three finals. In the second grade
the Maitland team finished two points behind the
premiership winner Waratah.
The club was considerably strengthened by the
addition of Mick Hinman, who had previously been
playing with Stockton, and Arthur Callaway, a former
leading Sydney cricketer. Several prominent local
players – Jack Drane, Roy AlIen and Don Denny – also
returned to play with the local club.
Hinman had an outstanding season, winning the
Lamb Trophy for the district batting aggregate with 740
runs, including two centuries, and took 67 wickets at an
average of 9.3. Callaway had a fine season taking 50
wickets and was strongly supported by Macmillan with
37 wickets and Mudd with 35. There were a number of
consistent batting performances with Johnston scoring
467 runs, Leacy 409 and Mumbler 337.
In the first grade final Wickham scored 176 with
Callaway and Hinman each taking 4 wickets. Maitland
replied with 372 (D Denny 89, A Callaway 64 and
E Mumbler 50). In their second innings Wickham was
all out for 91 with Hinman taking 8-48 to give Maitland
victory by an innings and 105 runs.
In the course of its three days the final attracted
more spectators than the previous finals played over six
days. The NDCA Annual Report later cited Maitland as
a great drawcard and the main reason for crowds being
their best in seventeen years. At Lorn Park, their home
ground, the Maitland side had a strong following of
local supporters for their home games. .
In second and third grades there were some
excellent bowling performances. P Bates from
Singleton took 58 wickets at 6.3 in second grade, while
in third grade W Langford took 81 wickets at 6.77 and A
Dennis 61 wickets at 7.5.
With the additional entry of a third grade team,
Robins Oval was “cleared of a terrific growth” and was
used as a second home ground. The organisation of
this third grade team was controlled by a second club,
called the Maitland District No. 2 Cricket Club. Ground
conditions at Lorn Park were also improved during the
season with the construction by Norm Mudd of a motor
mower with a four foot cut
The eight guineas won in trophies for the season
was donated to the MaitIand branch of tile Australian
Troops Comfort Fund.