The Melbourne Country Week cricket Carnival kicks off next Monday…….For the 15 members of the Wangaratta side it will no doubt provide them with an experience that remains permanently etched in their minds – just as it did with old fellahs of my vintage – fifty to sixty years on…….
419 players have represented the WDCA since it became a separate CW entity in 1925 – after having previously competed for three years as a Wangaratta-Rutherglen combination .
The 2024 Carnival marks their return to the elite Provincial Group for the first time since 1977…..They have been declared Provincial Champions just once – way back in 1957 – but have collected a total of nine premierships in all Divisions……
Here is a brief outline of each title victory:
1933: C Grade:
On a brute of a wicket on the opening day, Wangaratta’s pacemen, Harry Kneebone (4/3) and Bert Carey (6/11) ran through Colac for 18……But they performed only marginally better when it was their turn at the crease.
In their paltry reply of 43, Wang’s brilliant keeper-batsman Frank ‘Dark Dawn’ Archman was the only player to hold up his end, finishing with 23.
After dismissing Colac for 127 in their second ‘dig’, Wang raced to victory, losing just one wicket in the chase for outright points……
A crowd of 300 flocked to Brunswick Oval, Fitzroy on Friday, to watch the unbeaten Wangaratta play Beechworth in the Final……They witnessed a thriller.
Beechworth totalled 7/243…….Wang faced their challenges in the run-chase, before finally overhauling the target in the final over, finishing with 7/248.
Archman was one of many stars of the week, with scores of 23, 136*, 48 ret, 60 and 51 for an aggregate of 318, whilst Alex Fraser compiled 310….Speedster Bert Carey snared 27 wickets…..
1936: A Grade:
Wangaratta marched into the Final by virtue of three wins and a wash-out. They were inspired by the captaincy and sterling all-round performances of Charlie Heavey…..
Vice-captain Clem Fisher praised his skipper: “Whenever the team was in a bad position Heavey has been able to pull it together with his batting and bowling…” he said.
Charlie Cooper and Ken Kneebone bowled exceptionally well, but it was the team’s batting prowess which was its strong point…….Wils Nicoll scored 276 runs for the week (Ave 138.00)
…..…Heavey (225 runs) and Fraser (260) were also outstanding.
In the Final at Carlton’s Princes Park, Warrnambool-Port Fairy gave Wangaratta a challenging total of 212 to chase but the upper-order of Clem Fisher (24), Alex Fraser (96) and Ron Nicoll (46) set their side on the path to victory……
They were 4/229 at the expiration of their overs…..
1938: A Grade:
A soggy pitch greeted the Echuca and Wangaratta teams when they arrived for the opening day of the 1938 Carnival.
The Riverine-Herald correspondent reported that: “Echuca was beaten when Roley McKindlay’s star was not in the ascendency on the first spin of the coin at South Melbourne……More than that, he had to face a wise old bird in Heavey, the Wangaratta captain, who made full use of his opportunities…..”
“After Echuca had been dismissed for 101, Heavey showed his shrewdness by calling for the light roller…..If he had used the heavy roller it would have brought the dampness to the surface with torrid results, ‘til the sun smoothed things out…..”
“The Wangaratta display was a really good one…..The partnership between Ron Nicoll ( the outstanding batsman of the week ) and Heavey ( who, I think was better that day ) clinched the issue……Wangaratta finished with 6/264 ( R.Nicoll 112*, Heavey 90 )……Heavey had earlier in the day taken 5/6, to dismantle the Echuca innings…..”
In the ensuing days, Wangaratta scored 5/308, 378 and 7/242, to qualify for the Final.
They dismissed Colac for 158, and were in early trouble, losing the wicket of Clem Fisher in the opening over…….But Ron Nicoll (74*) and Alex Fraser (85*) cruised to the target with a 165-run partnership…..
Ron Nicoll totalled 443 runs for the Carnival, whilst Fraser (307) and Heavey (270) were ultra-consistent…..
Wangaratta’s 1938 Country Week team celebrate.
The charismatic Charlie Heavey is at the centre of the group – ‘fag’ in mouth.
1954: A Grade:
Despite losing to Warrnambool on the Wednesday, Wangaratta scrambled into the Semi-Final the following day……They dismissed Rutherglen for 64, thanks to a fast bowling blitz by Max Bussell (5/28), Jackie Beeby (3/19) and left-armer Kevin Mauger (2/10)……
They lost just three wickets in the run-chase, with veteran Wils Nicoll, who had played in the title-winning side 15 years earlier, consolidating the innings with a watchful 33…..
So the stage was set for a riveting Final between Shepparton and Wangaratta which attracted a strong crowd at St Kilda’s Junction Oval.
Two of the side’s stars, Mac Holten (53) and Joe Tanner (46) piloted Wang to a solid, but certainly not impregnable, score of 7/163, in good batting conditions.
It promised to be a dour struggle, but speedster Max Bussell turned in one of the finest performances of his glittering career.
