first grade semi final 1976-77

'UNSW cricket, where Test players treat fifth graders like Test players and fifth graders treat Test
players like fifth graders.'
Geoff Lawson
'Rogers, you xxxx, you've got a yellow stripe painted all the way down your back!'
Len Pascoe.
'How many times do we have to win this f------ thing?'
Greig Robinson to seconds captain Terry Buddin after Terry insisted UNSWCC bat in the
dark to win the final outright over Sydney Uni, despite already leading on the first innings.
'It was personal!'
Terry's explanation after the outright had been secured.
'Show me an anti-psycho and I'll show you an underachiever.'
Greig Robinson
'Hey Rosco, how's that 700 lookin'? Only 320 to go.'
Brian Riley at the 80-81 first grade final v Northern Districts. At the start of
the summer NDs captain Ross Edwards predicted he'd make 700 runs that season.
'So you like to drive, do you? Well, let's see how your teeth look on the pitch.'
Pascoe to Chris Chapman, 76-77 semi after Chappo got off the mark with a perfect off-drive.
'Brutus, I'm not sure I should've done that.'
Chappo to Mark at the end of the over.
'No, we didn't bat anyone at No.4 today - we went straight from No.3 to No.5.'
Terry Buddin keeps the umpires away from Dave Pratt during the tea break after Pratty had
spat the dummy at them earlier in the day.
'Now lads, we have a reasonable score on the board of 250 … so all we have to do is move up in
one straight line in defence, don't miss a tackle just like the great St George teams of the '60's,
and we will win for sure.'
Captain Jim Robson's pep talk during the Poidevin-Gray final, SCG No.2, 76-77.
'Mark's arm ball left many batsmen feeling gently violated.'
Paddy Grattan-Smith.
'Under the circumstances his slip-fielding was astonishing and cannot be explained by modern
scientific methods.'
Paddy on Jim Robson's poor eyesight.
'Left-arm spinners are the lowest form of life. They should be shot at birth.'
Dick Pym.
'We still would have won, Chappo!'
JR's response when Chappo told him he still worried about what would've
happened had he dropped the last catch in the 76-77 first grade final.
Five Summers
Five Flags
1976 - 1981
Editor: Mark Ray
Layout and Design: Simon Ray
Statistics: Greg Livingstone
Reunion Organising Committee
Greg Livingstone chairman (unelected, unopposed), Jim Robson, Jim Dixon, Greg Livingstone,
Roger March, Greig Robinson, Mark Ray, Geoff Lawson.
For their financial support of this function, UNSWCC thanks
Andrew McMaster, Peter Tout, Geoff Garland, Jim Dixon and Mike Gregg.
This booklet and extra material is available at www.cricket.unsw.edu.au
© UNSWCC 2007
CONTENTS
01 Foreword
02 Getting into Grade
07 The Boys from the Bush
10 Talent to Burn
- Poidevin-Gray 1976-77
17 The Big Sting
- First Grade 1976-77
38 Strength and Depth
- Second Grade 1977-78
48 On Top of the Pile
- The Club Championship 1978-79
55 Proving the Point
- First Grade 1980-81
71 The Last Word
Foreword
Tony Epstein
President 1976-78
Season 1972-73 was, to quote Charles Dickens, “the best of
times and the worst of times”. It was the season UNSWCC
entered the Sydney grade competition from shires.
We were the hot team from shires cricket but how would we
compete against the clubs that formed the basis of the NSW Sheffield
Shield team? We had the players, grounds (four turf wickets) owned by
the University, a great administrative structure. Thanks must be given to successive
vice-chancellors and the university sports administration who provided the support and
facilities for the club. UNSWCC currently boasts some of the best facilities and playing fields in Sydney.
Alex Taylor received the first ball in grade cricket and square cut it to the Village Green boundary. The omens
were great. The mighty Wales were off and running. The first few seasons were undistinguished but built to 1976-77,
the year of our first first-grade premiership. Four years is no time at all to go from second division to last in the top
tier to first. It was quite an achievement. Four years later, we won our second first grade flag. From John Rogers to
Mark Ray. Not bad for the newcomers to grade.
The years of transition from shires to grade were tough. Would we make the grade? Would we earn respect from
the hard heads of the established clubs.
Being humble, I will quote JR: “My perception was that you and Ralph Merrell were the club’s main strength
administratively – keeping it honest, keeping it as good financially as it could be - and you were a rallying point in
the lower grades. Tony, you took on the president role with a gulp, but a climate of confidence developed throughout
the club for which you can take much credit.” Great words and, if half true, I am very grateful. But at the end of the
day results are gained on the field and UNSWCC was blessed to have the likes of JR, Geoff ‘Henry’ Lawson, Greg
‘Gulgong’ Watson, Mark Ray, Jim Robson, Chris Chapman and another 80 cricketers of varying ability. Uni cricket
ranged from Henry to Andrew ‘Splinter’ McMaster and all contributed to make it the great club we are and will be
continue to be.
There are three significant aspects about university cricket that the NSW administrators have not understood.
First, universities own and control their own grounds, and do not rely on councils with limited budgets. Although
the club now has to find money to maintain administration and facilities it still has a huge university supporting it.
Second, many students and potential players come to uni from the country and enjoy playing cricket for the university where they study and set off on their careers. Third, university cricket is run by the players – all roles from president to selectors are filled by players from all grades who contribute equally to the running of the club. No senior
management and players dictating terms. Membership subscription for the season is the same for a fifth-grade player
or a Test cricketer.
Finally, JR again. “During your three years as president you were on the receiving end of trophies for PoidevinGray, first grade, second grade and the club championship – in which you were a team captain – a rare feat.”
It was a privilege to have been involved in such a great era.
1
Getting
Into
Grade
In 1972 the Sydney grade clubs were amazed by UNSWCC’s admission to the big time. The former St George and NSW player, John Rogers, discusses those difficult early years.
Astonishment. Disbelief. Ridicule. That’s how the Sydney grade cricket scene viewed the elevation of UNSWCC
from the shires competition to grade status for the 1973-74 season. Of course UNSWCC hadn’t seen it that way at all.
To club members at the time it was a just result for years of dominance of the municipal & shires competition with
five A grade premierships in the previous eight seasons as well as a couple of B premierships.
The previous change to the set-up of the 16 clubs in Sydney grade happened in 1965-66 when Paddington was
wiped out to be replaced by Sutherland. The revamp was not confirmed until the end of a long and nasty court case
brought by Paddington. Your correspondent happened to be an interested party, as he’d had a very good year with
Paddo and was forced to find another club in St George.
In 1973 the association, conscious of Sydney’s burgeoning population, the NSW Cricket Association wanted to
bring in Penrith (then called Nepean), and, still smarting from the Paddington fight, took the soft option of enlarging
the competition. But 17 clubs would have meant a bye and, without any other outer area offering a good case, the
solution was to bring in the noisy nuisance dominating the suburban competition - UNSWCC. Clem Barrington,
Geoff Garland, Rick Wegner et al, take a bow. It was a clever coup straight out of left field.
Two more clubs was the last thing the other clubs wanted. But no one wanted forced mergers or dismissal, and all
could see merit in the large Penrith area being admitted. But the existing university club (Sydney Uni) was a basket
case. It hadn’t won a premiership in the 20th century and the best recent result was a semi-final appearance 20 years
previously. How could a much smaller uni, which had produced no players of note, expect to be able to compete?
What’s more, SUCC was the oldest club in the country and UNSWCC was one of the youngest, born just over 20 years
earlier as UNSW emerged from Sydney Tech. It had been no easy climb to first grade status.
UNSWCC’s well-known disregard for silvertails was forged in the struggle for a decent ground and decent facilities. While Sydney Uni had its picturesque ovals, it was not until 1968 that the UNSW’s Village Green moved to its
present site, with the Sam Cracknell Pavilion appearing a year later. For years a tent had acted as a pavilion, loos
were 200 metres away, and afternoon tea was taken on the other side of Anzac Parade.
Yet gradually a tradition grew, fostered carefully by Professor Stan Livingstone who was the driving force in the
establishment of the club and its debut M&S season in 1951-52. Just two years later the club had earned promotion to
A division of the M&S and had three teams - but trophies were elusive.
Meanwhile in Sydney grade circles a certain Jack Chegwyn was assuming legendary status not only as the chairman of the state selectors but as founder of the Cheggy trips to country NSW, with the likes of Keith Miller and most
of the state team in tow, drawing large crowds and creating enormous goodwill for the game. What’s that got to do
with it, you may ask? Well Jack’s son John had pronounced himself uninterested in the grade scene, and in 64-65
captained UNSWCC to its first A division title in the M&S competition. They repeated the triumph the next season.
That would not have gone unnoticed at the association and if one thing was needed to establish credibility for the
club, Jack Chegwyn’s son had done the trick with consecutive trophies. With another three trophies coming in the
2
next six years, plus four club championships, Clem Barrington, Geoff Garland and co had performances to back up
their lobbying efforts for elevation to the grade competition.
If there was one person out there in Sydney grade who knew a bit about UNSWCC – it was me – but I have to
admit I was not in favour of the club’s promotion. Back in 67-68 as a state colts player, I’d talked my way into playing four intervarsity matches for UNSW. We’d been beaten by a helluva good UWA team, then I got a pair of ducks
against a NZ unis team, and had gone on tour to Hobart and Monash unis. So I knew a bit about the club’s players
and officials. There was one standout player in fast bowler John Middleton who’d have got a game in any first grade
team, and several other useful players such as Dave Wills, Ian Lowe and Jimmy Pratley. But alongside the mighty St
George team I was then playing with, most of them would have been lucky to make the thirds.
First grade 75-76. Back: Jack Denny (groundsman), Al Goodwin (scorer), Paddy
Grattan-Smith, Dick Pym, Steve van der Sluys, Geoff Kirkwood, Dave Pratt, Mal Grave.
Middle: Bob Mansfield, Chris Chapman, John Rogers (c), Jock Martel, Mark Ray.
Front: Jim Robson, Greg Watson.
But the decision for UNSW to come into grade was a done deal and that was it. Like it or not, the grade clubs had
to get on with it – including me, who was entering my second year as St George captain. Two seasons earlier six of
the St George stars had retired or left, and after some deliberation I’d been given the job of succeeding the legendary
Warren Saunders as captain. We came in 13th out of 16, something of a decline from the previous four seasons where
we’d been third, first, first and first.
All eyes were on what the new boys in the competition would do - and Penrith made a good start by announcing
that former Test centurion John Benaud was to be captain-coach. Was the UNSWCC team that had dominated M&S
for years fired up and ready to show that that success could be transferred to the much tougher grade scene? The
answer sadly, was “anything but”. Like the St George team two years earlier, vocation and family had caused most of
UNSWCC’s stars to pack up and leave. Worst of all, John Middleton had gone some time earlier. The only face recognisable to me from years earlier was Geoff Garland. And of the most recent M&S premiership team, only a young
Jock Martel, Roger Robertson, Alex Taylor and Greig Robinson were still there. So for its launch into Sydney first
grade, here was a UNSWCC team with not a single player of first grade experience - just one long-term club member
in Geoff Garland, and a bunch of green, untried youngsters.
So how did they go? The predictions of the pundits turned out to be true, with the two new teams finishing on the
bottom – but on the strength of a win over Sutherland, we came 17th and Penrith 18th. After 10 games Geoff
Garland’s struggles with the ball were such that he found himself in the seconds and a former Melbourne grade player, Les Cupper, took over as captain - in time for the win over Sutherland.
3
St George’s last home game for the summer, against UNSWCC, put the kybosh on my captaincy career at the great
old club. Saints’ former state quick John Martin had long been the most feared bowler in Sydney grade and he tore
through Uni to take 6-10, bringing in last man Geoff Garland (back in the team as a player only) at 9-60. Over the
next couple of hours Geoff and Alan Jacobs put on 70, and while Saints won by seven wickets that last wicket stand
had the St George faithful calling for blood.
Chris Chapman, above, checks his grooming at the Village Green.
And below, the suave Jim O'Brien takes some sun at Caringbah.
With no improvement on 13th position on the ladder, my head was on the block, and much behind-the-scenes
manoeuvring saw Ray Tozer appointed captain for the next season, with me continuing as a somewhat disenchanted
club member.
Changes were happening at UNSW too, with the Pym brothers, John and Dick, offering to come over from
Mosman. John was given the captaincy. “Kanga”, as he was known, had played for some years with Mosman where
England’s Barry Knight had been a fixture, and Pymmy was an admirer and a similar fanatic about the game. But
while Knight was all style and class, Pymmy had a technique diametrically opposed. He was an ungainly stopper of
an opening bat, with pads that always seemed to spread at the ankles and brush the ground. As the bowler
approached, he’d crouch front-on with bat thrust forward and eyes staring like a pair of moons and kill the ball dead
in front of him. And when he wasn’t blocking, he was sort of galloping between the wickets in knock-kneed fashion
with arms waving, shirt flailing in the wind, and shouting instructions, comments, jokes and questions to his partner.
And if J Pym wasn’t enough, there was brother Dick. If slightly less eccentric in most people’s eyes, Dick was
regarded as a classic fast bowling ratbag - with a temper to match. Tiny for a fast bowler with a whirlwind approach,
Dick’s bowling was littered with beamers, bouncers, off-spinners, no-balls and wides. Either stumps would fly or the
pickets would rattle. He didn’t like batsmen and it showed. Woe betide any fielder who spilled a catch or misfielded.
And ditto for umpires who didn’t call it his way! Dick had been a volatile pitcher for the NSW baseball side and he
brought that aggression to his cricket.
4
Penrith took the obvious route by appointing a big-name former Test player to guide them into grade cricket.
Wales took a typically non-conformist approach, stamping themselves as proud and independent. In their different
ways both clubs adapted fairly quickly to rise through the ranks.
Wales’s second season produced three wins for 17th spot, again relegating Penrith to last place. Both Pyms did
well, John made 581 runs while Dick took 27 wickets at 32. Chris Chapman and Mark Ray also scored more than
500 runs, Jock Martel got the club’s first century, a fitting landmark for one of the club’s most important figures, and
Steve van der Sluys snared an impressive 48 wickets with his huge in-swingers.
So despite the placing, there were some good signs. John Pym’s report as captain has the prophetic words : “We
could be semi-final contenders in two years” . Firsts had been unbeaten in its final five matches of the season, seconds had won the Encouragement Award (which covered the last six games of the season), and the Poidevin-Gray
team was unbeaten throughout but got pipped for a place in the final.
Things were looking up, but John Pym was heading overseas and would miss the next season. For me at St
George, a year under Tozer had not been fun. While I contemplated retirement during the off-season, to my surprise
I fielded a phone call from Geoff Garland proposing that I leave St George and captain UNSWCC. If anything convinced me, it was that I felt I had unfinished business. I had enjoyed being captain of St George, even if my results
had been poor. The season without the job had given me time to reflect and review what I’d done. I’d had a connection with the UNSWCC from years before, and it was clear they needed a hand. So with some misgivings, fuelled by
sceptical comments from the old St George stars who nevertheless wished me well, I turned up for that first practice
of 1975-76.
At St George, pre-season ran like clockwork. The nets were controlled properly and selectors moved around purposefully with everyone decked out in creams. If you didn’t bowl fast or wrist-spin, then you could forget being
selected above thirds. Batsmen batted watchfully, defending with care but hitting the bad ball forcefully.
So what did I find at the Village Green? Typical Uni semi-organisation. A bunch of largely scruffy, long-haired
students in all sorts of shorts and T-shirts but somehow most people got a chance to practise. Yet I couldn’t see anyone apart from Dick Pym with any pace – and he was all over the place. There were two wrist-spinners of promise in
Geoff Kirkwood and Steve Campbell, but they were very raw. The batting to say the least looked average. The more I
looked, the more I could see I’d been landed with a team of medium-pacers, finger-spinners and wet-behind-the-ears
batsmen who scored at a snail’s pace. I wasn’t happy.
After posing for a headshot for the Herald, Chappo reveals his corked bicep to stunned teammates.
5
Somehow teams got chosen and off we went to Manly for the first match. Manly were a formidable side and had
won a premiership not long before through Mike Pawley’s excellent spin bowling, his aggressive captaincy and, as he
described it, a team of runners. After tea on the first day, as Manly battled their way to 211, it dawned on me that
behind the student disorder there were several very good fieldsmen and several very good cricket minds.
The old St George team had been a good catching side but with the exception of the superb Brian Booth and to an
extent myself, everyone waited for the ball to come to them or jogged after it in gentlemanly style. I’d made it clear I
expected the Uni boys to keep an eye on me in the field, to charge after the ball and whip it to the keeper whenever
they got it. And they did. What’s more a couple of sharp snicks were snared in the slips without any fanfare, and
Chappo slid onto a magnificent catch in front of the sightboard that had me staring in disbelief.
We almost got there but perhaps were a bit frightened to win, but on the Monday we stared down Sydney Uni by
four runs to chalk up our first win. Three losses followed but at the VG we comfortably accounted for Ray Tozer’s St
George with Jock’s fine catch off Brian Booth the turning point. Still, at Christmas we were three wins for seven losses and not looking good with 200 in the first game our highest score.
From there we were not to lose a game, with four wins and three rain-affected draws. We charged up the table to
finish sixth. Essentially we mastered the art of playing on the slow turner at the VG. We’d bat first at every opportunity, hang in there as the top order struggled, and finish with a Gulgong-led flourish at the tail. The emerging Greg
Watson (Gulgong), Dick Pym and the extraordinary in-swingers of Steve van der Sluys were surprisingly effective
early and then spinners Mark Ray and Paddy Grattan-Smith would prise out the rest with help from what was
becoming a very fine fielding team.
Most of our wins had been against teams in the bottom half of the table, but we’d got quite a boost from two very
fine wins in the Rothmans knockout, the one-day competition – one-day matches but not limited overs. We beat the
representative ACT team and the Bob Simpson-led Western Suburbs, helped each time by two good opening partnerships between Mark and myself that gave us enough runs to let Mark and Paddy go to town.
An opening partner for Mark was a real problem and I wasn’t the answer. Nor were Jim Robson, Chappo, Dave
Pratt or Jock Martel suited to the job. We’d had a real boost with the arrival of Rob Mansfield to take over the keeping, but he would not be returning next year. Nor would van der Sluys, which meant our pace bowling was thin. OK,
we were becoming competitive, but premiership contenders we weren’t. We needed a reliable opener, a keeper good
at handling spin, a bit more steel in the middle order and another quick. And a wrist-spinner on our turning wickets
would help.
Solving those problems over the off-season was the key to the unsheathing of the Bee’s stinger!
Jim Robson poses for the Herald at the start of the 75-76 season.
6
The Boys
From
The Bush
One factor that made UNSWCC unique in the 1970s was an influx of spirited, talented players
from the country. City boy Roger March looks at the huge influence those cricketers had on the
club’s run of success.
A university cricket club, unlike its suburban counterparts, does not have close ties with its local community. A
university cricket club creates its own community, its own culture and its own history. I would argue that the culture
of UNSW cricket has been, in large part, shaped – and continues to be shaped – by country cricketers who arrived in
Sydney full of life, friendly, unpretentious – and athletic. The club gave them the community they had left behind in
the bush. In return, they gave the club much of its spirit.
As I look back to the club’s golden era from 1976-77 to 1980-81 there is a remarkable constant: the contribution
made by the guys from the country. Indeed, three country cricketers played in the Poidevin-Gray-winning side of
1976-77, the club championship year and the two first-grade premierships: Geoff Lawson, Jim Robson, and Greg
Livingstone. Signs of their huge contribution were evident from that landmark P-G season. Jungle topped the batting averages with 130, followed by Livo, and Henry finished with 23 wickets at 11 apiece. In the two-day final, Jungle
(78) and Livo (55) topscored in a total of 250 before Henry decimated Central Cumberland with 7-43 for Uni to win
by 125 runs. The P-G side had a number of other country boys: Nigel (Big Nige) Perger, John (Chemical) Carmichael
and Peter (Jacky) Jourdain. The 1976-77 first-grade side also had Steve (Klinger) Campbell and Greg (Gulgong)
Watson, who holds the distinction of being the club’s first first-class representative.
