TH O’DOWD DECLARES 4 .April, 2014 Congratulations to the St.Josephs Cricket Club in winning its 3rd. GCA 1st.X1 flag, the last 25 years ago in season 1988-89. Being runners-up since that season in 1992-93, 1998-99, 2002-03 and 2003-04, it was a wonderful week-end for the Club. The “ script” could not have been written better as the season celebrated the Clubs 50th. year in District Cricket, joining the elite level of local cricket that season in 1964-65 instigated by Bro Stewart ,Chanel College also affiliating, the Chanel Club “folding” after just 7 seasons later but produced many excellent cricketers, the list headed by Mike Bowtell with 2,253 runs @ 46.9 plus bowlers Peter Connoley with 123 wickets @ 17.3 and David Ludowyk’s sensational 8/71 in an innings against St.Josephs in 1969-70. A night of celebrations by a trio of SJC Legends summed it all President Ian Courtney said “The 1st.X1 premiership victory was a just reward for the culmination of many years work from a huge number of people both on and off the field and we believe it will be the impetus for ongoing Club success” Ex-President Ken Gannon, despite his demanding job as the AFL Facilities and Project Manager (and gun opening former batsman at St.Josephs) reflected “It was great to be at the grand final and see a great bowling performance by Trent Walerys and then a great batting effort by Leigh Kentish with a stylish 75no (only bettered in a St. Josephs grand final with Graeme Beaumont’s 78 against North Geelong in season 1988-89, the Clubs last 1st.X1 flag ). “It just shows everyone how hard grand finals are to win and what players have to commit. Also to win in such a good environment at a great venue made the day a great one for the Club especially after waiting so long” Legendary Barry McFarlane, a friend of mine and class-mate in the 1960’s at St.Josephs was reduced to tears saying “To win in the Club’s 50th. year makes it very special. The smiles on peoples faces on Sunday night made all the effort worthwhile” This Grand-Final match will be remembered by former GCC 1st.X1 star record holder Trent Walerys ( 369 wickets @ 22.3, best of 7/59) with an outstanding 8/46, being the only bowler ever in a GCA 1st.X1 grand final to collect 8 wickets in an innings, the best precisely 50 seasons ago when Murray Allen blitzed Geelong City with 9/63, opening batsman GCA Legend the late John Russell felled on the third ball off the match and ambulanced to hospital after thumping Murray for two fours previously. The match was “won and lost” with Souths superstars in Joel Davies (2) and Clinton Peake (0) knocked over early but one hopes the great Clinton Peake “soldiers on” to achieve a first X1 flag for the Club he started with as a junior. Only ten bowlers ever have now taken 7 wickets or more in a grand final, the last by Peter Quick in season 1995-96 with 7/22 for North Geelong against Leopold in 1995-96 prior to Walerys outstanding effort off 8/46 last weekend. For South Barwon, a day when players are totally frustrated with our great game and “never want to play again” after a grand final loss but come the winter months and roll-on October this year as time is a great healer. The Saints will be eager to defend and secure “ back-to-back” flags whilst South Barwon will be even more determined to go that one step better after back-to-back Runners-up. One has to be feeling for South Barwon champion all-rounder Brad Hauenstein as he has “done-it-all” at South Barwon but is yet to have the GCA medal “imbedded” around his neck. Being the Club’s recold holder of most games, most runs, most centuries and second only behind the legendary John Ross’s wickets in a career and he closing in on Country Week record stats in terms of games, runs and wickets, this outstanding cricketer hopefully will play again for a few more seasons. He has been in career best form with a ton in round 12 followed by 93 then 5/43 in the qualifying final and now a defiant 53 in the grand final. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Ok, a brief look at grand finals 100 years ago, 50 years ago and 10 years ago………………… Actually 100 years ago there were no finals, in fact no GCA at all as it folded after 17 seasons. GCA Secretary / Treasurer Charles Brownlow asked clubs to affiliate for the 1913-14 season and only Geelong “A” & Geelong “B” did so, the two sides comprising Geelong Footballers and due to this apathy two Geelong CC sides were admitted to Victorian Sub-District Cricket playing its home matches at Corio Oval. With no turf cricket in Geelong, the Matting association was the nursery for the Sub-District team. So ended the 17 year reign of the GCA with two Geelong teams stepping on sat Oct 4th. 1913 from the indifference of local cricket into the keen competition of the MelbourneSub-District Association. As we know the GCA reformed in 1928-29 and is now one of the biggest Country Cricket Associations in Australia. