Almanac Cricket: A History of Cricket in Woomera 1948 – 2014, Part 7: 1988/89 – 1998/99

David has researched and written a history of footy in Woomera from the years 1948 to 1992 which The Footy Almanac  published over 18 weeks earlier this year. You can read each part Here.

 

David has also completed a history of Woomera water polo and he has also written about baseball. 

 

Now it is the turn of cricket to receive  David’s extensive and authorative account in the Woomera from 1947 to 2014.

 

A History of Cricket in Woomera: 1947 to 2014

By David Turpin

 

Part 7: 1988/89 – 1998/99

 

1988-89

 

The football league was being affected by the drop in Woomera’s population and the same effect was evident with the cricket association which was now down to three teams: Centrals, Jazza and Works.

 

In the grand final Jazza 7/192 defeated Works 4/190. Wally Broome scored 91 not out for the winners and Chris Pillar scored 90 not out for the losers.

 

Association awards were: batting aggregate, Trevor Staines – Works 335; batting average, Wally Broome – Jazza 61.00; bowling aggregate, Trevor Payne – Jazza 18 wickets, bowling average, Greg Fuss – Jazza 2.8; fielding trophy, Jason Elliott – Centrals.

 

 

1989-90

 

Centrals, Jazza and Works continues as the only teams in the competition.

 

During the season Paul Sullivan of Centrals scored 100 not out.

 

In the grand final Jazza was going for 3 premierships in a row; Works was equally determined to prevent this occurring.

 

In the end it was a resounding win for Works who restricted Jazza to 77 runs, then scored 4/78 themselves.

 

Top scorer for Jazza was Wally Broome on 30 not out, whilst Mark Owen 4/20 and Billy Jayne 3/15 produced outstanding bowling performances for Works.

 

Works captain Chris Pullar scored 35 for Works in reply.

 

Association awards were: batting aggregate, Trevor Staines – Works; batting average, Wally Broome – Jazza; bowling aggregate, Peter Menz Centrals; bowling average, Charlie Payne – Jazza; and fielding, Andrew Searle – Jazza.

 

 

1990-91

 

Once again, the grand final was played between Jazza and Works with Jazza having a resounding victory. Jazza made 7/205 with top scorers G O’Regan 62 and S Maschotta 42 not out. Wicket takers for Works were Glazbrook, Billy Jayne, John Shepherdson and Mark Owen.

 

Works in reply made 9/154 with captain Chris Puller making a well fought 64. Best bowler for Jazza was C Payne with 4/35.

 

Association awards were: batting average and aggregate, Wally Broome – Jazza; bowling aggregate Charles Payne of Jazza with 21 wickets; fielding, Craig Fuss – Jazza.

 

The Mick Henderson Memorial Shield at Jazza was won by their captain and prolific run-scoring batsman Wally Broome.

 

 

1991-92

 

Works was favourite going into the grand final however it was not to be and Jazza won a close contest.

 

Asked to bat Works made 8 for 136 with Captain Bill Jayne top run-getter with a well compiled 43. Andy Searle was pick of the Jazza bowlers with figures of 3 for 22.

 

In reply Jazza made 5 for 137 on the second last ball of the day. Top run-getter for Jazza was Geoff O’Regan making 45. Bill Jayne had the best bowling figures for Works of 2 for 33.

 

Association awards were: batting aggregate, Chris Pillar – Works; batting average, Brett Pearson – Centrals; bowling aggregate Peter Menz – Works; bowling average, Russell Campbell – Works, fielding, Mick Glazbrook – Works

 

As it turned out this was the last season for the Woomera Cricket Association per se. After 44 seasons the last ball had been bowled however this is not the end of the story.

 

 

1992-93

 

Due to lack of players for each of the three Woomera teams the Woomera Turf Cricket Association was put into recess for the time being.

 

It was then decided to form a new club and play with an A and B grade side in the Roxby District Cricket Association.

 

As Woomera’s colours of maroon and gold were already in use by the Roxby club it was decided to use the colours of blue and gold and adopt the emblem of an eagle. Hence the formation of the Woomera Eagles Cricket Club.

 

The initial committee was: president Trevor Payne, vice president John Shepherdson, Treasurer Mick Raphael, secretary Darren King, publicity officer Sean Veale and committee members Phil Warner, Mick Glazbrook and Bill Jayne.

 

The club had some initial success with the B Grade side winning the competition against an Olympic Dam side.

 

Award winners for the team were: A grade batting aggregate and average, Chris Pillar; A grade bowling aggregate and average, Mick Glazbrook; B grade batting, John Shepherdson; B grade bowling, David Ashe.

 

 

1993-94

 

The club was once again successful in the B grade competition winning the grand final against Olympic Dam. Scores were: Woomera Eagles 6/119, Olympic Dam 112.

 

 Award winners for the team were: A grade batting aggregate and average, Mick Glazbrook; A grade bowling aggregate, Bill Jayne; A grade bowling average, Joe Blatchford. In the B grade Barry Mentin won both the batting and bowling aggregates and averages.

 

 

1994-95

 

Reporting for this season was very sparse. Before Christmas both teams were very competitive and even beat their old nemeses Olympic Dam. After Christmas there is no reporting except to advertise the season break-up party.

 

On another matter the Jazza Cricket Club at its AGM decided to wind up the club as it had not fielded a side for 3 years due to lack of players. At the windup BBQ on the 11^th March 1995 life-membership was presented to prolific batsman, captain and coach Wally Broome and veteran president and administrator Fred Coad.

 

The Jazza Cricket Club was formed in the early fifties by Junior Staff Club patrons and during its existence it won 10 premiership pennants, second only to the Works Club which won 12, possibly 13, pennants.

 

 

1995-96

 

This was a reasonably successful year with both the A and B teams making their respective grand finals only to be defeated by Olympic Dam.

 

The A grade award winners for the team were: batting aggregate, Wally Broome 500 runs; batting average Mick Glazbrook 64.2; bowling aggregate, Wayne McInnes 19 wickets; bowling average, Stephen Hiskins 9.75; best fielder Todd Steer. All five players also won the Roxby Association awards.

 

The B grade award winners were: batting aggregate and average, Kris Narayan 161 runs at 32.2; bowling average, Andy Searle Jr at 11.78; bowling aggregate Wayne King with 15 wickets.

 

Life Membership was awarded to John Shepherdson as a foundation committee member and for making a huge contribution to the club both on and off the field. The comment was made that John’s wife Dianne also had a few shares in the Life Membership for her tireless work for Woomera cricket.

 

 

1996-97

 

Both the A and B sides were eliminated in the preliminary final by the Wanderers sides.

 

Award winners for the team were: A grade batting average, Waly Broome; A grade batting aggregate, bowling average and aggregate, Mick Glazbrook; B grade batting average and aggregate, Barry Mertin; B grade bowling average and aggregate, Luke Noble.

 

 

1997-98

 

As in the previous year both sides lost in the preliminary final to the Wanderers side.

 

 

1998-99

 

Both the A and B sides made the preliminary final however numbers were down with only 3 players available for the B side and 8 available for the A side.

 

In the A grade game Olympic Dam made 360 runs from 40 overs; Woomera were all out for 84.

 

The B grade resulted in a forfeit.

 

 

More stories from Woomera by David ‘Dick’ Turpin can be read Here.

 

 

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