By the time of our 1980-81 first-grade premiership, no fewer than seven members of the team hailed from the
country. In addition to Henry, Jungle and Livo, there were Big Nige, Steve Campbell, the versatile Jim (Disco) Dixon
and Chris (Cliff) Hanger. For a young metropolitan university in the eastern suburbs of Sydney the contribution of
these young men from the country is remarkable enough. Even more remarkable is that Henry and Livo are still great
ambassadors for the club, Jacky is president and, in testament to something that only DNA tests could discover,
Disco and Jungle have entered their fourth decade of playing grade cricket. The bush connection had an impact on all
grades, and in that golden era the contribution of country cricketers to the club reached its zenith. Big Nige and Paul
(Tacho) Deegan were members of the premiership-winning second grade side of 1977-78. What other country lads
might have lacked in prowess they made up for in personality. People such as Ian (Kyogle) Smith and Andrew
(Splinter) McMaster became legends for their love of the game, their affection for the club and for their ‘outgoing’
personalities.
The celebrated country tours of the 1970s were an initiative of first-grade captain John (JR) Rogers. These reinforced the club’s links to the country and reunited its country players with their home towns and their families. They
also helped spread the word about UNSW cricket. According to JR, in the 50s & 60s there'd been a lot of tours
(weekend ones) by the Jack Chegwyn group - they had legendary status as great weekends - and grade clubs would
often do a weekend, end-of-season tour. Also, Bob Simpson led some country tours as part of the then Tooheys sponsorship of NSW cricket. But the UNSW country tours were different, of course. The concept of a week-long series of
games in different country centres on consecutive days with minimal hosting requirements (just billets and a BBQ,
plus venue and team) had never been done before. It also allowed city blokes to connect with the bush and its people
– and most of all it was great fun for us and the locals alike. JR even reckons it helped our cricket when we got back
because we had played on four or five straight days and ended up back in the city tired but with our skills sharpened.
7
The tours also helped players from different grades get to know each out on the road. The country players who
joined the club tended to get on well pretty quickly because of their shared experiences growing up in the bush. Many
lived together in Uni colleges or in share houses around the eastern suburbs, and a strong sense of community quickly developed at the club. The country guys played first for fun and that attitude filtered through to everyone else. We
were able to surprise and impress a lot of other clubs because we appeared to be a bunch of carefree larrikins but we
could also apply ourselves on the field and play tough and successful cricket. And, of course, we had
inherited a history of success from the original club that had dominated the shires competition.
A local looks after Greg Watson and Geoff Kirkwood at the bar in Griffith, 78-79.
While the influence of the country cricketers was profound, the city provided its own rich cast of characters. We
probably all have different memories of the wonderfully idiosyncratic Pym brothers, John and Dick, Paddy GrattanSmith, John (JB) Barford and Nev Jansson. And who, among those who knew and played alongside Geoff Kirkwood,
do not feel an enormous sense of loss at his passing. Fantastic supporters such as Bob (Snake) Patterson and Dave
Lemon played their part, along with so many others, in shaping the club. The carefree summers of the 1970s are a
lifetime away, yet memories of the great characters of the era remain with us today.
A wet wicket at Wagga. Behind JR are from left:
Greg Watson, Geoff Lawson, Peter Jourdain and
John's younger brother, the late Derek.
8
A typical country tour team in the mid-70s, with players of all standards and hairstyles.
four club legends
from the bush
Greg
Livingstone
Albury
Geoff Lawson
Wagga Wagga
Jim Robson
Goulburn
9
Jim Dixon
Goulburn
Talent
to Burn
Poidevin-Gray
1976-77
Jim Robson, the P-G captain, could not improve on his
perceptive original report on the club’s first major trophy.
So here it is, straight from the 76-77 annual report.
10
Back: Nigel Perger, Neville Jansson, Dave Meagher, Greg Livingstone, Geoff Kirkwood, Mick Watt, John
Carmichael. Front: Peter Jourdain, Mick Bryce, Jim Robson (c), Geoff Lawson, Steve Howard.
11
12
THE TEAM
by JIM ROBSON & ROGER MARCH
Greg Livingstone - young, stylish, free-flowing opening batsman. Livo batted so well in PG he
was promoted from fourths to firsts. He was fluent in every innings. I still remember JR ringing
me in Goulburn to say Livo's promotion was on the cards. Formed a perfect opening combo with
Mick Watt. Livo was also quite a drinker in those merry days.
Mick Watt - Fiery would do anything for his team to prevent the middle order facing the new
ball. If in doubt he would take a ball to the body - if Matt Hayden had adopted this approach the
2005 Ashes would have been ours. Fiery was the ultimate gutsy team player.
Neville Jansson - a very accomplished batsman who retired far too early from grade cricket.
With his enthusiasm he was crucial to our success. Great spirit and an outstanding contributor on
the social scene.
Dave Meagher - GPS boy who didn't appear to be one. He was the same as the rest of us - his
dress sense was poor and his grammar no better than that of a lad from Albury or Wagga. As well
as his talent with the bat he was blisteringly fast across the outfield. No wonder he won the 100m
grade sprint and a trip to China.
Peter Jourdain - Jacky Jourdain, despite using a size 4 Pakistan bat performed strongly in the
middle order. His shots through mid-wicket were unrivalled in cricket throughout Sydney and led
to numerous victories in single and double wicket contests.
Jim Robson - the tall, charismatic country boy with the cheeky grin, quick wit and natural talent. Perpetual energy on the field, always shuffling and fidgety. The senior player, he brought all
the psychological depth he'd learned watching the great St George league teams of his youth to the
leadership of this talented bunch. An outstanding motivational speaker - see Henry's summary at
the end of this booklet - middle-order batsman and fine slip fieldsman. Handy offie - in the nets.
Geoff Kirkwood - leg-spinning all-rounder from Revesby. Knew more about life than the rest of
us. Full of surprises. One day he'd be in a restaurant with Henry Blofeld, another in a Griffith pub
discussing business with the locals. His top spinners, as Botham and Randall found out in
Adelaide, were from the top shelf.
Kirkie looks good on the dance floor.
John Carmichael - like Kirkie, Chemical was a worldy character from Crookwell who could converse on any topic. Jack knew the game as well as anyone I met, and so he should, considering the
number of days he missed Uni to visit the SCG. I'll never forget the day he orchestrated 10 of us to
get into the Members Bar on only three badges.
Steve Howard - very reliable and enthusiastic keeper. He was another to give the game up far
too young - probably because there was no money in it in the 70s. He turned his life into the
biggest challenge of all, school teaching. He had to take thunderbolts from our three quicks, Henry
Lawson, Nigel Perger and Mick Bryce.
Geoff Lawson - Henry was sensational in this series. It seems like yesterday that I was standing
deep in slips at the SCG No.2 watching him destroy Cumberland in that final. I think that was the
day we realised he really was something special.
13
Nigel Perger - Big Joel was a real talent with genuine pace and bounce. He was a natural storyteller, AFL footballer and Shalom
basketballer who could do anything with a shiny five and a half ounces in his hand. Who will forget our throwing competition after
the final, and a few beers, with Nige throwing balls from the middle of the SCG into the Members Enclosure.
Mick Bryce - wore a "Gulgong" style belt to hold his creams up, and was a terrific bowler who complemented the other two. He
had the ability to be quick and dangerous when conditions suited, or he could do the hack work when needed.
Roger March - Groucho did everything a good manager needed to do: bring the beer. He was not required to get taxis, physios,
press or women for the team like a modern manager. His job was so easy and he was so good at it I can't work out why he retired
after the P-G win. A passionate man who gave his team great guidance.
Livo plays it by the book. P-G final, SCG No.2.
KIRKIE DOES THE WASHING
We all knew that Kirkie bowled a non-turning leggie but didn't realise that the reverse action also
applied to his laundry. I arrived at Sydney Uni for the first P-G match in 76-77 in my sparking whites
expecting to man the drinks tray. Kirkie arrived in torn t-shirt and boardies to find that he hadn't
packed match attire of any hue. He opted for mine and after a successful stint in the field insisted on
washing them. The drinks tray (KB Kegs courtesy of R March) had left me in no condition to refuse.
Kirkie was true to his word: he did launder them - after a fashion; what he washed them with or in
will remain a mystery as they came back looking like one of the Black Caps' early ODI uniforms. Only
a solid eight weeks by Mum in the laundry allowed me to return to the drinks duties in suitable attire
for the SCG final.
John Carmichael
14
POIDEVIN-GRAY FINAL
1976-77
SCG No. 2
UNIVERSITY OF NSW – 1st Innings
M. WATT
…………………………………………………
G. LIVINGSTONE
…………………………………………………
N. JANSSON
…………………………………………………
J. ROBSON
…………………………………………………
N. PERGER
…………………………………………………
G. KIRKWOOD
…………………………………………………
P. JOURDAIN
…………………………………………………
D. MEAGHER
…………………………………………………
S. HOWARD
…………………………………………………
G LAWSON
…………………………………………………
M. BRYCE
…………………………………………………
Sundries
…………………………………………………
TOTAL
…………………………………………………
6
55
11
78
1
0
25
23
4
21
0
26
250
CENTRAL CUMBERLAND – 1st Innings
G. LANGTON
G. McCULLOUGH
D. MOLESWORTH
M. SARGENT
P. MATTHEWS
G. MATTHEWS
M. STANEJEVIC
D. PARKER
P. BUGG
I. MONAGHAN
M. ROLLS
Sundries
TOTAL
BOWLING
c Howard b Lawson
b Lawson
c Watt b Robson
c Howard b Lawson
c Howard b Lawson
c Robson b Lawson
c Howard b Lawson
lbw b Kirkwood
b Lawson
c Kirkwood b Robson
not out
LAWSON
BRYCE
PERGER
KIRKWOOD
ROBSON
………….…….…..
.....……….…….…
.....……….…….…
.....……….…….…
....……….…….…
.....……….…….…
.....……….…….…
.....……….…….…
.....……….…….…
.....……….…….…
.....……….…….…
.....……….…….…
.....……….…….…
2
12
33
5
8
0
10
5
26
9
0
15
125
7-43
0-11
0-35
1-12
2-9
University of NSW won on 1st Innings by 125 runs
STATISTICS
1976-77
BATTING
J. Robson
G. Livingstone
N. Jansson
M. Watt 5
G. Lawson
S. Howard
G. Kirkwood
P. Jourdain
D. Meagher
N. Perger
M. Bryce5
J. Carmichael
M
5
5
5
6
5
5
5
5
5
4
1
1
INN.
5
5
6
1
2
4
4
3
3
2
0
0
N.O.
3
0
1
56
1
2
0
0
0
1
0
-
H.S. AGG.
89
261
74
234
68
165
136
17.2
35
56
47*
56
48
68
25
36
23
31
1
1
0
-
AVE.
130.5
46.8
35
1
56
28
17
12
10.33
1
-
15
50s
2
3
1
4
4
C/S
5
2
1
1
8/1
3
0
1
0
0
BOWLING
G. Lawson
G. Kirkwood
M. Bryce
N. Perger
G. Livingstone
J. Robson
M. Watt
P. Jourdain
OVERS
88.7
57
42
52
9
7.4
1
1
MAIDENS
23
8
7
15
0
0
0
WICKETS
23
8
6
5
3
2
0
RUNS
246
126
130
131
37
56
6
AVERAGE
10.69
15.75
21.66
26.2
12.33
28
-
SUMMARY
Runs for = 1119, Wickets Lost = 32, Average = 34.99
Runs Against = 834, Wickets taken = 49, Average = 17.01
RESULTS
RD.
OPPONENT
1
Sydney University
2
Sydney
3
Western Suburbs
Semi
St George
Final
Cumberland
UNSW
7/227 dec
4/124 dec
3/248 dec
8/230
250, 0/40
OPPOSITION
103, 7/25
122, 1/59
2/125
9/275 dec
125
16
RES.
W1
W1
D
D
W1
PTS
6
12
12
The
Big Sting
First Grade
1976-77
It took UNSWCC a mere four seasons to go from the top of the shires competition to the top of
the grade competition. And the person who deserves more credit than anyone else for that
achievement is John Rogers, brilliant captain, outstanding motivator. Here is his report from
the yearbook on that amazing first grade premiership in 1976-77.
17
The final XI. Back: Mark Ray, Jim Robson, Geoff Lawson, Greg Watson, Steve Campbell, Greg Livingstone.
Front: Paddy Grattan-Smith, Chris Chapman, John Rogers (c), Jim O’Brien, Mick Watt.
18
19
JR heads for the pavilion with the Belvedere Cup in the bag.
20
21
The Team
By Paddy Grattan-Smith
Author's note: I apologise for what I have forgotten and for what is wrong. Sé seo mo scéal,
'smá tá bréag ann, bíodh mar sin. (This is my story and if there is a lie in it - let it be).
Mick Watt - Mick was the phlegmatic and younger redhead of the team. Opening the batting,
Fiery made 330 runs at 17 in conditions that suited the many good fast bowlers in the comp. Mick
saw it as his duty to get the shine off the ball and wear down the opposition quicks. Unflinching,
this was done with bat or body. From the first ball of the innings the opposition were made aware
that there was going to be a fight all the way. Felled by a nasty blow to the head from a Lennie
Pascoe bouncer with the new ball in the seconds innings of the semi-final, Fiery made a valuable
25 in an opening stand of 43 in the final the next week.
Mark Ray - Mark's performances over the season were extraordinary. He scored 608 runs at 30,
took 43 wickets at 16 and held 10 catches. In the semi he scored 66 and took 2-25, and in the final
35 and 2-52. In a team exalting in athletic prowess and energetic display, Mark's cricket was in
contrast, geometric and minimalist. In the slips, he would stir from a reptilian slumber to take a
screaming catch with the least possible movement. Deliveries from Pascoe or Roberts were met
with a slight swivel and then sent hurtling under their own momentum from his eyebrows to the
square leg fence. Mark bowled classic left-arm orthodox spin with confusing drift and sharp turn.
His arm ball left many batsmen feeling gently violated.
Jim Robson - Jungle scored 369 runs at 22 and took nine catches. His best innings was 97 on a
difficult wicket at Gordon where the next highest score was 23 by his captain. Jim has long complained that his relatively low averages from that time were the result of poorly prepared pitches.
The real reason was that he needed glasses but refused to wear them. Stubbornly, he turned this
handicap into a strength, playing few shots from the front foot but specialising in the back-cut as
often he didn't see the ball until it was almost past him. Under the circumstances his slip-fielding
JR, far left, leads the firsts onto the field in the final at Petersham Oval.
was astonishing and cannot be explained by modern scientific methods. Apparently relying on a
strong sense of smell, acute hearing and instinct he would suddenly hurl himself full-length and
accurately grasp the leather object that he could only sense was somewhere in his vicinity. Jim was
always full of joy and did much for team morale.
John Rogers - although the team was full of talent, there would have been no premiership without JR. He scored 287 runs at 19 and took 12 catches. His energy was consumed in bringing the
best out of the team and to a degree this affected his batting but he scored a very useful 27 in the
semi-final. JR brought a confidence that came from his four premierships with St George and his
experience playing state cricket. Under his tireless encouragement, the team gradually realised it
22
could take on anyone. The season before, he played an innings of great elegance in a match against
Western Suburbs where he kept driving past Bobby Simpson and running four. The message was
always that if we understood and enjoyed the game, we could win. A superb all-round ball player,
his fielding at short-leg and in the vital positions square of the wicket set the standard for the
team.
Chris Chapman - of impeccable breeding, patrician bearing and the most handsome member of
the team, Chappo let none of these disabilities interfere with his game but approached the toughest contests with a steely resolve. He scored 428 runs at 25 and took 12 catches. In the semi-final
he made 46 against a rampaging Pascoe and scored 21 in the final. When batting, Chris believed in
never taking a backward step. On the cover of the 1976-77 annual report is a typical photograph of
him, left elbow pointing to the sky, playing a classic back foot defensive shot from the front foot.
He relied on powerful drives and viewed cross-bat shots as undignified. With his speed and large
safe hands, he excelled in the gully or the outfield. In the final, when Stuart Gardner dobbed Mark
to square leg and Chris started moving to the ball, all knew the game was won.
Jock Martel - Jock scored 183 runs at 12 and took nine catches. At his best he was one of the
most dangerous batsmen in the competition. Stocky and with lightening reflexes, he scored
extremely rapidly using a wide array of orthodox and unconventional shots. In an era of generally
conservative batsmanship he found no problem with straight-driving a six in the opening over of
an innings. He took particular delight in smacking fast bowlers all over the ground but took
umbrage at any suggestion he might be a slogger. He was another great fieldsman with safe hands.
Extremely fast off the mark, he had a propensity for the unexpected. His sudden change of direction and accurate throwing at speed often surprised the non-striker. Jock did not have his best
season but his contribution over the then four-year history of the team was immeasurable.
Greg Livingstone - In an inspired act of selection, Greg was promoted from fifth grade where he
averaged six, to play in the last three matches of the season. He scored 42 (ro), 25 and 61 (nine
fours and a six). There was a naïve freedom in his play - the short ball was there to be pulled and
the over-pitched to be driven. Any suspicion that his strength was his incomprehension was disproved in the final. With the team 6-107 and his score 0, he watchfully played maiden after maiden and finally it was the hardened campaigner David Chardon who blinked. A slower ball was met
on the full and sent to the fence. Brian Riley hurled his cap into the turf and Livo was away. Later
in the innings, he took on Peter Maloney, a state player that year, scoring 6, 4, 4 in one over, pull
shots cracking into the fence. It is stating the obvious that without the 110-run O'BrienLivingstone partnership, the game would have ended early. Yet another athletic fielder who
seemed to be able to catch anything, Greg was fast and had a strong left-arm throw.
Jimmy O'Brien - the wicket-keeper. In 13 matches he took 24 catches and made one stumping.
He also scored 188 runs at 21, putting him fourth in the batting averages. Nimble and with the
poise and balance of a gymnast, behind the stumps he was uncomplicated efficiency. He just
caught the ball with two hands whenever it was possible. There was no diving for the audience, no
histrionics. His 75 (11 fours) in the final turned the game when all seemed lost and we faced the
grim prospect of having to hear from Riles how well we had done to get that far. It was his highest
grade score and in that setting a fabulous innings. At a time when psychological warfare was highly developed, Jimmy had an ability to counter and unsettle the tough-men and sledgers of the
opposition with unexpectedly subtle asides and infuriating body language.
Greg Watson - Greg scored 248 runs at 18, took 33 wickets at 17 and held seven catches. His
apparently benign manner disguised a strong competitive streak that only came to notice at such
times as when he was given hair tonic to drink by a fellow fast-bowler. Tall, he bowled quickly and
with sustained accuracy. He mainly moved the ball in through the air and away off the wicket.
There was no relief, Gulgong was at the batsman all the time. His figures of 3-49 were the best in
the final and he dismissed Ray Phillips, the top scorer for Petersham. He was a natural striker of
the ball who had topped the batting averages the previous year. He scored 34 against Western
Suburbs in the last game before the semi-final, a ‘must-win’ game which was won by 14 runs. He
was a sound yet undemonstrative fieldsman.
Geoff Lawson - Geoff was in his first season in Sydney and all the signs of the greatness to come
were evident. He took 26 wickets at 20, helped to win the final with his batting and held five
catches. Tall but willowy with real strength to come in later seasons, Henry was fast with a dangerous outswinger and threatening bouncer. In the final, after supporting Jimmy O'Brien, he fearlessly hit David Jurd for three sixes in one over. His 38 was a decisive score in a game won by nine
runs. After the earlier collapse and the O'Brien-Livingstone ‘miracle’, it gave the team tremendous
momentum. When the game was in the balance, he was involved in the run-out of Greg
Hartshorne and bowled Dave Chardon, eliminating two tough and experienced campaigners. As
well as his cricket ability, Geoff's commitment to the team and the club was obvious. That he has
sustained this for 30 years and avoided being a ‘celebrity’ is a tribute to him as a person.