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 50 years ago the season of 1963-64 witnessed the domination of South Barwon’s spin twins in John Ross with 52 wickets @ 11.1 and Jim Roberts with 31 wickets @ 10.1. Geelong footballer Gareth Andrews with awkard lift and bite made a sensational debut with 8/61 for Newtown & Chilwell against Corio whilst Andrews footy team-mate, Doug Wade transferred from GWC&FC to South Barwon and hammered 50 on debut with his new club. Paul Sheahan amassed 223 for Geelong College against Melbourne Grammar, the first double century for the College since Lindsay Hassett in 1932. South Barwon and GWC&FC lost their semi-finals Neil Trezise sensationally out first ball off the GWC&FC v GeelongCity match leaving Corio and GeelongCity to contest the grand final. The match is remembered as Murray Allen’s match, our late past President unplayable with 9/63 in City’s first innings of 124, the other batsman, former GCA Legend John Russell knocked out and ambulanced to hospital after the 3rd. ball of the match after the aggressive opener smacked the first two balls for fours. Brian Rhodes with 39 and Stuart Stacey with 38 formed the bulk of City’s score. Batting again, City fared a little better with 165, Murray Allen again in control with 4/47. Murray’s 9/63 still stands as the best bowling in a grand final . Only 10 bowlers have ever taken 7 wickets or more in an innings in a grand final, the last by Peter Quick with 7/22 for North Geelong against Leopold in 1995-96 prior to Trent Walerys 8/46 last weekend. Corio’s premiership team was Gordon McKay ( c), Derek Sandell, Colin Lockwood, Peter Osborne, Ross Allen, Alan McKenzie, Lyle Allen, Richard Perry, Laurie Winch, Milton Tattersall and Murray Allen. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 10 years ago, 2003-04, Newcomb & District was elevated to Division One together with St. Peters. BPH and Leopold were eased back to Division Two, BPH a controversial demotion in some eyes as it was the reigning GCA 1st.X1 premier of the last two seasons. North Geelong champion Alf Clark made a century in his 200th. game. Sam Loftus made round five his own with the outstanding double of 158 & 7/44 for St.Josephs against Lara, being just the 6th.player ever to achieve the century /7wickets double. St.Peters maiden season was extraordinary by playing in the finals but was beaten by the more experienced Grovedale, St.Josephs accounting for Lara to set-up a Grovedale-St.Josephs grand final, being the first time the two clubs had clashed in a grand final. Grovedale rattled up 9/281, being its seasons best. Gary Kelson’s 111 and captain Mark Baker with 80 were the foundation of Grovedale’s innings, Sam Loftus bowling his heart out with 6/103. St Josephs replied with 232 in a high scoring match, Ian Courtney and Damian Foster with 54 apiece gallant in defeat, Colin Millard 4/67 and Graeme Harper 3/45 bowling their side to victory. Grovedale’s maiden premiership thus “took the monkey off its back”, its first flag after 19 seasons. For St.Josephs, Club Champions and minor premiers the loss was a bitter pill to swallow for the successfully led Ken Gannon club, once again the “bridesmaid” after being runners-up the previous season, also runners-up in 1998-99 and 1992-93. Premiership team: Mark Baker, Gary Kelson, Colin Millard, Mark Brady, Clinton Ford, Kelvin Ford, Shane Poyner, Scott Hovey, Andrew Kent, Graeme Harper and Nathan Clark. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX It was another sad exit for Geelong last weekend against Footscray-Edgewater , Geelong’s 194 falling just short of the target of 218. However the rampaging Footscray-Edgewater flogged Essendon with 8/526 (dec) to win the flag, Footscrays total the 4th. highest in VCA / Premier Cricket in a grand final, the best by Prahran against Collingwood in 1921-22 with 688. In Passing for the season, this column for 27 years has selected the “GCA TEAM OF THE SEASON” (in my opinion) based on stats and balance at the end of the home and away season.