This article from the Herald archives appeared in the newspaper on 21 November 1940. It is the earliest mention of Bert Sutcliffe in the paper's files.
School Cricketer B. Sutcliffe Outstanding - Championship to Takapuna
B.Sutcliffe, captain of the Takapuna Grammar School's first eleven, which has won the Auckland secondaryschools' championship for the 1940 season, has registered some splendid performances.
The schools' competition coincides with the school year, so that play is practically restricted to February and March, late October and November.
In that period Sutcliffe scored 1070 runs in 14 innings (three times not out) for an average of 97.27.
In matches against other secondary schools he made 726 runs (twice not out) in eight innings, at an average of 121.
Selected for the Auckland team in Brabin Cup matches he scored 346 runs (once not out) in seven innings for an average of 69.2. Sutcliffe registered four successive centuries against other schools, namely 165 not out, 160, 100, 133 not out.
In these matches also he took 39 wickets for 291 runs, an average of 7.46.
In addition to his prowess with bat and ball Sutcliffe, who is only 16 years of age, and a true left-hander in all departments, is a splendid field, his usual position being cover-point.