23
Paul Deegan - Tacho played three matches while Jimmy was away and took five catches.
Another lively and athletic country boy, he had few opportunities with the bat but was good
enough to score a century in second grade during the season. A tremendous team man.
Richard Pym - Dick sent down the first ball of the season and bowled Rick McCosker, setting
the tone for what was to come. He took 16 wickets at 26, and top-scored against St George with
35no in a total of 147. In a strong bowling attack, Dick had limited opportunities. Lacking the
height of Henry and Gulgong, he possessed a natural hatred of all batsmen and was extremely belligerent, hurling bumpers and abuse at them from behind bulging baby-blue eyes. At times there
was a suspicion of a method in his madness and the possibility that some of his outburst were
attacks of sham-rage. In the match against Gordon with nine wickets down and four to win, the
prospect of Dick's scything blade dispatching a leg-break onto the railway track seemed to intimidate Mick Falk into sending down two successive arm-balls. Both went down the leg-side past
both Dick and Mitchell Cox, the keeper, for two runs and another must-win game was ours. Dick
also played state baseball and had a very strong arm. Dick was often wild but always held the
benefit of the team as his priority.
Steve Campbell - Steve played the last two matches. In an outstanding debut in the semi-final
he took 4-30 and delivered the coup de grace to the bemused, becalmed and bewildered
Bankstown batsmen. In the final he took the catch that ended the innings of Ray Phillips and was
part of the run-out of Greg Hartshorne. As against Livo, whose selection sprung from supreme
optimism and a belief in his potential, Steve had the performances to justify his selection after taking 45 wickets at 15 in second grade with his heavy-dipping, big-turning leg spinners. Steve was
another sound fieldsman and competent batsmen who remained not out in his two innings.
Paddy Grattan-Smith - accurately described by his younger brother as having no natural ability
but a lot of determination, Paddy reached his personal playing peak in the last three matches, taking 7-54, 3-44 and 3-63 with his brisk, accurate off-spinners. Over the season he took 44 wickets
at 16 and held six catches. His bowling of Brian Riley for 48 in the final enabled his teammates
and every UNSWCC supporter to share a communal, spiritual orgasm. His batting was distinguished by being outsmarted by Len Pascoe in the semi-final and falling to a "mankad" in the
final. (Not far behind Dick Pym in eccentricity and Jungle in theories. Ed.)
The Semi-Final v Bankstown
Village Green
It's a shock to us to find banners hanging from the windows of the colleges ("Pascoe you Wog!" doesn't make us
feel too good.). And it's the first time we've seen a crowd of spectators around the ground - which changes the atmosphere of the VG entirely.
This turns out to be one of the best games of cricket I ever played in. The presence of Lennie Pascoe alone gives it
the feeling of a Test match. Of all the genuinely quick bowlers I ever saw - and I've seen, live, all the best since
Lindwall and Miller - Pascoe is the most ferocious - an assassin - the most determined to attack the batsman's head
and body first before worrying about getting him out. And here he is in his prime - the scourge of batsman around
the country and in that very week chosen for the 1977 Ashes tour - his first national call-up. Thommo is faster, but
Pascoe is the more frightening - and I'd faced them both a few times in the preceding years.
Bankstown have never won a first-grade premiership, and even though Thommo has gone to Queensland by this
stage, they have another good quick in Graham Pitty, a left-armer. This is the year they reckon they will win the flag.
We win the toss and bat (not without a few palpitations) and Mick Watt and Mark get us to 30 when Mick and
then Jungle get out. It's crunch time for me, going in at No.4. I just have to bury a few demons with Lennie. As the
only batsman with any real experience in the side, if I can't hang around I can't expect our young middle order to
have much chance against Lennie in those unhelmeted days.
Up the other end Mark is looking comfortable in his usual minimalist, unflustered style, nudging Lennie off his
body for ones and twos, and swerving out of the way the rest of the time. My abiding memory is that for over after
over, I just camp on the back foot, fending ball after ball off my nose. In the process I got the best sledge of my career
- in the days when sledging is rare. Having seen him off for another over from the southern end and feeling pretty
pleased with myself, Lennie walks past me and says: "Rogers, you xxxx, you've got a yellow stripe painted all the way
down your back!"
24
A few overs later - with the score at 2-106, he bowls a short one outside off stump that looks inviting. For the first
time I launch into a backfoot drive, hit it in the middle and am stunned to see it plucked out of the air at short midoff by Pitty. Shortly after, when Pascoe takes his first breather, Mark gets out to left-hand spinner Radanovic. Mark's
66 turns out to be a match-winning innings.
Then Chappo plays one of his best digs up to then, and with the young colt Livo puts on 44. At the death, Paddy,
Henry and Steve Campbell guts out 20 against Pascoe with the second new ball. It seems like he's bowled all day at
the same pace - the equivalent of 33 6-ball overs taking 7-76. His ferocious attitude makes for an electric atmosphere,
out on the pitch and in the Cracknell. It seems like it's Pascoe v UNSWCC. It's intense pressure all day from his end technically, physically and verbally. So for us to get to 214 is a fantastic effort.
Their turn to bat. Enter Steve Small with the flashing three-pound blade, and at stumps they're 0-30 odd from
about five overs. They continue the same way the next morning. Roaring along at 0-66 they look set and we're in
trouble. On comes Paddy Grattan-Smith to apply the brakes and soon it's goodbye Smallie, tied down, frustrated and
finally caught at slip by Jungle.
Lennie Pascoe hurls another one down to JR during the semi-final at the Village Green.
From then on for 60 8-ball overs, it's one of the best experiences a captain can have - three quality spinners going
at less than two an over, supported by a stunning fielding effort. Henry sprints 30 metres from deepish mid-on
towards mid-off to dive and catch the keeper Andrews - breathtaking stuff. Leggie Steve Campbell takes three quick
wickets, two with his flipper, and we've broken them apart. Then, right on tea, at nine down, Pascoe belts Mark high
towards the practice wickets, and Livo sprints 40 metres from backward square to take it over his head as nonchalantly as you could wish to see. We're ahead on the 1st inning by 58.
There's about an hour's play left in the match. All over? Not on your Nellie. Some of our guys are expecting the
umpires to come into the dressingroom any minute and say Bankstown have called it off. But before Andrew
'Splinter' McMaster can come in with the first case of beer, in comes Dion Bourne, Bankstown's skipper. "Lennie
wants a bit more of a bowl before he goes to England, so you can have another bat," he says.
If Pascoe was on fire in the first dig, he's enraged now. Soon the ball rebounds high from Mick Watt's head over
the keeper and Mick has to be helped off with blood all over the place. Jungle comes out knowing Lennie wants more
blood not just more bowling. First ball Jungle ends up on the ground after ducking one that just clears the bails. In
his quiet way Mark is as fired up as Lennie. He launches into the big quick - pulls, cuts, hooks - the lot. Lennie is
steaming in and Mark is waiting for him on the back foot. Lennie has 0 for 35 off five overs. When Mark gets out to
Graham Thorpe in the 10th over for a quick 37, we're 110 in front and it's starting to drizzle. Bankstown call it quits as if out of respect to Mark. He and Lennie have words as they walk off.
A footnote: Big Bob Lamaro, who went on to play second row for the Waratahs, left his mark on the Sam Cracknell
with a split in the mirror of change-room no.2 - from a head-butt - so distraught was he after being caught at short
backward square off Paddy, having been rendered strokeless for a long period. On my last visit in the New Year, I was
saddened to see the mirror had disappeared in the refurbishment. For a long time it was a talisman of our victory.
John Rogers
25
FIRST GRADE SEMI FINAL 1976-77
Village Green
UNIVERSITY OF NSW - 1st Innings
M. WATT
M. RAY
J. ROBSON
J. ROGERS
C. CHAPMAN
G. LIVINGSTONE
G. WATSON
J. O'BRIEN
P. GRATTAN-SMITH
G LAWSON
S. CAMPBELL
Sundries
TOTAL
c K. Thorpe b Pascoe
c Andrews b Radanovic
lbw b Pascoe
c Pitty b Pascoe
c McDonald b Pascoe
St Andrews b Thorpe
b Pitty
c Small b Pascoe
b Pascoe
c Small b Pascoe
not out
………………………
………………………
………………………
………………………
………………………
………………………
………………………
………………………
………………………
………………………
………………………
………………………
………………………
6
66
0
27
46
25
12
0
4
9
6
13
214
c Robson b Grattan-Smith ………………… .
b Ray
………………………
c Watt b Grattan-Smith
………………………
lbw b Watson
………………………
lbw b Campbell
………………………
lbw b Campbell
………………………
c Rogers b Grattan-Smith ...……………………
c Lawson b Campbell
………………………
c Ray b Campbell
………………………
c Livingstone b Ray
………………………
………………………
………………………
………………………
46
13
8
25
1
12
9
20
9
0
4
9
156
BOWLING
PASCOE
PITTY
LAMARO
RADANOVIC
THORPE
7-76
1-56
0-36
1-24
1-9
Batting Time
357 minutes; Overs 79.2
BANKSTOWN - 1st Innings
S. SMALL
T. McDONALD
G. THORPE
R. VIDLER
K. THORPE
D. BOURNE
R. LAMARO
L. ANDREWS
G. PITTY
L. PASCOE
A. RADANOVIC not out
Sundries
TOTAL
BOWLING
WATSON
LAWSON
RAY
G-SMITH
CAMPBELL
1-10
0-38
2-25
3-44
3-56
Batting Time
286 minutes; Overs 74.4
UNIVERSITY OF NSW - 2nd Innings
M. WATT
M. RAY
J. ROBSON
Sundries
TOTAL
BOWLING
Retired hurt
c McDonald b Thorpe
Not out
One wicket for
PASCOE
PITTY
G. THORPE
………………………
………………………
………………………
………………………
………………………
0-35
0-15
1-0
Batting Time
50 minutes; Overs 15.1
Rain stopped play at 4.09pm
University of NSW won on 1st Innings
26
0
37
13
3
53
The Final v Petersham
Petersham Oval
Water filling the stump holes has
the Wales skipper worried as we're
far more confident batting first.
Hoping to lose the toss and still
undecided, our call is correct and,
avoiding the soft option, we take
the risk. We're batting.
"Ewe Bewdy Wales" and "Wales
to Win" signs are prominent and a
reassuring yell from Nev Jansson
bellows across the ground: "I'm
here boys!"
Mark and Mick open against
their best bowlers, Chardon and
Hartshorne, and there are short
balls aplenty with Mick hit on the
shoulder time and again. Mark suddenly pulls Chardon for four and
we settle. Mark goes with the score
on 45 and Petersham get on top as
our batsmen fall one by one. We
lose our sixth wicket at 107 and
with keeper Jim O'Brien's entry to
join greenhorn Livo, we're really up
against it.
Opposing skipper Brian Riley is
in full verbal flow, taunting Livo:
"Not P-G now, Sonny. You're in the
big time." He's giving every batsman a send-off, and trying to annoy
us by holding up play and changing
the field all the time.
Slowly, carefully, Livo and
Jimmy dig in. On comes leg-spinner Maloney, and after an over or
A preview of the final in the Sydney daily press.
two of sighters, Livo launches into
him, belting the ball through short-leg, past Riley and over mid-wicket or 6, 4, 4. Now the partnership develops further when Jim sweeps and cuts regularly, and then launches into his rarely seen, big off-drive. The new ball arrives
and runs come even more quickly. Eventually both are bowled - Livo for 61 and Jimmy for 75 - and when Paddy is
amazingly "mankaded", we are nine down with a middling score of 240 with just Henry and Steve Campbell left.
Off-spinner Jurd has three for but Henry decides it's time to attack. He hits Jurd for three sixes, for 28 in one
over, and by the time he's bowled for 38 we've posted a good score of 284. A great recovery.
Sunday dawns with pictures of Livo and Jimmy all over the papers, but out on the field Petes show what a tough
side they are. Twice, as we begin to despair, Paddy breaks through to bowl first Goodman and then Sharp. But
Petersham look strong and, on a hot day and a dry, placid wicket which is giving little turn to our spinners, are well
on top at lunch at 2-120, with future Queensland batsman-keeper Ray Phillips and state batsman Graeme Hughes
well set.
As the lunchbreak draws to a close, it becomes clear that our tiring attack needs an early wicket and skipper
Rogers exhorts strike bowler Watson for a big three overs after lunch. Near the end of the third over, with Gulgong
just about spent, he forces Phillips to fend in the air and Steve Campbell rushes in and dives to take a fine catch.
27
In comes Riley and our hopes of staying in the game are quickly deflated as he and Hughes set about our bowlers
and power steadily towards 200. The fielding is good, Chappo making one spectacular save as had Henry before
lunch, and runs come slowly but inexorably. Livo dislocates a finger and Paddy tries to jerk it back but without success and calls for a doctor. Pymmy comes on as a replacement.
Riley is in his element, dominating proceedings as he demands cars be moved to
avoid reflection, a boy be moved from under
the sightscreen, twelfth man Pymmy moved
from the covers because of his baseball arm.
Riles shouts ‘thanks for coming’ to Chappo
when he misfields and gives up a single, and
adds insult to injury by patting Paddy, the
bowler, on the back.
The many students in the crowd are firing
up at Riles and he's loving it. At 3-195,
Hughes cuts at Mark and gets a thick bottom
edge and the ball lodges in Jim's pad. Our
hopes rise again. As Hughes marches off, JR
calls on Terry Buddin to get the new ball
from his bag in the dressing room.
A few minutes later, Paddy unexpectedly
gets one through Riley and he is bowled! As
the Uni boys celebrate, with Mark giving
Riley a quiet but well-deserved send-off,
Riles storms off. Meeting Terry on the way Brian Riley and John Rogers at the toss.
out with the new ball, Riles demands to
know what he is doing.
'Mate, is there anything more we can do for you,' Terry politely asks the Petes captain. 'I reckon the best thing is
we go to council and have the whole area rezoned.'
Riles is speechless. He's never been sledged like that before. Terry finds it all very amusing. As he gets to the fence
Riles brandishes his bat and slams the gate, generating a storm of booing and cat-calling. From the first-floor balcony
of the pavilion, Betty Ray, Mark's mum, leans over and calls down: ‘Get off, Riley. The game can do without your
sort.' Riles waves his batting glove at her and disappears into the dressing room. What an atmosphere.
Livo sends Riles scurrying for cover.
Soon after we take the second new ball. Just three overs till tea. Midway through the first of those three overs
Gulgong pulls up with cramp. All sorts of amateurish remedies are tried, and eventually JR sends him for a test jog
down to the sightscreen and back. As he limps back, JR calls for a replacement. Gritting his teeth, Gulgong is having
none of that and calls for the ball. He finishes the over and says he's right to bowl another, the last one before tea. He
bowls a no-ball and on the ninth delivery he gets one to lift and move away off the seam. John Bain, feeling the pressure, flashes at it and is caught behind. It's 6-220 - 64 needed and the match in the balance.
Greg Hartshorne is a fine batsman and his long-term pace bowling colleague Dave Chardon is no mug. They start
cautiously. Suddenly it is chaos as Hartshorne plays Henry to square leg and Chardon sets off for the run but
28
Hartshorne hesitates. Chardon keeps running. Steve
Campbell fires it at the bower's end and Henry rushing
back can't reach it. Paddy, who's racing towards the
stumps, gets his body behind the bouncing ball and somehow stops it. Henry grabs it and from a couple of metres
away backhands it at the stumps. Chardon has kept running down the other end then tries to return. If Henry
misses, Chardon will get home. But Henry hits and
Chardon starts to head for the pavilion - only to be
stopped by the umpires who tell him that by going past his
partner, it is Hartshorne, the senior batsman, who is out.
We're ecstatic. We're into the tail and we've got them
where we always liked to have the opposition - chasing a
score and under pressure from our bowlers and fielders.
Petersham are in disarray. Henry soon bowls Chardon
and Jurd is LBW to Gulgong. They're 9-229 and suddenly
victory for us is in the offing. But, as so often happens
when the inexperienced sense victory, we stumble.
Petersham pull themselves together, and a last wicket
partnership develops between Maloney and Stuart
Gardner. They see out the new ball and when the spinners
return, begin slogging for dear life. Time and again the
ball is belted into the outfield and falls between fielders.
The total climbs, and a sense of panic begins to grow.
There are misfields and overthrows. The crowd noise is
huge as our clubmates roar us on. With 13 to get and Mark
changing sides to bowl over the wicket, JR gives Gulgong
the word to warm up for one more effort. Gardner immediately cuts Mark past point for 4. Nine to win. Under
instructions Mark is pushing the ball through, trying to stop any scoring. He says later that as he walks back for the
last ball of the over he looks at the scoreboard - nine to win - and his knees wobble. A deep breath then he bowls a
29
more flighted ball but nothing special and nothing planned. Gardner sweeps high into the outfield towards square
leg. Waiting there are the safest hands in the comp - Chappo's. But he's looking straight into the afternoon sun, and
for a moment our hearts are in our mouths. Sun or no sun, our finest fielder won't drop this one and he catches it
above his eyes, hurling it backwards high into the air.
At first, it's sheer bedlam as Livo sprints onto the field and we realise we've won a marvellous game of cricket. As
we walk off it suddenly hits us that we've won much more than that. We've beaten the champions on their home
ground, and we've actually won a NSWCA first grade premiership. The reception at the gate is extraordinary and it
feels like every person who has ever played for the club is there, pounding us on the back and singing and chanting.
Eventually it's back to the dressing room and the champagne arrives. Suddenly you could hear a pin drop as in
walks Riley. In the most gracious manner possible he congratulates us on our achievement, and the room erupts.
Above: Greg Watson overcomes cramp to make a vital breakthrough, John Bain, far left, caught
O'Brien.
Below: The pressure takes its toll on Petersham as Greg Hartshorne watches Paddy Grattan-Smith
gather the ball during the frantic run-out that took Wales closer to victory.
30
As usual we join the Petersham boys for quite a few drinks. At one point he says: ‘If we couldn't win it I'm glad
you have. You're not a bad bunch of blokes, except for one.’ He means it, the good and the bad. We all know the one
bloke is Jimmy O'Brien, who topcored for us and returned every sledge with interest. Riles says he'll see us later for a
drink. Then the convoy heads back to the Village Green where Splinter, Jill and co have the party ready.
And what a party it was - made even better by two unexpected visits. The first is by the vice-chancellor, Prof
Rupert Myers, who is ecstatic at our success. Several hilarious speeches are made, songs sung. The second visit, near
midnight, is from Riles, Petersham captain and the comp's hard man. We'd always liked and respected Riles. He
played it really hard and loved to get under people's skins but he was always fair. His arrival ensures that he'll always
be part of the folklore of the club's first win.
The celebrations seemed to last for some weeks, highlighted by a university reception on the library steps, and
premiership dinner given by the NSW Cricket Association at which we all received our premiership caps, and finally a
superb club dinner where Chancellor Gordon Samuels and legendary Labor politician Fred Daly toasted us, and
Henry made the first of his Cold Gold awards to cap a memorable summer.
John Rogers
Celebrations continue well ino the week after the match.
Back: Andrew McMaster, Jim Robson, Greg Watson, Paddy GrattanSmith, Jill Ratcliff, Geoff Lawson. Front: JimO’Brien, John Rogers.
LENNIE AND CHAPPO
Len Pascoe is on the rampage at the VG in the 76-77 semi. We lose a wicket and Chappo comes out.
Amazingly Lennie pitches the first ball up. It's against his nature for a start and everyone knows
Chappo is one of the best front-foot drivers in Sydney. He pushes forward and with minimal followthrough creams it to the extra cover fence. Magnificent shot.
