The earliest known cricket match in the district in 1857 was recorded in the Illawarra Mercury newspaper. One of several such matches was between a European (born) side and the Native Australians on Mr Miller's Flat in 1860. Later in that year (on a Tueday in August) was the first serious clash in the sport, between Ulladulla and Shoalhaven on John Mills' Meadow. Conditions were damp and the local side was dismissed for 35 and 39 to be beaten outright by five runs. Shoalhaven also won the return match the following October, and these fixtures were played regularly for several seasons.

The Humphery Trophy in 1883-84 was the first such cricket competition to be played in the Shoalhaven, and Milton was a decisive winner with an unbeaten record. In what was a virtual final against Burrier, Milton won by an innings after brothers Winter and Alick Warden shared all the oppositions wickets.

In the following season the touring Englishmen played a two day match againsta Shoalhaven XXII at Nowra, and Winter Warden was the outstanding bowler for the home side. One of five Ulladulla players in the match, he captured 6/50 from 265 deliveries.

Ulladulla also took part in the 1888-89 competition for the Cohen Cup, but did not enjoy the same success. A member of the first Shoalhaven District Cricket Association (SDCA) premiership team in 1892-93, the Aboriginal left-arm pace bowler Lew Licey turned out with Ulladulla during the following summer. Chosen to represent the South Coast in Sydney, he returned figures of 6/35 in the match against Western. Licey went on to represent NSW Country in 1895-96.

A Time Of Isolation

While the SDCA had competitions in most seasons as the 20th century unfolded, teams from Milton and Ulladulla were not considered because of the primitive transport of the day and the distances involved. It was a time of isolation, although there were some domestic competitions noted, such as the Dowling Cricket Association (1904-05) and an Ulladulla district competition in the 1920's.

For the 1934-35 season there was a Milton district competition with the five teams being Milton, Ulladulla, Conjola, Burrill and Country. In that era the SDCA has set boundaries, with the Jerrawangala Creek being the southern most point.

Cricket was gaining impetus after World War II when Milton applied to field a second grade side in the SDCA for 1946-47. It had made arrangements for the biggest trip to Kangaroo Valley, but the nomination was rejected by delegates. In this period some southern players joined Wandandian which had been included in the competition.

It would be 1959-60 when Milton was admitted to the association with a side in A reserve. Clarrie Rogerson made an immediate impact when he scored 118 in 90 minutes, and by its second season, Milton reached the grand final while also fielding a B grade team. For 1961-62 Milton entered both A and B grades which both reached the grand final, while another Southern club Burrill Lake made its debut in B grade.

For the next six seasons Milton entered two sides, with firsts reaching the semi-finals three times, while the seconds won the second grade southern premiership in 1964-65. In the meantime Burrill Lake won second grade in 1963-64, tried firsts the following summer and then dropped back to seconds for another grand final appearance. It also appeared in a third grade grand final in 1966-67.

United Southern Combination

Prior to the 1968-69 season, the Milton and Burrill Lake clubs merged to form Ulladulla United Cricket Club, in an effort to become a force in the SDCA. It started with a side in each of the three senior grades, but the thirds withdrew during the year.

In its fourth season, United made the semi-finals, but there would be a further four semi-final appearances and 18 years before the club reached its first grand final in first grade, in 1989-90. It was a low scoring match at the Bomaderry Sporting Complex, and United appeared all but gone at 8/79 in reply to the home team's 100. However a fighting partnership of 45 between Terry Dorrell (31 not out) and Mark Burcher (19) saw the side clinch an historic victory.

Two years later Ulladulla United was playing in the final on the same ground against Berry-Shoalhaven Heads, which had been starved of success for so long. After a rain affected first day, captain John Johnston slammed 45 in 40 minutes on the Sunday morning and declared with 6/194. Berry started its innings before lunch, and was under constant pressure exerted by Paul Peters who came on first change and captured 8/34 from 16.4 overs, the best first grade grand final analysis for 45 years and the fourth best of all time. The winning margin was 64 runs.

United has reached the final series on four occasions since then, but never proceeded to make the grand final. The aforementioned Mark Burcher has the distinction of taking 10/76 against Bomaderry in 1982-83, the best figures for a single innings, while Owen Phillips, with 9/37 and 4/32 against Kangaroo Valley in 1968-69 has the best analysis for a match. Over the years 11 batsmen have scored first grade centuries for the club, with only Colin Smart making two. The highest score was Craig Crump's 128 against Albatross in 1982-83.

Ulladulla United has been one of the most consistent performers in the SDCA second grade since 1974-75, with five premierships from 14 grand final appearances. Its successes came in 1977-78, 1983-84, 1989-90, 1994-95 and 1997-98. There have been 17 century makers over the years, with only Michael Walker getting two. Greg Bower set a club record when he hit an unbeaten 207 against Tomerong in 1980-81. Ian Morgan has the best bowling figures to his credit, 9/12 against Albatross in 1981-82, while the best match analysis is 13/53 by Brian Peters (6/19 and 7/34 against Ex-Servicemen in the 1983-84 grand final).

Third grade has also enjoyed plenty of success with four premierships, and on two occasions (1993-94 and 2000-01) there were two United clubs in the grand final. Craig Barca holds the club record of four centuries, all in third grade, and his 213 not out in 1998-99 was also a club record until bettered by Greg Bower with 218 against Sussex Inlet in 1999-2000. Tony Evans's 8/15 against Berry in 1980-81 remains the best third grade bowling analysis, and with 4/39 in the second innings he recorded the best for a match.

Ulladulla United won three of the four senior premierships in 1989-90, and the fourth grade success by the Blues was a first for the club. There have been a further three for United since then, and is the most successful club in the SDCA's fourth grade competition which has been held since 1981-82. Tory Greco (1982-83) and Chris Jones (1989-90 and 2001-02) are the only batsmen to score two fourth grade centuries. Ben Saunders has the best bowling figures of 8/20 against Central Districts in 1995-96, just ahead of Mick Coade whose 8/28 and 4/28 against Rugby Union in 1989-90 is the best for a match.

Although his name has not figured in the records mentioned, during the 2001-02 final series veteran bowler Bob Brooks was the second player to reach 500 wickets for the club, behind John Johnston. Ulladulla United has been one of the most successful SDCA clubs since the late 1980s, and fielded a record six senior teams in the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons.