Almanac Cricket: A History of Cricket in Woomera 1948 – 2014, Part 8: 1999/2000 – 2013/14

 

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 8: 1999/2000 – 2013/14

 

 

1999-2000   

 

Results are unknown.

 

Award winners for the team were batting aggregate and average, Wally Broome; Bowling aggregate, Bugsy; bowling average, Luke Noble.

 

 

2000-01

 

Woomera were unable to field a side and a combined Woomera/Hornridge side entered the competition however this side failed to complete the season. Hornridge was based in Roxby Downs.

 

 

2001-02

 

This year saw the formation of a new side known as the Woomera Redbacks. A call went out for all interested players to contact Neville Beckmann, Joe Blatchford or David Noble.

 

Pat Crilly was elected captain and the team lost their first game against a strong Roxby Wanderers side by 31 runs; 129 -v- 9/98.

 

In the second game of the season, they lost to another strong side Olympic Dam by 59 runs; 4/169 -v- all out for 110.

 

The Redbacks won their third game of the season against the Roxby Rogues; 143 -v- 138. Pick of the bowlers was Joe Blatchford with 3 for 22.

 

 Although they finished fourth for the season the team was competitive and won a number of games.

 

Award winners for the team were: batting average and aggregate Trevor Staines; bowling aggregate, Joe Blatchford; bowling average, Andy Searle; best fielder, Colin Robinson; best team man, Michael Ingold.

 

 

2002-03

 

This proved to be an up and down season for the Redbacks; they won some games; they lost some games; they had one game cancelled due to bad weather; and they won another game on forfeit.

 

They did not make the finals.

 

 

2003-04

 

The Redbacks made the finals however they were eliminated by the Roxby Wanderers.

 

 

2004-05

 

 Once again, the Redbacks failed to make the grand final although they did win 3 games for the season.

 

In one game against Roxby Rogues, Wally Broome carried his bat scoring 72 not out for 40 overs.

 

Award winners for the team were: batting aggregate, Wally Broome; batting average, Chris Jeffery; bowling aggregate, Chris Pillar; bowling average, Michael Ingold; best fielder, David Nicholls.

 

 

 O’Donoghue Oval 2005 Match Between Woomera Redbacks and Roxby Wanderers

 

 

2005-06

 

 Dave Nicholls was appointed captain for the year.

 

The Redbacks finished second in the competition however they were eliminated in the preliminary final by the Roxby Wanderers. Scores were Wanderers 257; Redbacks 103.

 

Award winners for the club were: cricketer of the year, Chris Pillar; batting, Wally Broome; bowling, Michael Ingold; fielding, Scott Mackenzie; best team man, Dean Harmer; encouragement award; Mitchel Blackie and Riley Martin.

 

 

2006-07

 

Captain for this season was Joe Blatchford.

 

The side did not participate in the finals however at the Roxby & Districts Cricket Association (RDCA) awards three Redback players Chris Pillar, Wally Broome and Andy Searle were named in the team of the year.

 

In the association awards Wally Broome won the batting aggregate; Luke Budden won the fielding award; and Mitchel Blackie won the youth encouragement award.

 

Award winners for the team were: batting aggregate, Wally Broome; batting average, Chris Pillar; bowling aggregate Andy Searle; Bowling average, Luke Buddin; best fielder, Joseph Payne; junior achievement Riley Martin and Mitchel Blackie; umpiring, Martin Holland.

 

 

2007-08

 

Trevor Staines was elected captain for the season.

 

 Once again, the side failed to make the grand final.

 

Award winners for the team were: bowling aggregate, Joe Payne; bowling average, Joe Blatchford;

 

batting aggregate Chris Pillar; batting average, Trevor Staines; coaches award, Mitch Blackie.

 

 

2008-09

 

This was not a good season for the Redbacks as they failed to win a game. Everyone was looking towards the next season.

 

 

2009-10

 

 The Redbacks played their first finals game in many years however they were eliminated by the Roxby Wanderers; scores Wanderers 172 -v- Woomera 151.

 

 

2010-11

 

This was a far better year for the Redbacks.

 

For the second time in a number of years they made the finals and in their first game they defeated Andamooka 108 to 67. The hero on the day was Mick Ingold who took 5 for 9 for the Redbacks.

 

So, the stage was set for a preliminary final game against the Roxby Rogues in Roxby Downs.

 

Then mysteriously on the night before the match someone left the sprinklers on overnight and the pitch was waterlogged. The match was cancelled and the Roxby Rogues progressed to the grand final as they were the highest ranked team.

 

Most Redback fans were of the opinion that the match should have been played the following week and the grand final put back a week. But it was not to be!

 

Redbacks player Adam Willis was recognized as the best player in the competition.

 

 

2011-12

 

The Redbacks played in the competition but there are no details available.

 

 

2012-13

 

The Redbacks played in the competition but there are no details available.

 

 

2013-14

 

The headline in the sporting section Roxby Monitor of 09/10/2013 read ‘Woomera Cricket Club out for 2013/2014.’ The club president Wally Broome advised that despite the Redbacks having been in the competition for 18 years Woomera was unable to fill its team with experienced players with the town population now down to about 130 permanent residences.

 

“We can get the numbers but a lot are kids, and they just haven’t got the experience,” Wally told the Monitor. We are playing against older sides that are very competitive and we’re just not even close to that standard.

 

The Association left the door open for the Redbacks to reapply to join the competition in future years should circumstances change.

 

And fairy tales do come true for in 2017-18 and 2018-19 the Redbacks reformed to participate in a T20 competition run by the RDCA. Although they did not win a game in either season the Woomera community enjoyed the matches.

 

 Gibber Gabber of 02/06/2017

 

SUMMARY

 

I have endeavoured to provide details on some players however there are many others who deserve at least a mention. They include: early bowlers Les Patroney and K Cook, who excelled both locally and at the country carnivals; Wayne Brady of Centrals who played A grade in the SACA for Salisbury; Ivan Limb of Village who played A grade in the SACA for Woodville; Craig Hiskins of Works who played A grade in the SACA for Salisbury; Val Kurovic of Works who played B grade in the SACA; Gary Hele, Village wicketkeeper and batsman, and football Mail & Area medallist; Alan Grindley, a great allrounder who was captain/coach of both the Works cricket and football teams; Bob Brandt captain of Village in cricket, and twice best on ground in winning Village football premierships; Ian Pascoe of Works who played A grade in the SACA for University; Alan ‘Henry’ Higgins the fine ‘Jazza’ opening bat; Fred Wernert, Works opening bat and opening bowler who played in two pennant sides, and also in three Works football premierships in 1964, 1966 and 1968, the latter as captain/coach; Jim Harvey of A.S.C.O./Postal who won both the batting aggregate and average in 1964/65 and whom John Henderson was of the opinion that he was one of the very best players he played against in Woomera; Wally Broome one of the batting mainstays for both the Jazza and the Eagles teams who played in many premierships. He also played in two football premierships for Koolymilka in 1983 and 1985, won the area/mail medals in 1983 and was the first player in the league to kick over 100 goals in a season. He was also handy on the golf course winning many competitions; and finally, John Shepherdson who played in at least six pennant winning sides for both Village and Works. He also played in five football premierships for Works, Woomera North and Centrals and was captain/coach of Woomera North’s 1978 premiership side.

 

Finally, Darryl Smith is worth a mention. He is the son of well-known Village footballer Gil Smith who was coach of the Village 1961 premiership side. Darryl was the Village football mascot in the early to mid-sixties. Ten or so years later, after the Smith family had returned to Perth, he played colts and under-19 cricket for Western Australia, and was subsequently chosen to captain the Australian under-19 cricket team in two Tests and one One-Day International against the touring England under-19 side during the 1978–79 season. In 1984-85 season he played his only first-class match for West Australia against Sri Lanka.

 

I need to thank Phil Henderson for some of the early records and for giving his OK to detail the death of his father. It is an important piece of early Woomera history.

 

D Turpin

Maroochydore Qld

April/May 2020 (the year of Covid 19)

April 2022 (Revised and Updated)

 

 

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

 

 

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