'So you like to drive, do you. Well, let's see how your teeth look on the pitch,' says Lennie. Chappo
gets through the rest of the over and we meet for a chat.
'Brutus,' says Chappo, 'I'm not sure I should've done that.'
'Well, he does seem a bit upset. I'd be looking to get on the back foot if I were you,' I said.
It was Lennie's last half-volley for the day.
Mark Ray
31
Poem by 'Aunt' Betty Chapman.
32
FIRST GRADE FINAL
1976-77
Petersham Oval
UNIVERSITY OF NSW - 1st Innings
M. WATT
M. RAY
J. ROBSON
J. ROGERS
C. CHAPMAN
G. LIVINGSTONE
G. WATSON
J. O'BRIEN
P. GRATTAN-SMITH
G LAWSON
S. CAMPBELL
Sundries
TOTAL
lbw b Hartshorne
b Chardon
c Hughes b Hartshorne
c and b Jurd
c Hughes b Jurd
b Jurd
b Chardon
b Hartshorne
run out
b Chardon
not out
BOWLING
CHARDON
HARTSHORNE
JURD
GARDNER
MALONEY
Batting Time
367 minutes
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
35
25
8
0
21
61
9
75
2
38
3
7
284
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
…………………….…..
24
61
12
52
48
9
4
0
2
21
26
16
275
3-65
3-52
3-94
0-22
0-44
PETERSHAM-MARRICKVILLE - 1st Innings
G. GOODMAN
R. PHILLIPS
B. SHARP
G. HUGHES
B. RILEY
G. HARTSHORNE
J. BAIN
D. CHARDON
D. JURD
P. MALONEY
S. GARDNER
Sundries
TOTAL
BOWLING
b Grattan-Smith
c Campbell b Watson
b Grattan-Smith
c O'Brien b Ray
b Grattan-Smith
run out
c O'Brien b Watson
b Lawson
lbw b Watson
not out
c Chapman b Ray
WATSON
LAWSPON
GRATTAN-SMITH
RAY
CAMPBELL
3-49
1-48
3-63
2-62
0-37
Batting Time
352 minutes
University of NSW won on 1st Innings by 9 runs
33
FIRST GRADE STATISTICS
1976-77
BATTING
M
INN.
N.O.
H.S.
AGG.
AVE.
50s
C/S
M. Ray
C. Chapman
J. Robson
J. O'Brien
J. Rogers
G. Watson
M. Watt
J. Martel
G. Lawson
R Pym
P. Grattan-Smith
G. Livingstone
P. Deegan
S. Campbell
16
16
16
13
16
16
16
13
16
14
15
3
3
3
21
20
21
11
18
17
21
16
9
10
11
3
2
2
1
3
4
2
3
3
2
1
3
3
4
1
1
2
81
72*
97
75
38
40
56
27
38
35*
15
61
12*
6*
608
428
369
188
287
248
330
183
71
78
68
128
18
9
30.40
25.17
21.70
20.88
19.13
17.71
17.36
12.2
11.83
11.14
9.71
64.00
18.00
-
4
2
2
1
10
12
9
24/1
12
7
2
9
5
2
6
2
5
1
BOWLING
OVERS MAIDENS
WICKETS
RUNS
AVERAGE
M. Ray
P. Grattan-Smith
G. Watson
G. Lawson
R. Pym 87.1
S. Campbell
J. Robson
G. Livingstone
237.4
251.2
179.7
141
12
18
8
1
43
44
33
26
418
4
0
0
664
720
551
510
26.13
67
45
7
15.45
16.37
16.70
19.62
46
53
46
24
16
3
1
0
1
1
16.75
-
SUMMARY
Games Played = 17, Won outright = 1, Won 1st innings = 9, Lost 1st Innings = 3, Drawn = 3
Runs for = 3245, Wickets Lost = 149, Average = 21.77
Runs Against = 3177, Wickets taken = 175, Average = 18.15
Tosses won = 4, Tosses lost = 12
RESULTS
RD.
TOSS
VEN.
1
L
Away
2
L
Home
3
L
Home
4
L
Away
5
W
Away
6
L
Home
7
L
Away
8
L
Away
9
L
Away
10
L
Home
11
L
Home
12
L
Home
13
W
Away
14
W
Home
Semi
L
Home
Final
W
Away
* - Denotes batted first
OPPONENT
Sydney
Manly
Cumberland
Waverly
N. Districts
Bankstown
Mosman
Sutherland
Petersham
Sydney Uni.
Nepean
St George
Gordon
Wests
Bankstown
Petersham
UNSW
*5/159 dec
*7/182 dec
*7/106
9/257
*137 , 4/69
4/78 dec, 7/138
190
*4/195 dec
*104 & 2/83
5/144 dec, 9/142
*203
147
9/184 dec, 5/78
*8/204 dec
*214, 1/53
*284
OPPOSITION
7/68
90
*269
143
*75, 140
*186, 3/132
162
6/105 dec
*143, 5/171
178
*186, 2/73
*183, 5/146
190
156
275
34
RES.
D
W1
D
D
L1
WO
W1
W1
L1
W1
W1
L1
W1
W1
W1
W1
PTS
0
6
6
6
6
16
22
28
28
34
40
40
46
52
58
64
WHAT IF I'D DROPPED IT …
With Petersham needing nine to win the 76-77 final, all eyes turned to Chris Chapman at deep
mid-wicket. A lofted slog was heading his way and UNSWCC were a fraction of a second - a
very long fraction - away from the first-grade flag. As most of us expected Chappo took the
chance with typical ease. But for the past 30 years two things have worried him: what if he'd
dropped it and Petersham had won, and how did such an inexperienced and unheralded team
pull off that great victory?
In the 30 years since March '77, I've lost my father-in-law to cancer at too young an age and my beloved brotherin-law who took his own life; I've had three children grow up on me with all the attendant joys and stresses; I've seen
my wife take to surf events with gusto and blaze new paths for women in the management of surf clubs; I've travelled
the world, visited all the continents and been held against my will in a remote part of Turkey. I've mixed with presidents, prime ministers, chief justices and diplomats; I've negotiated sports contracts with Mark McCormack and Dick
Pound; I've been marched by Kerry Stokes and PBL's Chris Anderson; I've had character assessments proffered in
Senate estimates hearings and been set upon by any number of unscrupulous or amoral corporate types. I've probably been momentarily clinically depressed due to work-related stress on at least two occasions, and made numerous
mistakes. But I only look back and cogitate upon one comparatively obscure incident - and ponder what if ...
What if I had dropped that catch at deep mid-wicket on the eastern side of Petersham Oval late in the day against
the setting sun, the catch that meant the Sydney first grade premiership went to the least favoured, least likely team
ever to win. Consider the team's youth, its lack of pedigree, its standings on the competition ladder in its three previous seasons, its varsity influences and, to the outside world, its shambolic, carefree administration and support team.
I have but the most general recollections about catches I'd taken prior to that time: one leaning over the fence at
Sydney University, a diving one at Manly Oval, any number taken near the tennis courts at the Village Green, a
screamer in the gully to a full-blooded John Benaud drive. I was, for reasons that still elude me, incapable of taking a
catch in slips but was competent enough in the gully. I was envious and constantly in awe of the effortlessness displayed by Mark Ray and Jim Robson in first and second slips respectively - the latter being the finest slipper I've had
the pleasure of playing with and, I believe, up there with Bob Simpson and Mark Waugh as one of the greats.
The truth is that I just caught that catch at Petersham, and dislocated my finger in the bargain. I still remember
the sweep by the leftie, Stuart Gardner, off Mark. It wasn't too high, no particular hang time, relatively flat and reasonably straight to me - but there was a setting sun. It was late. He and Peter Maloney had put on about 40 for the
last wicket and we were under pressure. I remember being frozen, my hands harder than was sensible. But it stuck,
we won and the impossible, the unthinkable, the unimaginable at season's start had become a reality.
A team only four years into the toughest grade cricket competition in the world had won, and all the lore that has
since followed was set in train. But notwithstanding my track record to that point, what if the sun, the pressure and
the moment had conspired against me so that the usual soft hands had hardened too much, the ball escaped, the
opportunity was lost and Petersham cobbled together the remaining few runs. That prospect and the 'sliding doors'
that it may have set off sicken me to this day. The shame would have been insufferable, the disappointment palpable,
the next 30 years possibly very different. All my personal and professional journeys, challenges, body blows and the
sharpest of 'slings and arrows' since would have been mere trifles compared to that prospect.
I recently shared this obsessive anxiety with John Rogers. He seemed surprised that it still stayed with me but, as
a mark of the man and the reason why I have come to regard him as the finest leader of men (whether on or off a
playing field) that I have been associated with over my subsequent 30 years, he responded matter of factly: 'We still
would have won, Chappo!'
Rightly or wrongly, understandably or pathetically, I often ponder 'what if'. For starters:
- JR's unique captaining record in finals would not have been.
- The Wales' momentum that rolled on for the next five or so years would not have been.
- Premiership boasts by a number of young men may never have been heard.
- The momentum generally that sport at UNSW experienced at that time and thereafter may never have
developed. The president of the University's Sports Association called it 'the most significant competition ever won
by any University team in (UNSW's) 24 years of existence'.
And just as I ponder what if, I wonder how come. How could a team of unknowns - with limited experience,
untested newcomers, no readily recognised hardness or socio-economic deprivation - firstly reach 284 after being 6107, and dismiss an opposition (with five Shield players) for 275 when they were cruising at 3-196?
35
- We had an opening bat who would not have been out of place in a photoshoot with WG Grace himself …
- Another opening bat, playing his first year with the club, who simply substituted heart for finesse …
- A No.3 who, notwithstanding being probably the most hand-eye co-ordinated chap I've ever had the pleasure of
observing, was the ugly duckling when it came to style, the only explanation in my mind as to why he didn't find
favour with the state selectors …
- A captain who was, truth to tell, in his early 30s and whose best run-scoring years were behind him. A fieldsman
who ran beautifully - but up and down on the spot …
- A sometime opener, sometime middle-order batsman who batted and looked like a millionaire (to quote Mo
Matthews) but was so front foot-orientated that a thinking team should have been able easily to tie him up …
- A young, long-haired, leftie from the bush who was playing his third first grade game and was just too nice and
quiet to look a serious contender …
- A gangling country boy from Gulgong who had more bowling talent than his modern all-rounder namesake and a
batting talent that was only occasionally capitalised on, and an equanimity that reflected at a young age a more tacit
success in the balance between life, stress and health …
- A wicket-keeper who had, like the captain, been around the traps a long time and looked just too smooth to provide
any real intimidation …
- An off-spinner who stuttered in his action as badly as he staggered about 8 o'clock each Saturday night, who had a
moustache that permanently manifested the after-show of a face plant into a vanilla milkshake, or worse …
- A second (only) quick, another raw-boned boy from the bush, who had performed well in his inaugural season in
first grade but hadn't demolished any batting line-up thereto …
- And a former child prodigy leg spinner who was a recent GPS graduate with all the attendant lack of mongrel that
suggested ...
Chappo falls to the ground after taking that catch in the 76-77 final.
The betting shops would not have been quivering on any live bets on the funny-capped Bumblebees on the eve of
that final. Over and above that less than flattering assessment, the raw statistics did not reveal any deeper insights:
- An average age of 24 years
- Seven players, 23 or under
- Five country boys
- Three first-season players
- One former Shield player
- A lop-sided bowling attack of two quicks and three spinners.
Petersham had one current Shield player and four who would reach that rank, including one who made an Ashes
tour and another who is the only person in the modern era (post WWII) to play cricket and rugby league for his state,
a genuine quick and a tough-nut captain. Petersham were a hard, streetwise lot. They were the minor premiers, seasoned performers over many years, playing on their home ground on a track with pace in contrast to the slow-paced
Village Green where shot-making was more difficult and runs across the buffalo outfield were at a premium.
However, synchronicity is a beautiful word and all of the 'varsity's above-mentioned character traits, circumstances and other related factors delivered a magical, surreal, tension-charged, high-comedy outcome that played out
this way:
- The WG look-alike opening bat was adroit, his appearances belying the rapier that was his bat. He could pluck balls
off his hip with ease, never flinched, slippered with a minimum of fuss and with a low mistake rate, and bowled leftarm orthodox with remarkable consistency interrupted only by the loveliest of arm balls …
- The other opening bat was built like granite and fielded at silly mid-on as a badge of courage, and could glare with
the best of them …
36
- While the final was not the No.3's strongest performance, he was as sharp a cricket brain, close-in fieldsman and
general cricket commentator as you will ever find, an irreplaceable character among the mix …
- The captain was without peer in the ability to lead, to inspire and to conjure; his orchestration and the confidence
he exuded were the defining differences, the touchstones upon which that synchronicity played out …
- The middle-order batsman got a few runs (although typically not enough), fielded with energy and contributed his
part to the pressure that the team's fielding and general irrepressibility built up … and, more out of rote than perfect
execution, held that catch …
- The young, carefree, long-haired leftie from the bush batted with a sense of freedom that only youth unaffected by
disappointment can fashion, with a purity of technique that was his DNA and a maturity that was then inconceivable.
He displayed that same vitality in the field, adding to the ever-tightening pressure ...
- The lad from Gulgong turned the match just before and after tea on the second day with a nonchalant tenacity and
'second wind' that city folk seldom muster …
- The wicket-keeper played the innings of his career, top-scoring in the match, and displaying a general coolness with
bat and gloves that reflected pressure back onto the front-runners; a dynamic that, as it transpired, they were illequipped to deal with. His 'between the pads' catch of game-maker, Graeme Hughes, is a slice of luck perhaps unparalleled in the history of the contest. The wicket-keeper was unbowed when the contest was at its fiercest …
- The off-spinner bowled superbly, turning his body inside out and cursing and wailing in a way that generates
momentum and pandemonium as their captain was bowled and the front-runners' fragility was exposed …
- The future Test bowler played a majestic hand revealing an all-round talent with bat, ball and fielding that we later
saw in the Test arena. The straight drives for six off Jurd were textbook shots. Again, the freedom and audacity of
youth, our X factor …
- The GPS leggie played his role in the asymmetrical attack, took a vital catch to dismiss Ray Phillips, their top-scorer, and was integrally involved in the crucial Hartshorne run-out …
- The 12 was rounded out by yet another team psycho, the firebrand Dick Pym, whose piercing blue eyes, Labor Party
leanings, general ravings and serendipitous fast bowling had played an important role in the team's history. Dick was
fielding at the death and his own unique touch of mongrel added to that iron-fist focus, steely determination and
sheer, unadulterated belief in the outcomes that follow from sustained pressure. His eternal optimism typified that
team ...
Synchronicity, the alignment of the planets, pure luck, arse … or all of the above? The feat was repeated again several years later under WG's leadership, with many of the same players. The youngsters had matured by then and
were more orthodox but the will to win had not been tempered. I often wonder where that will comes from; whether
you have it innately, whether you develop it or you absorb it. I think we were led to it by JR, for whose friendship,
collegiality and mentorship and the unrepeatable camaraderie of that unheralded group, I remain eternally grateful.
‘Well caught, pal.’ JR and Chappo soon after the end of the final.
37
Strength
and
Depth
Second Grade 1977-78
The second grade season had a constantly changing cast of characters and a dramatic final
scene, but it all worked out in the end. This is captain Terry Buddin’s original season report.
The team’s for-and-against record does not seem on its face to be particularly impressive. But as so often is the
case, the bare figures tell but part of the story.
First, by the end of November and round six we were languishing near the bottom of the table, having already
been beaten four times, including two disastrous outrights. From then on we won every encounter, three of them
convincing outrights, with the exception of a loss to Sutherland. Second, we played no draws at all, and that was
indicative of the attacking manner in which we played. It was also in stark contrast to last year’s performance in
which five out of our 14 games ended in draws, thus denying us a place in the semi-finals. Third, we were seldom able
to field our strongest side and on those occasions when we did we were rarely in trouble. The team was depleted by
the gaps left in the first grade side by players on Sheffield Shield duty, as well as the customary injuries and unavailability. In fact, only three players participated in every match, only six played two-thirds of the matches, and we used
22 players over the season.
Now is the time to indicate the indebtedness owed by all of the team to the three who did play every game. Their
performances speak for themselves. Neville Jannson topped the batting aggregate with 475 runs; Roger March was
easily the highest wicket-taker with 47 while Paul Deegan batted consistently and kept wickets admirably. Finally, a
quick look at the averages will reveal that our real struggle lay in the bowling. The four bowlers at the top of the averages were almost totally responsible for our success in that department. And yet they played together in only three
games, one of those being the final.
So to that final. In fading autumnal light at the Village Green 6.10pm on March 27, UNSWCC won the premiership by beating Sydney University outright, thus avenging an earlier heavy loss inflicted by our sister university. This
was the first time both Unis had met in a grade final. The semi-finals were washed out in every grade so the minor
premiers and runners-up met in all finals. There’d been heavy rain in the preceding 10 days and play in our match
was delayed until 1.30 on the first day. We won an important toss and Dick Pym and Greig Robinson each took an
early wicket. But the pitch was slow for the pace bowlers. The introduction of Roger March’s off-spin produced
immediate results - wickets with his first two deliveries. Wickets fell regularly and Sydney Uni were eventually dismissed for 65 off 31.5 overs. Robbo’s figures were 9-3-16-3 while Roger bowled impressively to finish with 10.5-4-176. We had 90 minutes to bat on the first evening and were 2-36 when bad light stopped play. Ian Smith was a valuable 20 not out.
There was another 90-minute delay on the Easter Monday morning because of overnight rain. Ian and Roger, the
nightwatchman, stayed together until the scores were level. Ian was then out for 38, a gritty, determined innings that
occupied 136 minutes and included the only two boundaries of the innings. Roger made 20 and added 40 with Ian.
We slumped from 2-65 to all out 105, the only resistance coming from Geoff Kirkwood who made six in 71 minutes.
38
Back: Geoff Kirkwood, Bruce Handley, Greig Robinson, Terry Buddin (c), Ian Smith, Roger
March. Front: Peter Tout, Paul Deegan, Neville Jansson, Dick Campbell, Dick Pym.
Sydney Uni sensed a chance and their batsmen went on the attack. They declared at 6-93. Dick took 3-34, Roger
two wickets and Robbo one. This left us about 18 overs to survive. Ian Smith again saw us through the crucial stages
after we had been 2-6. Later Peter Tout took control to finish with 30 not out. Our batsmen turned down two offers
of bad light from the umpires, and amid high tension and in almost total darkness Bruce Handley hit the winning
runs from the third-last ball of the final over. After the earlier loss to Sydney Uni we were determined to win the final
outright. To have taken a light appeal would have been a tame end to the match and the season.
I would like to extend my thanks to a number of people. First, to John Rogers whose influence on the direction the
club has taken in the last three years has been obvious for all to see. His organisation of the country week hopefully
will start a new trend. That trip, together with the tour to New Zealand, developed and tightened techniques, both on
and off the field, and resulted in the discovery of hitherto unrealised linguistic talents in some of the tourists. The
emergence of characters such as ‘Egg’n’ Pym, ‘Larry S’ March, ‘Steve Splinter’ McMaster is testimony to that.
To Cayton Jones, for his continual support and repeated selection insights. To Jill Ratcliffe and the rest of the
committee for their unfailing efforts. To the Handley ladies, Mrs Pratt and Mrs Tout for satisfying our nutritional
wants by serving gastronomic delights at afternoon tea. To Vic, the assistant groundsman who enabled us to play at
all in the final. Lastly and perhaps most importantly to the 10 other players who contributed to the premiership victory and to all players and supporters who have made my three-year association with the club so enjoyable.
TERRY AND TOUTY TROUNCE THE TOFFS
In the 77-78 second grade final against Sydney Uni we had won on the first innings but faced the
temptation of scoring 55 in about 18 overs to win outright. However, by late in the day the light was
fading. Even the umpires in their coats and canes were hard to see.
We had lost 2-6 and, although Smith, Tout and Handley did stabilise things, Terry had already
hinted to a very willing Touty to refuse bad light offers. Terry even told his batsmen to insist on a
drinks break to use up time and keep Sydney Uni out there. Robbo spat the dummy at the skipper
and threw a tantrum about the foolishness of continuing the match and risking even the slightest
chance of losing. ‘How many times do we have to win this f------ thing?’ Robbo yelled.
The club's undisputed outburst expert, ‘Egg'n’ Pym, judged this a virtuoso performance. Terry
explained why he wanted to annihilate the ‘other place’, with whom had dealings earlier in life, as
well as some unfinished business from earlier in the season: "It was personal!"
Greig Robinson
39
The Team
by Greig Robinson & Roger March
Terry Buddin –Terry brought utter determination, passion, humour – and a bucket of water –
to his role as skipper. Always treated the opposition with disdain. Erudite and verbally skilled, he
loved a sledge and usually won as the sledgee rarely fully understood what he meant. Loved the
lofted drive over cover and fulfilled his No.1 goal in life when he ensured Sydney Uni were humiliated in the final. Set the philosophy: ‘No draws. We play to win even if this means we lose occasionally.’ Little wonder we won every match after Christmas to grab the minor premiership.
Ian Smith - the anchor at the top of the order who, especially in the final, gave us someone to
build a score around. The quiet and steady influence in a team of eccentrics. Although Smithy had
the disturbing Ian Chappell trait when batting of holding up the game while he dropped his strides
to readjust his ‘gear’ and flash his trademark leopard jocks.
Richard Campbell – another quiet one who was always thirsty. Opening batsman and excellent
team man. The choir boy smile belied the dry sarcasm about the opposition that kept pressure
mounting. A good mover in the field despite not being behind the stumps in seconds.
Bruce Handley – a coaching manual right-hand bat, excellent fielder (except for the glass arm
flick throw) and medium pacer. Often seemed the most stable and responsible team member but
intimidated the opposition by fielding at very silly short leg. Scored a memorable 137 v NDs, a
record score, and was involved in two record partnerships. Hit the winning runs in the final.
Peter Tout – outrageously elegant batsman, good field and sometime medium pacer – was it the
genes or the schooling? Played eight games for an average of 43.5. Definitely a sports car man and
one of the few with the élan and lineage to challenge Chappo on the dinner party circuit. In the
final ensured the second innings decimation of the ‘other place’ was done with style and panache.
Neville Jansson - batsman and his brother’s keeper. The only man not to win the Barr-Turn
because he wanted it too much and tried too hard – a salutary lesson. He announced with a slightly glazed wide-eyed expression late in the season that ‘we have to win because for anyone else to
win they have to beat us but that won’t happen because we are the best team’. And he was right!
Set a record for aggregate with 475 runs for the season. Involved in two record partnerships.
Geoff Kirkwood – Kirkie or Kirktree – a one-off. Right-arm top spin and wrong-un bowler, a
talented bat with a baseball pitcher’s arm. Loved: most people and animals; bowling his ‘bouncer’
because he claimed it made him the quickest bowler in seconds; defying Chris MacRae’s bouncer
attack on him in the final; enjoying mind-changing substances in liquid or fibrous form; wearing
his board shorts and carrying his airways bag ‘kit’; bowling to Poms (took 5 for against touring
Test side for Australian Unis); playing the piano; and his mum. He hated: singles off his bowling;
washing his gear; showering; haircuts; JR attacking his lifestyle; his neighbours complaining
about the noise when his girlfriend visited; the Uni wanting him to do an arts subject to finish off
his double major science degree (absent failed every arts subject - did he ever graduate?).
Tragically, Kirky died in a traffic accident in 2002. One of the club’s greatest characters.
Roger March – Groucho. Offie, fruit lover and mover on a dance floor. Perhaps unfairly in club
folklore Groucho will always be linked with loving a celebration and a watermelon. He was also
clearly the best (slow) bowler in the second grade comp, a very handy bat and top gully fielder.
Took 47 wickets in the year. Dominated in the final with 6-17 off 10 in the first innings and dug in
for a very gutsy 20 on a still damp track. Delighted all again at the celebration when he re-enacted
this effort on even wetter and more treacherous terrain.
Paul Deegan – Tacho. Wicketkeeper and energy source. Loved: a sledge; to win, drink and gloat;
his bat (‘the beast’); afternoon teas at Drummoyne and Petersham; his bike and a late night with
Donny Sutherland. Proudly proclaimed in a pavilion discussion that he always threw it away on
scoring 100 – then admitted he’d only ever scored one. Hated defensive batting and Kirky’s
bouncer which always slid down the leg side and rebounded off his chest to the chorus of ‘Sorry
Tacko’. Set a record for dismissals - 27 catches, one stumping.
Dick Pym – Egg’n or Thumper. Opening bowler who always maintained left-handers were cheats
and left-arm orthodox bowlers ‘the lowest form of life’. Once suspected of rubbing Dencorub on
his rapidly balding pate to fire himself up (older teammates knew that was unnecessary). Loved:
outies and short-pitched bowling. Bowled one bouncer that half-volleyed into the fence over
Tacho’s head because the batsman, an ex-teammate in a previous life, had once tried to white ant
him with his then girlfriend (and still wife). Believed if a batsman needed unsettling a 15-yard
no-ball only cost one sundry.
40
Greig Robinson – One of the great clubmen of UNSW cricket, Robbo announced his arrival in
second grade with a hat-trick against Waverley. Finished the season with brilliant bowling stats of
24 wickets at 12.1, a record which stands to this day. The yin to Dick Pym’s yang, Robbo was a
clever bowler whose subtlety of swing and cut was too much for many an aspiring young batsman.
Claimed to be a stylish bat but was told by Terry: ‘You bat 11 because everyone else bats better
than you so your job is to stay there while they score more runs.’
Mick Watt – Fiery was a determined opening bat who almost gleefully bore the brunt of many a
deranged fast bowler’s short-pitched bowling. Was the ‘steel’ at the top of the order. Enigmatic,
phlegmatic but in an understated way had the fire in the gut to go with the hair colour. Did take a
wicket. A hard man.
Jock Martel - exciting opening batsmen (No 3’s often called it nerve-wracking) Jocko believed in
the West Indian philosophy that there is a lot of room above the fieldsmen. One of the true stalwarts of the club on and off the field in the early grade years (along with his wife Denise). Would
definitely make the final in any cricketing theories competition. Averaged a record 44.1 before
being promoted.
David Pratt – powerful right-hand bat. Pratty in one word: intensity. Was a selection in the first
XI of the great club psychos. The Errol Flynn in Pratty meant his life was complex in a way that
few of the other free (and single) spirits in the team could understand and meant he had many
pressures to keep him on the edge. An outstanding fielder.
Nigel Perger - Big Nige had the build of Adonis, the looks of a film star and bowled quick. A
more than useful bat and good fielder. He showed the talent he had when he took a 5 for in first
grade. Enthusiastic performer on the social side of things.
Steve van der Sluys – huge in-dipper bowler who’d had some excellent seasons in first grade.
Steve played early in the season taking 14 wickets.
Also played during the season: Peter Burnett, Asoka Wijeratne, Paul Emery, John Sands,
Graham McBarron, Peter Jourdain.
THE INVISIBLE NO.4
Dave Pratt was very intense about his cricket. He was not having a good trot with the bat in the seconds heading for the 77-78 finals and had some relationship complications to further heighten his
intensity.
A rough umpiring decision caused Pratty to give the umpire a huge spray. After this, Terry told him
to keep out of sight in the changerooms.
Terry ran into the umps late in the tea break when they asked him for details about our No. 4 batsman. With unblinking eye contact, Terry answered: ‘We don't have one.’
The umpires were dumbfounded and repeated the question. Again Terry confidently replied: ‘No, we
didn't bat anyone at No.4 today - we went straight from No.3 to 5.’
By now the umpires were totally confused and tea had finished.
At the end of the day Terry approached the umpires and said he'd been wrong and had learnt that we
had had a No.4 after all. He gave them the spiel about Pratty's cricket and life problems; then gave
the secret signal and a contrite Pratty was wheeled out to apologise.
End result: umpires still struggling, apology accepted, Pratty not reported.
Greig Robinson
41
Fun In The Dark
Peter Tout ended his first season with UNSWCC by batting in the gloom at the Village Green in a final - and he
loved every minute of it.
The second-grade premiership was very important to the club in many ways, not least because it demonstrated to
the wider cricket community, the university and the players at the club that the previous year's first-grade premiership was no fluke. Here was a cricket club that had arrived, that had depth, that knew how to win at all levels. And
this of course was fully demonstrated in the club championship that was to follow.
The final against our Sydney University rivals was played against the backdrop of UNSW itself emerging as an
academic power in its own right, a threat to Sydney Uni's century of dominance.
My part in the twos' victory was limited during the season but perhaps significant in the final. I had come across
from Northern Districts straight into first grade after enjoying success against UNSWCC the previous season and
then touring with many of the Uni guys on the 1977 Old Collegians tour to England. Coming from a batsman's wicket
at Waitara to the Village Green had been a very difficult transition for me. The ball did not come on, it turned, it kept
low and strokeplay was much more difficult. So I found myself playing a few second grade games, just enough to
qualify to play for the twos in the famous final against the Sydney Uni boys.
The relationship between the two sides made for a fascinating study. Two teams of mad young uni students - one
from the establishment full of GPS boys and one from Kenso with a mixed bunch of country guys, academics and a
few eccentrics. But our side was a totally committed group of talented cricketers who knew how to play on that wicket
and vast outfield. The bowlers - led by Greig Robbo, Dick Pym, Kirkie and Roger March - were outstanding.
The two Uni teams got on really well and enjoyed a drink together. Led by Paul Deegan, we enjoyed a fair bit of
good-natured sledging of Chris MacRae, Jim Rodgers, Steve Glenday and other Sydney Uni boys. But overlaying this
was a genuine conflict between the two captains, and this is what really made the relationship interesting.
Terry Buddin had in an earlier life developed a problem with Damon Ridley, the Sydney Uni captain. I don't think
many of us really knew why, but we were delighted to watch it and feed off it, and it clearly served to fire us up in the
final. Those who appear before Mr Justice Buddin in the NSW Supreme Court these days would be mightily surprised
at the Terry Buddin of the 1970s - exotic, brilliant, enigmatic, an extraordinary human being and captain, someone
you definitely wanted on your side during the game and in the following celebrations. Looking back, there was no
way Terry wasn't going to win this final against his arch rival and he went about demonstrating without compromise
what this emerging UNSW Cricket Club was all about.
42
The Wales method at the Village Green was to win the toss, bat first and grind, scratch and fight your way to a
reasonable first innings score then turn the screws in the field with a combination of tight line and length backed up
by great fielding and team spirit. This was our way and it worked. On countless occasions visiting teams faced with
chasing 180 or thereabouts would confidently begin the chase only to have the life squeezed out of them. What the
visitors didn't know was that 180 at the VG was 250 at Waitara. Many were lucky to get to 130, and of course Roger
March's quality off spin was pivotal. In any other era he would have been a regular first grader but the presence of
Mark and Paddy and Steve in our firsts made that impossible.
As the scores show, the final didn't play out in this way. You might remember that it once rained a lot in Sydney,
bucket loads of it on a regular basis, continually adding to a batsman's difficulties in a way modern players don't
appreciate. The semis and final were badly affected by rain leading to a desperately low-scoring and abbreviated
final. The fact that we led on the first innings and declared was important and, as minor premiers, a draw would have
been enough to secure us the premiership. So late, very late, on the final evening we were chasing down a modest target to secure outright victory when the light became so bad as to be ridiculous. I was batting with Bruce Handley, and
a large group of supporters from both sides were noisily drinking and cheering from the sidelines, barely able to
make out the action through the gloom.
The umpires offered us the light on several occasions. I remember Terry recounting later how Chappo's dad, John,
said to him: ‘They've offered you the premiership. You must come off.’ I didn't hear any of this of course, being out in
the middle. Apparently Robbo was very emotional as were a few others when I refused the light each time the
umpires offered it. I wasn't acting on Terry's instructions. I didn't need to ask him what to do and he knew he didn't
need to tell me - we both were on the same wavelength. Besides, I was enjoying myself too much. This might sound
strange but I'd always loved batting in bad light and this was a wonderful opportunity to do so in a match I'd never
forget.
Bruce and I knew what we really wanted, and what Terry so desperately wanted - nothing less than outright
victory. Total, complete and unambiguous, with no asterix on the scoresheet saying ‘rain-affected draw’ or ‘bad light
stopped play’ or ‘Sydney Uni beat us in the early rounds and they might have won if rain and bad light hadn't intervened’. No, it was a simple decision and one Bruce and I never doubted, and one I know Terry fully understood and
supported. I can still see it in his eyes and in his grin as we came off. We had batted in almost complete darkness to
secure the outright victory. To the Sydney Uni players' credit I have no recollection of them being upset, even if some
of their supporters were. And the after-match celebrations, involving both teams, showcased some of the extraordinary characters in our side.
43
SECOND GRADE FINAL
1977-78
Village Green
UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY- 1st Innings
J. O'SULLIVAN
S. WARD
G. KEIGHRAN
M. LELIEVRE
P. BAIRD
D. RIDLEY
M. WILSON
P. BEALE
C. McRAE
S. GLENDAY
J. RODGERS
Sundries
TOTAL
b Robinson
c Deegan b March
c March b Pym
c Robinson b March
b March
c Deegan b Robinson
c Smith b Robinson
c Buddin b March
not out
c Jansson b March
c Handley b March
BOWLING
PYM
ROBINSON
MARCH
KIRKWOOD
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
8
17
0
17
0
4
0
5
12
2
0
0
65
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
38
5
3
20
6
0
6
6
8
0
2
11
105
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
5
25
4
4
7
3
39
6
6-93 dec.
1-17
3-16
6-17
0-15
UNIVERSITY OF NSW - 1st Innings
I. SMITH
c Wilson b McRae
R. CAMPBELL c O'Sullivan b Keighran
N. JANSSON
c Ward b McRae
R. MARCH
c Ridley b McRae
P. TOUT c Keighran b Beale
B. HANDLEY
c Rodgers b McRae
G. KIRKWOOD c Ward b McRae
T. BUDDIN
c Lelievre b McRae
P. DEEGAN
b McRae
R. PYM c Beale b McRae
G. ROBINSON not out
Sundries
TOTAL
BOWLING
BEALE
GLENDAY
KEIGHRAN
McRAE
RODGERS
1-23
0-23
1-18
8-24
0-6
UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY - 2nd Innings
J. O'SULLIVAN
S. WARD
M. LELIEVRE
P. BAIRD
D. RIDLEY
M. WILSON
P. BEALE
Sundries
TOTAL
b Pym
b Pym
b March
lbw b Pym
c Jansson b Robinson
not out
c Pym b March
BOWLING
PYM
ROBINSON
MARCH
3-34
1-28
2-25
44
UNIVERSITY OF NSW - 2nd Innings
I. SMITH
R. CAMPBELL
N. JANSSON
P. TOUT
P. DEEGAN
B. HANDLEY
Sundries
TOTAL
c Lelievre b Rodgers
c Lelievre b McRae
c Lelievre b Rodgers
not out
c Ridley b Rodgers
not out
BOWLING
BEALE
GLENDAY
KEIGHRAN
McRAE
RODGERS
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
………………….….……
4
1
5
30
2
12
0
4-54
0-1
0-5
0-4
1-7
3-37
University of NSW won outright by 6 wickets
SECOND GRADE STATISTICS
1977-78
BATTING
J. Martel
P. Tout
B. Handley
N. Jansson
T. Buddin
I. Smith
P. Deegan
G. Kirkwood
D. Pratt
M. Watt
R. March
P. Burnett
A. Wijeratne
R. Pym
S. Van der Sluys
N. Perger
G. McBarron
P. Jourdain
P. Emery
G. Robinson
J. Sands
R. Campbell
M
7
7
12
15
14
9
15
11
8
9
15
6
5
8
7
2
1
2
1
8
1
2
INN.
11
8
13
17
13
11
16
10
10
10
13
6
5
7
2
2
1
2
1
4
1
3
N.O.
3
2
3
2
1
1
4
0
0
1
1
BOWLING
G. Robinson
G. Kirkwood
R. March
R. Pym 106
N. Perger
S. Van der Sluys
B. Handley
P. Tout
M. Watt
D. Pratt
P. Emery
A. Wijeratne
J. Sands
OVERS
111
117.5
238.4
14
70.6
108.4
M
21
29
47
463
12
14
WICKETS
291
24
294
20
702
47
28
16.5
255
9
412
14
137
5
3
33
1
22
1
25
48
1
15
0
0
-
99
22
25
31
AGG.
353
261
323
475 (R)
344
232
230
139
132
118
154
54
52
29
10
31
0
33
2
10
6
38
AVE.
44.1 (R)
43.5
32.3
31.7
28.7
23.2
19.1
13.9
13.2
13.1
12.8
BEST
77*
78
137* (R)
92
109
43
31
69
58
31
37
C/S
7
10
6
9
27/1 (R)
6
4
5
9
4
RUNS
12.1 (R)
14.7
14.9
6/62
28.3
29.4
27.4
AVE.
5/27
5/13
7/55
3/43
5/53
48
-
SUMMARY
Games played = 15
Won 1st Innings = 7, Won Outright = 3,
Lost 1st Innings = 3, Lost Outright = 2
Runs scored for = 3218, Wickets lost = 144, Average = 22.3
Runs scored against = 3014, Wickets taken = 163, Average = 18.5
45
46
47
On Top
Of The
Pile
Club Championship
1978-79
The erudite Dubliner, Clayton Jones, was the chairman of selectors for 78-79, the season we
won the club championship. Here he shares a few thoughts on that momentous summer.
An aged man is but a paltry thing,
A tattered cloak upon a stick …
- WB Yeats, Sailing to Byzantium
Anniversaries, especially those held, say, 30 years after the event are wonderful occasions because we have the
opportunity to rewrite the facts, the history, to embellish and diminish. Indeed the longstanding motto of The
Saturday Sledge was: ‘If you didn't say it, you should have.’ We tattered cloaks leaning on our aged willow sticks will
regale ourselves with real and invented memories. This grundling old stick will join in joy and reinvention.
And indeed there will be time
To wonder, "Do I dare?" and, "Do I dare?"
Time to turn back ...
… Do I dare
To disturb the universe?
- TS Eliot, The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock
John Rogers taught the club to stand tall and to dare. Indeed he and the now-legends had the temerity to knock
off Petersham in sunny March days of 1977 in the first grade final, notwithstanding the salty eloquence of Brian
Riley. JR taught a university cricket club there was a point to serious cricket and applied psychology on Saturdays,
notwithstanding the 100% fun rule and perpetually brittle batting of hungover freshmen (a contradiction in terms).
By 1978-79, JR's mantle had been taken up by many more. The young first-graders such as Henry, Gulgong, Livo,
Jungle, Chappo and Paddy were developing fine reputations as cricketers while Mark Ray was seriously underestimated, perhaps because of his self-effacing nature. Indeed, many in the club underestimated his leadership capacity
until season 1980-1981 but that story comes at another time. This self-confident team affected the rest of us - the
grundlers and nurdlers, the military mediums, the non-turning offies. We learned how to win.
Terry Buddin and John Ingleson were fine leaders; Terry's charismatic leadership brought a second-grade premiership in 1977-78. Indeed, when I followed Terry as second-grade captain, some in the team were lacking belief in
their ability to compete without his commanding presence and vast vocabulary. It took much cajoling and driving to
get the team moving, but move it did - right up the table. By February, Dave Meagher was showing his vibrant batting talent (including driving and pulling before Easter, unheard of in his captain's curmudgeonly Boycottian view of
giving a wicket away), so I dropped myself and thus Jock Martel (how many opening batsmen do you know who have
been caught on the deep extra-cover boundary in the first over at the Village Green?) took over for the last couple of
rounds and the finals. Ingleson's thirds (including yours truly) manoeuvred through a bad light appeal to get ‘done
over’ against Bankstown at Punchbowl in a rain-truncated final, 5 for 20-odd.
48
Leaders and leadership throughout the club brought fine and unexpected (for many) success. To get a sense of it,
look at the careers that so many of that time have developed in the 30 years since. Consider also the amazing fun at
the club. The previous season, many from all grades spent a couple of weeks in January on a New Zealand tour - yes
the one where Jim O'Brien woke up with Ralph Merrell's recently acquired parking meter in his bed. In the championship season, a country tour to the Riverina, the Maitland bashathon and a rain-affected inter-varsity tournament
added to the joy and yarns of the season.
Each grade had its psychos and eccentrics. The team lists show talented cricketers who brought great colour - Dick
Pym, the late and lamented Kirkie (Geoff Kirkwood), Jock, Neville Jansson, David Pratt, Blowfly Barford, Jungle
Robson and more were regulars in the Psycho XI discussions.
The 78-79 fourth grade team.
When you see that Dave Meagher made second grade only in the second half of the season, that Asoka Wijeratne a force in the '81 premiership, Peter Burnett, 'Robbo' Robinson, 'Cliff' Hanger and 'Orca' Clarke all played at least
part of the season in third grade, it is easy to understand that there was lot of ability which came together well
throughout the grades.
Young country lads, city GPS boys (not Goulburn Public School, Jungle), old stalwarts and other blows-in melded
into a strong culture that went well beyond cricket. (One or two of the first group were taught how to tie a tie by older
stagers.) There were the hard-working clubmen - John Ingleson, JR, Blowfly, Ian Kellaway, Tony McKendry,
'Cardinal' Epstein to name a few - whose mantle was passed right through to today's leaders.
Most of us from that season and those just before and after owe the club much for friendships and the 'warm
fuzzies' we all feel for the Bumblebee cap and the club. It was much more than cricket; it was a fine chapter in many
happy lives. It fulfilled the dream of a fine emerging club and its finest leaders. Take a bow - from JR through Prof
Ingleson, Justice Buddin, Henry, ‘Jacky’ Jourdain and more.
Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
- WB Yeats, Aedh Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven.
Yeats might have been writing for JR in that championship year.
49
SOME CLUB
CHAMPIONS
By Andrew McMaster & John Rogers
Tony Epstein - teams secretary and lower grade captain in the early 70s, Tony was stunned to be
parachuted into the presidency in 76. An architect and a gentle guy, he did a superb job. He
described his fourths team in that club championship year as the best he had played with. A solid
performer in every sense of the word - he was never a lover of the short single, and the next allrun four will be his first. He and Ralph Merrell were a formidable opening pair - Tony opened the
batting and Ralph opened the umpiring. Tony had a very safe pair of hands - never dropped a
catch and never dropped a glass.
Ralph Merrell - multi-personality Merrell played a huge role in the club. A jokester, life bubbled
wherever he went - until it was down to business. As self-proclaimed stock bowler in 5As or 5Bs,
his offies were serious business, and there were few better sights than ballerina Ralph kicking his
heels and shouting with joy at another wicket. A very thorough club treasurer, he was full of sound
advice, and inside that jelly, he had a backbone of steel when the club's interests were at stake.
Spider Mullins writing on the 5Bs in the 76-77 yearbook: ‘The spearhead of our attack was Ralph
‘Cuddles’ Merrell, top wicket-taker (32 @ 15.2) and notable personality both on and off the field.
He was always on hand to offer assistance, would never apologise when it was wrong, and would
always remind me when it was right. Ralph is a competitor in the true sense of the word.’
Peter James - Jamesy was the one constant captain throughout these five years - 5As every year
bar 77-78 when he swapped with Tony Epstein and captained the 4s.
In his late 30s at the time and married with a couple of kids, Peter was was a great mentor for
young guys coming through. He had a happy, positive demeanour that rubbed off on all his players. A solid left-handed middle-order batsman, he was not a lover of the short single except on one
special day at Mascot Oval when he dropped the ball at his feet and called a single - to run out
Tony Epstein by 15 metres.
Geoff Garland - the club's No.1 cap holder, and chief lobbyist for our promotion to grade, G
Squared has been omnipresent. Club secretary in the early 60s, and, after a stint at grade with that
other university, was UNSWCC's long-term Mr Fix-it at the NSWCA and inaugural club captain in
73-74. Went on to captain thirds and fourths. A fine left-arm spinner and, later, a non-bowling,
left-hand opening bat. Never short of an opinion, he eventually became an umpire. Geoff's determination to stick up for the club and its players has symbolised its egalitarian spirit.
Jill Ratcliffe - appeared as if from nowhere to become a ground-breaking figure in Sydney grade
cricket administration. Jill was the first woman to attend a meeting of the NSWCA as a club delegate, and was a fantastic supporter and worker for UNSWCC. The parties at International House
will long be remembered. Jill was also crucial to the success of the Uni Baseball Club and was
often last at the bar with Kirktree or Tacko.
Ian Kellaway - without doubt, Kell was one of the hardest-working, most committed clubmen
UNSWCC has seen. His work rate as assistant secretary for many years was outstanding and
ensured we were seen as one of the best administered clubs.
John MacFarlane - of all the jobs at a grade club, teams secretary is undoubtedly the most difficult and time consuming, particularly presiding over the various egos that participate in selection
meetings. His work around the club was so immense and his endeavour to raise finance so strong
that Gulgong labelled him 'Chook Raffle Macca'. Johnny Mac was constantly available and a tower
of strength in many ways for many years.
Mark ‘Random’ Sample - it's unlikely that there has been or will be a more frugal and thorough person in the treasurer's role throughout the life of the UNSWCC. Random elevated the concepts of accountability and corporate governance to unparalleled heights and ensured the financial
fruits of a golden era were protected. While a useful medium-pacer and lower-order slogger, he
will best be remembered for his ability to collect annual subscriptions and his care with the club's
money. He was a very talented golfer who regularly took out the Stableford award at the Uni golf
day.
John Barford - Central casting would have struggled to come up with as eccentric a character
for a cricket club as the Blowfly, the bouncing, electric-haired lower-grade keeper-batsman, whose
bubbling personality, good humour and left-field wit ensured no club member ever took himself
50
too seriously. While his keeping was unconventional, in the first three years of this five-year span
he broke fourth and fifth grade keeping records, topping this off in our club championship year by
winning the club's fielding trophy for his efforts in the fourths. As a batsman, his hair might have
matched Andrew Symonds's, but not his style, yet he had the distinction of being runner-up in
that same year in the fourth grade averages. JB put in when it counted, as shown by his three-year
stint as club secretary in the early 70s. But JB’s enduring legacy will always be that there was
never a dull moment when he was about.
Jack Skiller - was for years known as ‘JR's uncle’ before we actually got to know his name. A
truly remarkable man, he was a renowned figure in cricket for the depth and quality of his statistics, and also for his unsurpassed collection and knowledge of birdlife. A man of impeccable manners and a mild, unassuming charm, he was a regular at the VG and the first port of call when
researching the figures of any player from any club. Much of his work is admired in the archives at
Cricket NSW. A favourite of every cricketer who got to know him.
Peter Jourdain - ‘Jacky’ was part of the Southern Riverina mafia that invaded the club in the
mid to late 70s. A seriously good middle-order batsman, who honed his financial skills during a
period as club treasurer before continuing this in his career as the ‘fix-it’ man for various accounting firms and international media barons. Nicknamed ‘Jacky’ after a Pot Black personality, many
of his wayward Uni days were spent in snooker halls all over Sydney.
Dave ‘Death-Warmed-Up’ Meagher - a very apt nickname due to Dave's inability to appear
healthy after long festivities following a day's play. A prolific scorer of centuries in first grade,
Dave was a very popular clubman, particularly when accompanied by his sister. The inaugural
winner of the ‘Fastest Man in Grade Cricket’ sprint at the SCG, much to the delight of his financial
backers. Once sprinted along the tables in the main auditorium of Goulburn Workers Club.
Glen Clarke - the supreme net bowler, he shot to fame on the club's celebrated tour of New
Zealand in the late 70s when he acquired the nickname of ‘Orca’ (something about late nights and
swimming pools). For a decade was considered the best net bowler in the world - which nearly led
to a county contract with Kent.
John Ingleson - a long-term club figure who remains involved with UNSW at the highest levels
of administration. John was president for a long period, almost as long as his bowling spells. An
expert in Indonesian affairs and politics, these skills were often required during his tenure as club
leader. The only captain the club has had to leave the ball in the freezer on a Friday night to
ensure its hardness the following day.
Bob Patterson - universally known as ‘Snake’. Bob was a cult figure around the club due to his
undying commitment to cricket and, in particular, leg-spin bowling, particularly his own. Also
known for his performances on country tours, where he once took three catches at Inverell without moving.
Al Goodwin - a scorer for first grade, ‘'Large Al’ had a system of scoring that could best be
described as alternative but at least it ensured he got to call the card at the end of the day's play
(nobody else could understand it!). Al had the misfortune to live for a while in Coogee Bay Road
near the infamous regular watering hole, the Randwick Royal. As a result he and his apartment
block were often aware of nearby club stalwarts retiring from the Royal after a big innings.
David Lemon - Without doubt the most gentlemanly person ever to be associated with the club,
although he did ultimately get a little testy when first grade failed to win another 15 in a row after
1980-81. Showed enormous patience and generosity to put up with all us hoons. An excellent
golfer who had trouble finding partners in the Uni ranks due to their lack of golf etiquette - cheating by throwing the sand and the ball did not go down well with David or other members of the
Australian Club.
Tom Boyce - Tommy was a first-grade scorer in the same sensible mould as Dave Lemon though
he could fire up at times. Firsts always knew they had a very committed, competitive scorer in
T Boyce. Like all good scorers he was very much a part of the side while having the good sense to
watch our sillier antics from a close but safe distance.
Andrew McMaster - Splinter was a key figure in various roles. Treasurer, secretary, manager of
various teams, especially on country tours, and the club's leading off-field sledger. Had a wicked
wit and as sharp a tongue as Terry Buddin, and in sledging terms there is no higher praise.
Splinter was a left-arm very medium-paced bowler from Temora and an important part of the
country invasion and someone who helped give the club its unique, smart, larrikin personality.
Could have managed the Australian team on Ashes tours but for his devotion to the Swans. His
experiences in the Uni dressingroom have surely helped when he has his arms locked around
'Roosy' singing 'Cheer, Cheer the Red and the White ...'
51
52
The Ultimate Prize
John Rogers knew that the club championship proved that UNSWCC had become a fully
fledged member of the Sydney scene.
Lots of people wonder about the relative value of a first grade premiership as against a club championship. If you
were to ask players from other clubs in the 70s & 80s whether UNSWCC had ever won a club championship, their
answer would probably have been ‘no idea’. But if you ask them if we'd won any first grade premierships and they'd
probably have said ‘one or two’.
Yet the 50-plus people who earn a club championship cap will remember it very clearly indeed. To them it is the
ultimate - they have made a contribution to what must have been the best club in the competition.
My first club in Sydney grade was the lowly Paddington which was finishing close to the bottom in every grade in
the two years before it was expelled from the competition to be replaced by Sutherland. I'm not sure that the concept
of club championship ever crossed my radar in those two years.
Having lost a quarter of their players to Sutherland, St George were quite happy to have me, and to everyone's
surprise Saints then won not only first grade but also the club championship. The celebrations throughout the club
rammed home to me the importance of third, fourth and fifth grades to a successful club. St George had former first
grade players captaining in lower grades who saw their role as bringing through the youngsters, and they were there
aplenty - not least a 15-year-old spinner named Kerry O'Keeffe playing third grade who within a year would be one of
the leading wicket-takers in first grade.
The 1978-79 club championship decider was to be semi-final weekend, and as seconds, thirds and fourths had all
finished in second place, UNSWCC was hosting semis in each of these grades at the VG and both the DP ovals. Firsts
were eighth at this point and forced to play a redraw away against Wests. I read with interest in the yearbook where
I've written that: ‘From Round 6 we played like premiers, but the price of being the most feared side was that this
time the breaks didn't come and premiers we were not to be.’ In fact we were missing Watson and Lawson for half
our games and had had the usual awful pre-Christmas start when our batting was ‘spineless, sloppy and reckless’.
Well we absolutely belted Wests in a one-dayer that finished before tea, having raced to 201 and declaring after
just 42 overs and then letting Henry loose. He took 4-33 as we routed Wests for 94. Twenty-five years later at the
annual Wests/UNSW Test match breakfast, I was staggered to be accused of brutality for the way I'd sooled Henry
onto the Wests youngsters. Sounds like none of them had to face Pascoe in full flight.
For perhaps the only time in my grade career - which as it turned out finished that day - I got the boys to pack up
and disappear so we could see the last session of the three semis our other grades were involved in.
At the VG, seconds had it wrapped up after batted into the second day to get 471, of which Mick Watt made a
superb 166. Balmain were being routed, so off we went to DP.
First graders rarely see thirds and fourths outside the nets and we came in on the end of two extraordinary battles.
Standing between the two fields we had a great view of each match. On DP1 all thirds needed was the batsmen to
hang on for a draw - but we were in desperate trouble with Cliffy Hanger blocking with grim determination that was
to earn him cult status. On DP2 fourths had looked pretty safe after their 302 but Randwick began to chase it down
in fine style. It came down to the last over with Randwick nine wickets down and needing only four runs. One wicket
to us and we were through to the final and would win the club championship. Four dot balls had tensions rising, but
on the fifth Randwick got the four they needed.
All eyes switched back to the thirds where our last two batsmen were holding on in the gathering gloom. Not often
do batting teams rejoice at an umpire's decision but when they decided to offer the light to our batsmen they were
friends for life. The thirds were through to the semis and the club championship was ours.
For the first graders, it was a real eye-opener. The spirit and determination shown made everyone understand that
winning a club championship involves much more than just turning up to play the game.
The photo of all four grades standing behind the club championship banner of 1978-79 is one to savour.
53
NSWCA president Alan Davidson with some of the troops after presenting the club championship penant.
The Results
First Grade - eighth - John Rogers captain
Second Grade - second - Jock Martel, Clayton Jones captains
Third Grade - second - John Ingleson captain
Fourth Grade - third - Tony Epstein captain
A PSYCHO THEORY
l recall a time around 80-81 playing lower grades with Robbo and a few others down at DP. Someone
was explaining how great it was that the club had so many psychos and people were retelling stories
we'd all heard a thousand times about watermelons and Jungle parties. A couple of the quieter types
(perhaps Michael Clark, myself and one or two other introverts) were saying we might get together as
anti-psychos because we felt the focus on being outrageous might be detracting from performances on
Saturdays. Robbo quickly put the views of the anti-psychos in context: ‘Show me an anti-psycho and
I'll show you an underachiever.’
That thought has stuck with me ever since.
Martin Palin
54
Proving
The
Point
First Grade
1980-81
Four years after the fairytale of the 76-77 premierships, the country boys had grown up. One
was a Test player, another a county pro in England. The rest, with some talented newcomers,
formed another powerful, disciplined team. Mark Ray shares some thoughts.
The 80-81 firsts led the competition from the start and were never headed. I remember a well-drilled, toughminded team - gutsy batting, tight bowling and outstanding fielding. If we got 160 batting first, we expected to win,
especially at home. Compared to the 76-77 firsts, whose win has often been described as a surprise 'fairytale' effort,
the 80-81 side was a hardened, disciplined team that took all before them. More a well-oiled machine than the highspirited adventurers of 76-77.
As Livo says in the following pages, the 80-81 side always expected to win. However a look at the results suggests
we had a few tense moments when our spot at the top of the table was threatened. We didn't do it as easily as it
seems. We won two matches by 13 and 7 runs and tied against St George in the second-last round, a brilliant save by
Chappo turning a likely four into a three and getting us three vital points. That result meant we went into the final
round, against Randwick, needing to win to secure the minor premiership - and home ground advantage. Randwick's
strong line-up included Alan Turner, John Dyson, Peter Clifford, Gary Bensley, Allan Campbell and Mike Whitney.
Jungle and Livo fought hard with the bat and we took all of the first day to scrape to 153. On the second morning
Randwick began confident of a win. But then we turned it on in the field again, Henry bowling fast and Disco applying pressure at the other end, supported by excellent fielding. Randwick could only manage only 93. This was a powerful performance which gave us confidence going into the semi-final against North Sydney.
Our only loss was really good for us. After the first day's play in round 8 we had dismissed Sutherland for 148 but
were a little casual with the bat and went to stumps three down for not many. I was one of the three out and was furious. I couldn't speak in the rooms afterwards. It was a silly reaction but we'd all set our standards high. The next
week we were all out for 135, knocked Sutherland over for 106 and were 5-116 at stumps, only four short of an outright win. We'd turned our form around very quickly.
John Rogers's influence was still a major factor in 80-81. From his coaching, we knew that if we were the best
fielding side in the comp we'd make the semis. We quickly earned that reputation. As the season headed towards the
business end we took to having Friday evening fielding sessions, as we had in 76-77. A sharp hour's workout and we
were primed. The one innovation we developed in 80-81, something that set us apart, was that we concentrated more
on fielding than batting and bowling during our pre-game warm-ups. Over weeks we developed a set of fielding drills
that eventually became a sort of exhibition. Everyone responded to the drills; everyone took turns leading them. We
all came to realise that the other sides were watching us. We were doing something different and the buzz from that it was a lot of fun showing off our skills - fired us up for the start of play. This was typical of how the team operated.
Of the 15 players, 13 had played in either the 76-77 P-G team, the 76-77 firsts or the 77-78 seconds - all premiershipwinning teams. The two 'new' boys - Disco and Chris Hanger - were high-quality players who needed only encourage55
ment. This core of experienced players meant that it was a team that needed minimal leadership from the captain.
One suggestion from anyone at practice and Jungle or Toutie or someone else would say: 'Good idea. Come on, let's
do it.'
Livo mentions the fielding effort against Balmain as our best. No doubt. After play, Wayne Seabrook, who'd topscored for Balmain and looked to be about to win the match for them, came up to me and asked: 'Mate, how the hell
did you win that game? We had it won.' All I could say was that we were not going to give up. All we could do was
bowl tight and field like demons, and hope his side cracked. Later, outside the Cracknell, a man in his 80s came up to
me. 'Mark,' he said, 'I've been following Balmain first grade for 60 years and that is the best fielding performance I've
ever seen. Congratulations.'
Jungle discusses the semi against Norths in the following pages. Suffice to say here that it was our best match. At
3-4 a season's great work was in the balance. In 76-77 we made our biggest total of the season in the final, thanks to
the middle and lower order responding to the big occasion. It was the same in this semi, except that at the top of the
order Chappo and Neville Jansson kept us from total collapse. Chappo's 90 is one of the club's greatest innings. Then
the middle order of Disco, Bruce Handley and Steve Campbell took us to 293, our best total of the summer. After that
effort under intense pressure, we walked out for the final against Northern Districts utterly convinced that we would
win. I didn't have to say much before play: ‘One more game, boys. If we just do what we've done all season we'll win.’
And that is exactly how that final went. We were in control throughout and the near-disaster of the semi was already
a distant memory.
Perhaps the slightly mistaken image of the 80-81 side had to do with the fact that some of us had had haircuts
since 77. We even wore the occasional shirt with a collar. Young Livo was a mature cricketer, as were all the players
left over from that initial first grade flag. And the one 'kid' in 80-81, Disco, was a cleancut unit with heaps of talent.
We looked more predictable than the 76-77 side, and in many respects we were. But it wasn't all smooth sailing.
Back: Asoka Wijeratne, Nigel Perger, Neviile Jansson, Bruce Handley, Geoff Lawson, Steve Campbell, Terry
Buddin, Peter Tout, David Lemon.
Front: Greg Livingstone, Chris Chapman, Mark Ray, Jim Robson, Chris Hanger, Jim Dixon.
56
The Team
By mark Ray
Greg Livingstone - responded really well to the opening batting spot and gave us stability at the
top. Livo won selection in the NSW Colts that season and was, as always, outstanding in the field.
Remarkably he was given an over at one stage; even more remarkably it was a maiden.
Neville Jansson - Nev was a great team, full of enthusiasm, jokes and spirit. He batted most of
the season at No.6 where he gave us solidity. Towards the end he readily agreed to move up to
No.3, a big challenge which he took on with typical determination. His stats don't reflect the quality of his work. His 15 run out in the semi-final helped save our season. He stuck it out under
intense pressure after seeing three of us back in the pavilion with only 4 on the board. His support
helped Chappo gain some touch and go on to his match-saving 90.
Jim Robson - Jungle's season had some high and lows, no lower than his conversation with the
Spit Bridge on the way to Manly Oval one Sunday morning, none higher than his excellent 52 in
the final. Skilful enough to late cut on a very slow wicket, infuriating bowlers and opposing captains by scoring runs behind point when no one else could. A superb slips fieldsman to any bowler,
he always offered great advice to Mark during those hours in the slips.
Chris Chapman - forced yet again to cope with the slow VG wicket, Chappo made five scores in
the 40s. In better conditions at least two of those would have been hundreds. He was our leading
run-scorer and his 90 in the semi is a legendary innings. It came after a run of 0, 0, 0, 2 but class
comes out under real pressure and Chappo delivered right on cue. He was always excellent support as vice-captain.
Asoka Wijeratne - played two early games then made heaps of runs in seconds and forced his
way back into the side for round 13 when he made 59 not out after going in at 4-15 on a wet track.
Deserved a spot in a first-grade premiership team.
Peter Tout - like Chappo, Toutie's elegant batting style was frustrated by conditions at the VG.
He played some excellent innings early in the season but came under pressure from batsmen in
seconds. He took on a leadership role in fielding drills which helped maintain our enthusiasm
throughout the season. Committed team man, full of common sense advice.
Bruce Handley - the most intimidating short-leg fieldsman since Brian Close in the 60s.
Possibly a bit psycho as he was happy to stand his ground when batsmen opened their shoulders,
often taking the ball on his legs or shoulders and never flinching. That deadpan look after a blow
must have unnerved many a batsman. Bruce batted at No.7, a tough spot for a specialist batsman
but he handled it well, especially in the semi when he and Disco built on Chappo's 90 and took
control of the match on the first afternoon.
Terry Buddin - started the season in good from with the bat but came down with glandular fever
and was forced to miss the rest of the summer. A premiership-winning captain in seconds he was
a big loss but he kept close to the team and always had excellent advice for the senior players. Also
served as club delegate to NSWCA.
Steve Campbell - Klinger had an excellent season, saving us several times with the bat and taking 33 wickets at 14.6 with his leggies. They were the best figures for a wrist spinner in the comp.
Steve's fielding was top class all through, and he managed some memorable catches and run outs.
Jim Dixon - Disco's season had the lot - wickets, catches, media exposure, glandular fever and
runs in the semi. That 52 against NDs was elegant to the point of arrogance. With Henry away a
lot, Disco was our rock with the ball. His accuracy and our fielding meant we could apply pressure
for long periods, enough to break most teams. A smart cricketer who responded to all challenges.
Geoff Lawson - we all received a boost knowing that H had become a Test player and there's no
better feeling than having an Australian fast bowler taking the new ball for you. Henry's 24 wickets at 9.6 speak for themselves. Having him there for the semi and final meant we were close to
unbeatable. But it wasn't just his presence, it was his typically total commitment to the team and
the club that counted.
Nigel Perger - Big Nige suffered for being the third paceman behind Henry and Disco, not a
great role at the spinner-friendly VG. That we could omit a quality bowler like Nige showed our
depth. His 4-23 against Sutherland gave us the chance of an outright and his brilliant catch at
deep square during the tense Balmain game typified the best fielding performance of the season.
Outstanding in post-season celebrations.
57
Chris Hanger - as the keeper Cliffie had to be the leader in the field, a job he did superbly, a
worthy successor to Jim O'Brien. A modest, delightful bloke, Cliffie had real steel in his game. He
was faultless with the gloves and tireless in his enthusiasm, urging us all the way to maintain our
high fielding standards. He batted with great determination and courage in the final.
Dave Meagher - played in two limited-overs games. Also won the 'Fastest Man in Grade' sprint.
He showed he would go on to play many more first grade games for the club.
Mark Ray - somewhat surprised to find himself captain at the start of the summer, he enjoyed
leading a smart, motivated team. Had a reasonable year with the bat, a better one with the ball.
Appreciated everyone's support and enthusiasm.
Dave Lemon - Dave's only appearances on the field were at drinks breaks, but our scorer was an
integral part of the team. The quiet man in a team of chronic statement-makers, Dave still offered
an opinion when he felt it necessary - and we always listened. He took on more duties after team
manager Splinter McMaster scarpered to New York, Dave supporting his replacement, John
Gallagher. Being on the sidelines watching probably aged Dave a little as the season wore on but
in the end he cruised over the line’
Livo Looks Back
The teenage star from the 76-77 first grade side was
one of many tough nuts in the 80-81 team. A strong
opening batsman and an oustanding fieldsman,
Greg Livingstone typified this side. Here he
recalls a golden summer.
The main thing that sticks in my mind about the 1980-81
season was that we were clearly the best side in the competition
and we knew it - and so did all the other teams. This is reflected
in the results: 17 games played (including finals), 13 wins, one
tie, two draws (both due to wet weather) and one loss by 13 runs
(we were four runs short of an outright when time beat us). We
were supremely confident and did not expect to lose any game.
The strength was undoubtedly the bowling which featured
the three best bowlers in the competition - Henry, Mark and
Disco - and two exceptional backups in Nigel Perger and Steve
Campbell. Three quicks, a left-arm orthodox and a leggie. Each
one averaged less than 15 runs per wicket. Outstanding.
The batting was less impressive statistically but as you will
notice elsewhere in this booklet the quality of the wicket and the
slowness of the outfield contributed to the seemingly low numbers. But we were all very determined and disciplined
and did everything we could to graft out enough runs to defend in the field. Mark and Chappo were the major contributors throughout the season, with both playing crucial innings in the final and semi respectively. Jungle played a
great innings in the final as did Bruce Handley and Disco in the semi when we were in significant early trouble.
One thing that really stood us apart from the other teams was our fielding. We were head and shoulders above the
rest and it showed in the number of close games we won through the ability to shut down the scoring of our opponents. The best example was the restriction of a Balmain team containing Greg Geise and Wayne Seabrook, both
budding state players, to 160 chasing 167. We stopped everything and basically worried them out of it. Geisey still
talks about that day when we meet.
My recollections of the games are somewhat hazy. Maybe because the Racecourse Hotel became our major sponsor and we did our best to return their support.
58
A few things that stand out for me are;
- Mark Ray's dominance of the entire competition - easily the best player - won the Herald player of the year, captained the winning first grade team, got 60 and 5 for in the final - but couldn't crack the state team - ridiculous.
- Disco's 46 wickets and his uncanny ability to swing the ball both ways, a lot.
- Henry being picked for his first Test - he was at the top of his game and scared the shit out of them all year but particularly in the finals - I can still remember the look on Jack Moran's face (ND's opener) when he was LBW. I think it
was as much relief as surprise.
- Chappo's batting in the semi. After we were 3-4 against a very good North Sydney attack, he got 90 under extreme
pressure and combined with Neville, Bruce Handley, Disco and the tail to get us to 293, our highest score all year.
- The outstanding fielding, catching and throwing skills of all players - the display against Balmain was the highlight
for me.
- Jungle's legendary effort during the Saturday-Sunday game against Manly - we were 0-100 overnight chasing 118 so
we decided to have a drink at the Manly Rugby Club. Needless to say we overindulged resulting in some sore heads
but, more significantly, Jungle's ‘spit at the Spit Bridge’, late arrival and subsequent stumping by six metres were
unforgettable.
- The doomed pursuit of Nigel by Mrs Racecourse - it was doomed wasn't it, Joel?
FIRST GRADE SEMI-FINAL
1980 - 81
Village Green
UNIVERSITY OF NSW - 1st Innings
M. RAY
G. LIVINGSTONE
N. JANSSON
J. ROBSON
C. CHAPMAN
A. WIJERATNE
B. HANDLEY
J. DIXON
S. CAMPBELL
G LAWSON
C. HANGER
Sundries
TOTAL
c Rodgie b Spring
b Wiesner
run out
c Fitzgerald b Wiesner
c Fitzgerald b Wiesner
lbw b Shelton
lbw b Wiensner
c and b Wooster
c JohnstonE b Wooster
b Wiesner
not out
BOWLING
WIESNER
SPRING
BAIRD
WOOSTER
SHELTON
CRANE
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
0
4
15
0
90
14
58
52
28
13
0
19
293
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
3
9
28
28
65
1
30
4
0
16
4
6
194
5-72
1-41
0-50
2-45
1-56
0-10
NORTH SYDNEY - 1st Innings
W. CRANE
D. RODGIE
R. CHAPMAN
D. JOHNSTONE
G. SPRING
R. SHELTON
M. VAN RHOON
T. WOOSTER
P. FITZGERALD
J. BAIRD
S. WIESNER
Sundries
TOTAL
c Ray b Lawson
b Dixon
c Dixon b Lawson
c Dixon b Ray
b Dixon
c Dixon b Ray
c Robson b Campbell
c Ray b Campbell
c Hanger b Campbell
c Chapman b Dixon
not out
BOWLING
LAWSON
DIXON
RAY
CAMPBELL
2-50
3-32
2-50
3-56
University of NSW won on 1st Innings
59
FIRST GRADE FINAL
1980 - 81
Village Green
UNIVERSITY OF NSW - 1st Innings
M. RAY
G. LIVINGSTONE
N. JANSSON
J. ROBSON
C. CHAPMAN
A. WIJERATNE
B. HANDLEY
J. DIXON
S. CAMPBELL
G LAWSON
C. HANGER
Sundries
TOTAL
b Taylor
c Price b Taylor
c Oakley b Clews
lbw b Clews
c Howlett b Grimble
c Clews b Grimble
c Howlett b Mackay
lbw b Mackay
c and b Whitfield
c Taylor b Mackay
not out
BOWLING
CLEWS
COOTE
TAYLOR
MACKAY
WHITFIELD
GRIMBLE
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
64
28
1
52
11
7
27
11
17
0
4
14
236
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
………………….…..
33
3
9
14
6
12
10
12
1
0
0
3
103
2-73
0-32
2-27
3-35
1-32
2-24
NORTHERN DISTRICT - 1st Innings
N. HOWLETT
J. MORAN
P. PRICE
R. EDWARDS
K. MACKAY
M. CLEWS
P. TAYLOR
R. OAKLEY
M. COOTE
P. GRIMBLE
S. WHITFIELD
Sundries
TOTAL
BOWLING
c Ray b Dixon
lbw b Lawson
b Lawson
c and b Ray
c Hanger b Ray
c Robson b Ray
lbw b Ray
not out
c Jansson b Ray
b Campbell
c and b Campbell
LAWSON
DIXON
RAY
CAMPBELL
University of NSW won on 1st Innings
2-30
1-46
5-23
2-1
60
FIRST GRADE STATISTICS
1980-81
BATTING
INN.
N.O.
H.S.
AGG.
AVE.
C/S
A Wijeratne
C. Chapman
B. Handley
M. Ray
G. Livingstone
N. Jansson
P. Tout
J. Robson
T. Buddin
S. Campbell
J. Dixon
N. Perger
G. Lawson
C. Hanger
D. Meagher
7
19
15
18
18
17
14
18
3
14
17
7
8
11
2
1
1
5
0
0
3
1
0
1
3
3
3
0
4
2
59*
90
58
64
80
61*
68
54
19*
28
52
16*
33
7*
9*
162
476
264
465
390
283
248
342
31
147
165
42
76
22
10
27.0
26.4
26.4
25.8
21.6
20.2
19.0
19.0
15.5
13.3
11.7
10.5
9.5
3.1
-
0
5
8
13
5
6
4
15
0
9
11
4
1
21+4
1
BOWLING
OVERS MAIDENS
WICKETS
RUNS
AVERAGE
G. Lawson
M. Ray
J. Dixon
N. Perger
S. Campbell
J. Robson
129.1
447.1
327.2
94
195.2
4
24
55 (R)
46
15
33
1
224
784
671
220
486
35
9.3 (R)
14.2
14.5
14.6
14.7
35
41
179
97
27
54
0
SUMMARY
Games Played = 17, Won = 13, Lost 1st Innings = 1, Drawn = 2, Tied = 1
Runs for = 3423, Wickets Lost = 161, Average = 21.26
BRIAN RILEY THE SPECTATOR
Village Green. The first grade final against Northern Districts in 80-81. I'm in the slips next to Jungle, as
always, when I look to the eastern side of the ground and see a couple of blokes settling down on the grass,
an esky between them. It's Brian Riley, the captain of Petersham in the 76-77 final - a legendary sledger.
'Jungle, look who's just arrived,' I say. Naturally Jungle didn't have a clue as he was half-blind back then.
'It's Riles. This'll be interesting.'
Soon after we get a wicket and out comes ND's captain, the former Test player Ross Edwards. Ross had said
in the press at the start of the season that a lot of ordinary players were making 500 runs a season and he'd
be disappointed if he didn't make 700. His tally to that day was about 380. I brought Henry straight on
from the racecourse end and as he marked out his run, that familiar voice rang out.
'Hey Rosco, how's that 700 lookin'? Only 320 to go.'
Mark Ray
61
62
The Joys of
Batting
at the Village Green
Fellow batsman John Rogers follows up on Jim Robson's theories about the Village Green
in the 70s and 80s.
In writing about the stunning 80-81 semi-final win after UNSWCC being 3-4 after 10 minutes, Jungle diverted
into an analysis of batting stats at the Village Green. Essentially he was extolling the partnership of Chappo and Nev
Jansson, but he came up with the following figures:
- Over 300 has been scored only once in six seasons at the VG - most other grounds have that score two to three
times a year,
- Not one century was scored at the V-G in 80-81 (nor in the 76-77)
- The highest batting average for UNSWCC was 27. This is extremely low considering the strength of the team - only
one loss in the last 20 matches. (In 76-77 the highest average was 30, next 25 and then four around 20).
- Every recognised Uni bowler averaged less than 15. Most other teams had two at the most with that average. (In 7677 the four main bowlers averaged between 15 and 20)
- In the last six seasons, only nine out of the 49 Uni batsmen have a career average over 20. Only 10 of the 49
exceeded 500 runs a season for Uni in first grade.
- By comparison, of the 31 bowlers used, 10 have a career average under 20 while 15 average between 20 and 30.
A few stats from the 76-77 first-grade season at the VG:
- Test players' scores: Peter Toohey 98, Doug Walters 47, John Benaud 36, Brian Booth 29
- Best scores of other state and prominent players: Steve Small 15, 6 & 46; Geoff Davies 40, Jon Jobson 35, Ian
Fisher 30.
- Our top scorers at home were: v Manly, Watt 56; v Bankstown, Ray 36, Rogers 38 in second innings run-chase; v
Syd Uni, Ray 36; Chappo 62 in second innings run-chase; v Nepean, Ray 44; v St George, Pym 35#; v Wests, Robson
45, Livingstone 42*; v Bankstown (semi), Ray 66 & 37, Chapman 46.
- In summary, we scored just three half-centuries to one against - by a future Test player.
- At both the VG and away, we averaged 21 per innings. The opposition averaged 16 at the VG and 20 at home.
- Of our eight away games, five were on very dodgy or rain-affected tracks, while on the three reasonable tracks we
scored 9/257 (SCG2), 4/195 (Caringbah) and 284 Petersham (final) - an average of 32 per wicket. In these games
Mark averaged 44, Chappo 42, Jungle 33.
An interesting stat is that my own career average at St George was 30 from 10 seasons, but at UNSW when aged
32-35 (and as fit as I'd ever been), it was just under 20. Age might have been a factor (not so in the current Test players), or even a decline through captaincy responsibilities. Assuming not, then perhaps it's plausible to add 50% to my
UNSW figures to bring them up to those at St George.
In 1980-81 that formula would have Chappo, Mark, Bruce Handley and Asoka averaging around 40. And in 76-77
that formula would take Mark's average to 45, Chappo's to 38, and Jungle's to 33 - much more in line with their
efforts on the three decent batting tracks we played on - and much closer to the ones I was used to seeing in my St
George teams. I'm not so sure our bowlers would think much of this particular theory.
garry sobers becomes a wales boy
One of the perks of winning the first grade flag was that some of our players were invited to play in a charity at
Gosford that featured many former Test players. It had been arranged that Dave Lemon would pick up me and
the greatest all-rounder of them all, Garry Sobers. But on the way north from Sydney Dave’s car broke down.
The boys limped into a service station and when the owner saw Sobers he said he’d drive them to the match.
All he had was a ute so Dave sat on Sobers’ lap next to Jungle and the driver. They arrived late but the match
was a great day and Garry Sobers excellent company, especially after play when he stood with the Wales players and chatted about his days as a Test player. A memorable day indeed.
Jim Robson.
63
64
The Semi-Final
v North Sydney
Village Green
A close call for Neville during his crucial fighting innings on the first day.
Classic Chappo during his brilliant counterattacking 90.
65
66
The Final
v Northern Districts
Village Green
67
A Rookie's Impressions
In a team of experienced players, Jim Dixon was the 'kid' in the 80-81 first grade side. Here he
recalls what it was like to win a flag in only his second season with Wales.
My first season with the club was 1979-80. I came to the UNSWCC at the back end of these golden five years and
still play today. I saw and participated in some of this success which includes being a very strong runner-up in firsts
in81-82 … and being a very competitive club (though "unsuccessful" in terms of flags) for the next eight years.
I have seen us at the very top and also very near the bottom. And I think my impressions are pretty informative,
particularly in any analysis of what might be missing at the club these days. What does it take to be the top club in
Sydney with the most-feared first grade line-up.
That is what UNSWCC was in 1979.
Many years have passed and I don't profess to an acute awareness now of what I saw, heard and otherwise experienced back then. But those who knew me would undoubtedly agree that I was an immature, naive and reasonably
insular individual. I had little knowledge of the club's previous exploits when I arrived. Though those successes and
the myriad stories I have heard since tallied with my initial impressions of the club. To digress briefly - the story
Jungle tells about Dave Colley shitting himself about playing Wales in a semi in 77-78 - when he saw Henry, Gulgong
and Big Nige parading around in shorts before the match like the hormones they were - a totally intimidating presence about the team - rings true to this day. The club's atmosphere filled this shy ‘kid’ with confidence. An atmosphere that was almost the antithesis of the bald-faced arrogance that I so often see in ‘winners’ these days. This
brings to mind a recent comment from Henry that nearly everyone used to play for the camaraderie more than the
runs and wickets, though the two were obviously not mutually exclusive.
So what about my first impressions, that first practice session?
There were the first graders who'd been pointed out to me.
- Jungle … chatting to everyone, joking with everyone, snaffling these unbelievable slips catches and late cutting
every ball bowled to him without missing the middle of the bat once. (I'll never forgive him, though, for failing to tell
me full creams/whites were not required for UNSWCC practices).
- Touty imperiously stroking the ball to all parts in the nets, chatting to me and encouraging me even though he
didn't know me from a bar of soap.
- Big Nige Perger steaming in bowling 90 miles an hour without a hair of that black mane being disturbed. How
could this film star bowl like that?
- Chappo's faultless strokeplay, polished conversation and panther-like movements in the fielding sessions.
- Klinger turning them sideways.
- Cliffy Hanger (at last someone of my tender years) with a smile on his face every single second of every single practice (at least when he wasn't concentrating on some keeping work he might be doing). No one could possibly be as
nice as this bloke.
- Livo just slogged a few full bungers and Harbour Bridged everything in the fielding sessions.
Alan Davidson brings the fifth flag to the Village Green.
68
You knew these blokes could play way better than you ever had. You knew they knew they could play - but none of
this was allowed to become arrogance. None of it was intimidating to me, just a scene that seemed to encourage me
to really have a crack. Really good blokes who genuinely wanted to be there and who could play extremely well.
Gulgong's absence gave me a lucky start in first grade and we were playing Bankstown who had current Test players in Lennie Pascoe and Ian Davis. I approached this game with real trepidation about the occasion but virtually
none about the very formidable opposition. Admittedly, seeing Lennie's first over resurrected some concern, as did
Ian Davis when he sent my first two balls rocketing respectively into the point and mid-wicket fences. But I will
always remember Neville Jansson swishing at Lennie's first bouncer then smashing the second one (or maybe third,
perhaps fourth or fifth or sixth … Lennie didn't pitch many up) through mid-wicket with the most awesome pull shot
- it all seemed to happen just as the ball was bowled. I had never seen anything like it. And in the field there was
Henry up the other end leading me in this opening bowling partnership. This was shit-hot cricket, and we knew we
were prepared and we wanted to have a crack at anyone.
Then we played Cumberland at Old Kings and Henry
had just heard he had been picked to tour Pakistan. We
then saw a spell of bowling that I doubt could have been
seen in grade cricket before or since. He took 8-28 (I,
proudly, prevented him from securing all 10), had fields of
five slips, a gully, cover point, short leg and leg slip. I was
at leg slip and the last thing I wanted coming near me was
a snick. This was serious "heat". Not even Dougie Walters
had any answers though he was only slightly less scared
than I was fielding 45 metres away from where the ball was
being delivered. We smashed them - I think Livo and
Neville got them none or one down.
And the season just continued in that vein. We only ran
just above middle of the table but this was hardly unexpected when you consider JR had gone, Mark Ray only got
back for the last few games, Paddy and Gulgong were both
gone - each player almost irreplaceable. All this young
punk thought was: ‘'well done’. At worst in a given match
we were competitive and at best we smashed teams with
Test players. But it wasn't quite good enough for those who
had experienced the successes of the previous few years.
My recollection is that the pre-season of 80-81 virtually
started with the first grade squad called into the Sam Crack
dressingroom to sort out captaincy issues and who we
needed to lead us to our second premiership. As far as this Neville organised the champagne delivery to our
young bloke was concerned, I had learned a lot from Terry celebratory lunch on the day after the final.
Buddin the year before and thought he was the best captain
I had ever played with. But in hindsight I could see that Mark was now back on board full-time and Chappo was keen
to lead - a change was always going to happen and, in all likelihood, events suggested it was the right call.
Then, as Mark has described elsewhere, we clinically disposed of any and all opponents that year (bar a tie vs St
George in a one-dayer, and a below-par game against Sutherland). We were a quality outfit that could, and did, field
the pants off every other team. To me that is, and nearly always will be, the key distinguishing feature in premiership-winning teams. You need good players batting and bowling well - but many teams will produce that in any given
year; it is the sides that can win matches on the back of their fielding that will win those highly charged finals
matches. 80-81 was proof positive and the match against Balmain stands out.
I remember having to toil away on such a low slow deck (and it wasn't turning like it normally did for Mark and
Klinger either that day) against the likes of Wayne Seabrook, Greg Geise etc. Nothing looked like getting past the bat
but we ringed them and, even with their power and timing, they could not pierce the field with everyone diving and
catching like no other team had done before. That game taught me as much about cricket as I have learned over
many seasons.
I had glandular fever pretty badly during the weekend of the final against NDs and I was in bed from about 7pm
the night we won so I have major regrets in not being able to participate in the immediate celebrations with a wonderful bunch of blokes, blokes who fed me the confidence to play well at this level; blokes who welcomed me into the
club and showed me what commitment was required for success; blokes who valued their cricket experiences, and
particularly the social interactions that were at the core of the club's successes.
69
So much for my initial playing memories. But it was the social interactions that lay at the heart of this wonderfully
successful club - and, as you might expect, it was the personalities and the social occasions that have the greater, lasting memories for me as the young punk up from Goulburn to play with the best club in Sydney.
There was Jungle wandering into my Warrane College room to introduce himself and check that I was playing for
the club and would be at pre-season training in two weeks - or at least that was what I deciphered from the typical
Jungle conversation we have all grown to love - heading in five different directions, the animated gestures, the slobbering. In many ways (and this is scary) he took me and some of my Warrane mates under his wing, away from the
seediest parties back to the Sam Crack every Saturday, introducing us to such luminaries on the social scene as
Wolfman, Splinter and Kirkie. Life could not get
any better than this and I will be eternally grateful to Jungle for transforming me from an
almost 100% attendance record at Uni lectures,
to my average over the next four years of about
5% attendance. I could have wasted my Uni
experience except for this man - undoubtedly
one of the all-time great blokes.
And Kirkie. Somehow, no matter where you
(or he) were playing that day, the first thing you
saw walking into the Sam Crack was Kirkie sitting (or lying) on the high jump mat with a can
of Tooheys in his hand (often one in each hand).
He was always there, celebrating playing some
very hard cricket that day, and that dopey smile
never left his face. If I could manage to spend
my drinking time in those early days with Kirkie
and Jungle I was a very happy little chappy.
Or with Neville. Now this bloke oozed confidence and could (as far as this young pup could
tell) drink like a fish. I couldn't get enough of
these blokes - the cricket banter and the genuinely warm camaraderie.
There was also, of course, Splinter. That longhaired larrikin with the non-stop laugh and
back-slapping personality who didn't play cricket
at all (it seemed). But he was always talking
cricket and he was always talking success. He
didn't seem that smart (just a pisshead like the
rest of us) but first impressions are nearly
always deceptive.
Asoka’s menu card from the NSWCA premiership dinner.
The rest of the first graders, plus Robbo, Tacho, Orca, Dick Campbell, Mick Clark, Kell, Pymy, Jock, Johnny Mac,
Jack Chemical, Dave Meagher and so many others there in my first year were always there. Back at the Crack to
socialise after virtually every day's play then off to a party or whatever. It was a scene of ‘social harmony’ - for want of
a better phrase. People truly loved their cricket - playing it, practising it, talking about it and socialising around it.
We probably haven't had the same player strength since about '84 so our lack of premierships (until two seasons
ago) could be put down to various factors. But we have had very good teams (and here I am thinking of the early '90s
and the past few years) but only fleeting success. And I think it is a lack of ‘social harmony’ that is so important in
any analysis of the performance of grade cricket. It hasn't been quite there and at times has been a long way off. And
certainly a long way off the scene that existed when I came to the club. As I leave the club (as an active member anyway), I would love to know how I could take those impressions of my initial years at UNSWCC and plant them now in
the hope of ensuring a rosy future for this unique club.
70
The
Last
Word
There has been no better cricketer and no better club man at UNSWCC than Geoff Lawson,
and no one better qualified to sum up this era. Besides, fast bowlers always demand the last
word, and if you’re as good as H you get it.
The celebration of 150 years of NSW first-class cricket at Parliament House in January of this year contained an
invitation list all former first-class players, umpires, administrators (James George Robson attended as an NSWCA
official) - and bugger me if I didn't bump into Peter Maloney. He of a single game for the Blues in which he neither
batted nor bowled. It was terrific to see him, like the aforementioned James George, he had changed little since I last
saw him, traipsing off Petersham Oval, last man out Stuart Gardiner next to him, bat dragging, despondent, beaten,
oblivious to the mayhem behind them but feeling similar disbelief to that felt by the UNSWCC boys. Disbelief at the
result, the margin, the final catch taken - with the certainty born of hours of practice and expectation - on the midwicket boundary by a law student from a private school, of all people. Two very different senses of disbelief however one in horror, the other in wonder. A sense of wonder that would carry Wales cricket through four more golden
years.
Disbelief? Did we really believe back in September 1976 that we could beat everyone else in the competition?
Could a team three years out of shires be too good for others full of state and Test cricketers? When W J Rogers Paddington, St George, NSW and UNSW, senior player, captain and guiding light - addressed pre-season training in
August did we have, individually or collectively, the goal of winning the premiership? I can honestly say that my personal goals were just that - personal, self-centered, private. The goal of doing the best I could each week, the goal of
getting into second grade maybe and working hard at being good at that standard; of enjoying playing a game with
new friends. I certainly did not expect to be in first grade. This was Sydney grade cricket, not Lake Albert versus RSL
or a Wagga versus Griffith O'Farrell Cup clash. Test cricketers played this stuff and they were people I had only seen
from afar. I'd never shared a pitch with one. My expectations, as always, were unlimited but realistic. I am not sure
that JR had any limits on his ambitions for the team or each individual.
Chanelled enthusiasm can make up for many flaws; inexperience can be both a handbrake and a release. It's
amazing what doesn't worry you when you don't know what to worry about. Things like sledging and reputations
worried those unsure of their place at the crease, or those who worried about egos rather than substance, or who
thought words and aggro brought you closer to victory than runs or wickets. The closest we got to an ego problem
was a player's Corolla with personalised number plates. We only had a couple of cars between us in any case.
Maybe privately, subconsciously, we had doubts about our individual places in the show, but I don't recall anyone
ever verbalising them. JR would have either squashed the thought in an instant or simply passed on without ever
acknowledging such negativity. Negative thoughts were limited to assignment deadlines, mid-session exams, the
state of Ted Goodwin's sidestep or the price of a schooner, but not about cricket. Cricket was, quite simply, first and
foremost, fun. We just needed some wise old heads to gel the ingredients that make fun lead to success.
UNSWCC has been incredibly fortunate to have two mentors with drive, belief and uncompromising attitudes.
They did not accept second best. The two red heads - Warren Smith in recent years, and John Rogers way back then injected several truck loads of willingness, joy, skill and desire into the first grade team and the club, with a particular
focus on the younger players.
71
There is no doubt that the progress of the Poidevin-Gray team in 1976-77 was a direct result of the performances
of first grade, and the progress of the firsts could be attributed in part to the winning ways of the P-G XI. It would be
rare to find a successful first-grade cricket team in the major cities that had nine undergraduate students. But the
experience of winning the under-21 competition led directly to a first-grade premiership. We could ignore the adage:
‘you have to lose a grand final before you win one’ because four of us had had our grand final at the SCG No.2 earlier
in the summer. Nerves that may have overwhelmed us at crucial moments, particularly in the final, had already been
met, experienced and dismissed.
Sometimes this came through a lack of intensity, as in Jungle's famous
speech in the SCG No.2 dressingrooms before we took the field on day two of
the P-G final when we needed 10 wickets to win UNSWCC's initial grade title.
This was when the fear of failure might have overcome such a young team.
But our fearless leader had the perfect motivating speech. We huddled close,
expectant, breathless in expectation of the pearls of wisdom.
‘Now lads, we have a reasonable score on the board of 250, but this is a
small, fast ground with a very good batting pitch and they have some wellperformed first graders. (Now I was starting to get jittery) So all we have to
do is move up in one straight line in defence, don't miss a tackle just like the
great St George teams of the '60s, and we will win for sure.’ Jungle then
turned on his heel and walked out into the sunlight, tugging on the bumble
bee cap. Nerves gone. It did help that he had batted for 2 ½ hours for 20 not
out in the semi-final against the much-fancied St George for a draw eight
down that got us into the final. We knew he had the stomach for a battle.
Perhaps the country boys were undaunted because they didn't know any
better. Opponents turned up in creams and put their trousers on one leg at a
time in Goulburn, Tamworth and Albury just as they did in Chatswood,
JR plays Jungle’s favourite shot.
Hurstville and Waverly. The club was galvanized by the P-G win, galvanized
by the margin of victory and its ruthlessness. Everyone knew that bigger things were possible. The undefeated run of
the P-Gs helped hugely.
The combination of the first grade team came about through accident and planning. It was Pymmy who dismantled Rick McCosker's middle stump first ball of the season yet he wouldn't make the finals team. Veteran Jock Martel
likewise would be replaced by the 'fiery' Mick Watt. A braver opening batsman has not donned a peak cap.
To play on the VG in the 1970s and early '80s was a test of patience, because you batted on a slow turner and an
even slower outfield. Two hundred was a winning score; three boundaries a day was not uncommon. Home ground
advantage was important, and we had the spinners and batsmen who knew how to play on those surfaces. Visitors
rarely had the patience to bat the day through or the skill to win battles of guile with our spinners - Ray, GrattanSmith and Campbell. It helped that the opening bowlers usually got breakthroughs and it helped that we batted all
the way down. And we could field like no other team. Test-quality slippers such as Jungle and X Ray come along
rarely; outfielders like Chappo and Livo (before the arm went with all that baseball pitching) created uncertainty that
led to run outs. We rarely missed a chance and often took the impossible catch.
The wise old heads were leading from the front, the side, the rear and sometimes from above. Jimmy O'Brien kept
wickets. Keepers are a strange lot, but Peardy was a steadying influence behind the sticks - catching, stumping, stopping and sledging. Simply brilliant. Livo's elevation from his original selection as the fifth grade left-arm spinner to
first grade finals saviour is legendary, but it was no accident. His promotion was based on the club's selection policy.
No favourites played or best mates selected, just runs and wickets as the criteria, and, once again, the P-G win.
Success breeding success. Those of us who played with Greg in the P-G team had no doubts he could handle first
grade. And since I had bounced the crap out of him in the Wagga v Albury O'Farrell Cup game earlier in the year I
knew he could handle the short stuff.
A left-arm orthodox, a right-arm offie, a big-spinning leggie with a surprising flipper and some decent quicks.
What else do you need? It should have been obvious really. We won on hard wickets and on wet ones, batting first or
chasing, and when we did lose JR did not let the events pass without criticism, always constructive, always teaching
but always demanding a better effort next time. I recall the St George game at the VG in which we bowled them out
for around 190 and fancied ourselves knocking over one of the competition favourites (and JR's former team which
may have added some spice with the opposing captain). We struggled with the bat and I came in at No.11 with 30 to
win. Paddy and I got to within single figures after an hour's careful batting before I went for a big hit off Murray
Bennett and skied one to mid-off. We lost by a few. Thinking I had done a pretty good job and just got a tad unlucky I
was naturally disappointed but would accept the top order taking the blame for the loss. Not so. JR got stuck into me
for such a reckless shot. No excuses for the No.11. I should have done better. I should never do that again.
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Come the semi-final we had plenty of confidence at the Village Green against a Test terror. Lennie Pascoe took
wickets but we got our usual 200-odd, fielded our rings off and watched as the spinners wove a web that would have
made Tiger O'Reilly and Clarrie Grimmett proud. Bankstown filed off the green in disbelief. How could a team that
had blokes with beards and others who didn't need to shave at all beat the tough nuts from Canterbury? I thought the
semi was a huge victory for intellect, for smart cricket, for those who understand that a variety of skills are needed to
win. Although we might not have grasped that at the time, it didn't matter because JR knew exactly what he was
doing and how to get the absolute best out of us.
The events of the final are well documented but perhaps are summed up by our lack of inhibition. Livo did the
business with the bat under pressure. We cobbled together a good total and bowled with control even when the
scoreboard favoured Petersham. When it mattered, when the game was on the line, we did the business despite our
lack of experience. That game, that win, that season, that premiership still remains on the top shelf of my finest
memories in cricket. A team performance par excellence by a most unlikely and unfancied team.
At a charity match in March 81, Chappo, Jungle and Mark chat with the great Garry Sobers.
After the double of 1976-77, the second-grade premiership and the club championship seemed to be natural progressions. The club expected all teams to be competing for titles even though history shows just how difficult that is. Rain
robbed first grade of a 'back to back' the next season when we were really on a roll coming into the semis, but the
twos were easily the best team in the competition. There was no disbelief after 1976-77, just high expectations.
The victories by each team were celebrated by the entire club. If ever good old Aussie egalitarianism existed in a
showroom, UNSW cricket was the shopfront. Every first grader knew every fifth grader; practices were inclusive;
drinking sessions a matter for all those who drank, not those from a particular team or private schooling establishment or faculty. This kind of inclusiveness makes for a wonderful sporting environment. Practice sessions were
sometimes a little loose around the edges but never boring. How could you bored with 30 or 40 of your best mates?
Enjoyment leads so often to success.
The final day of the club championship victory was a classic example of the closeness of all grades. Played out to
the final over of the season at David Phillips, thirds and fourths were cheered on by firsts and seconds as if the Ashes
were at stake.
The 1980-81 title was played out with much of the naivety of 76-77 gone. Just very good cricketers playing like
they knew how to win. Opponents had become wary of the Bees. They knew that come Saturday they would have the
crap bounced out of them before the spinners turned them in knots, and don't edge the ball behind because there'd
be few second chances. Our batsmen were confident and skilled; the team again had a terrific balance with all bases
covered. In the last week of September we expected to win the title, and the next best thing was that our opposition
expected us to win as well. Yet for all that cricketing toughness we were the same social, club-oriented group. Some
were still undergraduates.
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The fortunes of the club were closely followed by those from the 'top of the hill'. To have the distinguished personage of the chancellor, Justice Gordon Samuels, attend matches and never miss an annual dinner lent prestige to the
on-field efforts. Undergraduates could impress Justice Samuels or vice-chancellor Birt with boat races in the
Cracknell or simply lobby them for some academic assistance. Bragging rights extended well past the players. The
dons were quite pleased to have one up on their sandstone cousins from Broadway. What a pity the current patrons
are not of the same ilk.
By 1980-81 UNSWCC had the respect of all Sydney cricket. This respect may have been tainted by a residue of disbelief and a smidgeon of sneer from those who could not separate athletics and academics. A portion of that residue
would remain into the '90s with attempts to purge both university clubs. The notion of another person/group/organisation being smarter and better at cricket has still not been accepted by some clubs.
Henry in 80-81, above, and in 77 the club gets its first Sheffield Shield player, Greg ‘Gulgong’ Watson.
We were the trendsetters, the team to be copied, the club to be envied. We had the best spinners, the best quicks,
the best catchers and the best sledgers (T Buddin the undisputed king of the cutting, pertinent remark). And we even
looked like we were having fun on the field. Others still sniggered at our distinctive cap, but not in public and not to
our faces. The payback on the park may have been too embarrassing to endure.
Among all this success we never took ourselves too seriously. Sure we played pretty hard, but not in a nasty way.
We respected opponents when they beat us while hatching some scheme to beat them next time. We respected them
just the same when we won. We were happy to drink with our opponents because we had a firm notion of why we
played the game. The much spruiked 'spirit of cricket' is a rubbery ideal but I'm fairly sure we all carried it with us in
the peculiar varsity version of the Australian way, on and off the field, in those golden years.
In this vast, dry and dusty continent there is one delightful irony for me: it takes only four minutes to drive from
the SCG to the Village Green. Only a couple of miles from the sometime strut and bravado of first-class cricket but a
world away, just down Anzac Parade to meet the classless, lazy, laconic, theory-riddled, boozed-fuelled, black and
gold rawness of UNSW cricket where Test players treat fifth graders like Test players and fifth graders treat Test
players like fifth graders.
Of course the game moves on and living in the past can be pleasant but not productive. In 2007 the Village Green
is of first-class standard, the practice wickets outstanding and the students better dressed than ever. But I can guarantee that the sloth that only undergraduates can produce has not changed, particularly when it comes to training
discipline and batting collapses. First grade is a serious business, generally played well, by loyal men who don't take
losses or victories like they had a finger cut off or an OBE awarded. It is wonderful to have a heritage that players can
look back to as a benchmark, or a milestone. The one-day victory in 2004-05 was another marker. It would be nice to
keep laying down markers and reminding the doubters and sneerers that the Bumble Bee of UNSWCC is proudly
worn, means business when it walks onto the field, and will be around for a long, long time.
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