He crashed through a talented batting line-up, taking 8/27, as Shepparton were dismissed for 92…..Both of the finalists earned promotion to the top-tier Provincial division the following year…..
Two of the stars of Wangaratta’s ‘50s teams: John Brady and Mac Holten
1957: Provincial
After winning four matches and reaching the Provincial Final in 1956, Wangaratta were now firmly entrenched in the top Country Week division…….But their prospects took an early jolt the following year when Bendigo thrashed them in the opening round.
Two impressive performances followed, which earned them the right to contest the Semi- Final against Mildura, at Footscray…….
It proved to be a riveting contest…..
Mildura defended stoutly against a fiery Wangaratta pace attack, led by left-armer Brian ‘Woofa’ Martin and John Brady and forged a highly-defendable 9/173 at the expiration of their overs.
Thanks to handy contributions from veterans Joe Tanner (42) and Mac Holten (33) and a fighting middle-order 34 from Max Bussell, Wang were always in the game, but never more than an even-money chance.
On the third ball of the final over, Mildura bowler Allan Baston attempted to stop a ball which was driven back to him, and suffered a dislocation of both joints of his middle finger.
He left the field and, after a lengthy delay, the umpires called ‘game-over’……Wangaratta skipper, Holten, marched onto the ground and objected, arguing that both teams should be allowed their allotted 45 overs, as the match was still in the balance.
The umpires agreed that the final three balls of the innings should be bowled…..On the penultimate ball John Brady was dismissed for two, with the scores tied – 173 apiece……..Wangaratta were nine down…..
It was left to Wangaratta’s number 11 batsman – youngster Graham Kerr – to stride to the crease and become the hero of the hour.
Off the last ball of the day, showing no obvious signs of the palpable tension, and with fielders surrounding him, Kerr calmly glanced a single to fine-leg, to claim a historic one-run victory for his side……
Wangaratta had reached the Final and were due to play perennial power Geelong before a heavy overnight downpour forced the game to be abandoned.
It was originally decided by the VCCL that the title should be shared by the two combatants……But Wangaratta were adamant that they should be deemed the winners, by virtue of their superior percentage…….
Three months after the washout, on May 17 1957, a belated celebration was held in the local Town Hall to honour the Provincial champions.
Graham Kerr (front) with Jackie Beeby and Max Bussell at back, during the 1957 Country Week campaign.
1986: Division 4
The week got off to a shaky start on Monday when Wangaratta stumbled in chasing Castlemaine’s modest total of 150.
It was left to final-wicket pair, Rod Lane and Brian Fisher to add a nail-biting 19 runs to take their side to victory.
Wang were impressive in notching four straight wins, with dogged opener Ian Dinsdale compiling scores of 65, 107 and 81, to be the batting mainstay, whilst Rod Lane, Brian Fisher and Gary Lidgerwood proved an effective bowling combination.
They met Grampians in the Final at the University Oval and could hardly have been more impressive….
Paul ‘Pop-Eye’ Livingstone (79*), Barry Grant (57) and Graeme McMillan (50) piloted Wang to a commanding 7/228…….
Grampians were soon in deep trouble and staggered to 104, with Lidgerwood, McMillan and Fisher doing the damage with the ball…..
Brian Fisher
Rod Lane
Ian Dinsdale
1990: Division 3
Wangaratta lost just one match, to Echuca, on their way to an appearance in the Final against Central Gippsland, at the University Oval…..
Run-machine Barry Grant was at the height of his considerable powers and, in successive knocks, made 67, 66* and 69 on his way to a title-winning performance.
Scott Clayton also proved a handy back-up, with 211 runs for the week.
Grant’s knock of 119 ranks as one of the best of his five Country Week centuries. He and Scott Clayton (55) were the major contributors to a total of 5/223 which certainly gave Wang the upper hand.
But they didn’t have things all their own way, as Central Gippsland stayed in the game for a long period before they were finally dismissed for 171……Ian Rundell (3/19) and Darren Grant (2/22) grabbed the bowling honours……
Barry Grant, one of Wangaratta’s greatest Country Week campaigners.
Division 3: 2008
The week was certainly not without its share of close squeaks as Wangaratta survived three closely-fought encounters in the first three matches.
They held on to grimly pass Gisborne’s 8/223 on the opening day, ultimately finishing with 8/240 thanks to Aidan Ryan’s undefeated 62 and a handy 46 from Joe Ashdown (who had earlier taken 3/44).
A narrow 9-run victory over Maryborough followed………Then, on a soft track at Brunswick, which was the reason for it being reduced to a 25-over game, Wang scored 7/124…….Campaspe appeared certain to overhaul the target, needing just 20 runs off the last 3 overs, then 8 off the last, to be bowled by medium-pacer Paul Smithwick.
They fell one run short, at 8/123.
An undefeated 86 from Luke Morgan guided Wang past Benalla’s 134 as they finished with 7/213, on Day 4, to ensure a berth in the big game on Friday.
Joe Ashdown continued his great form for the Week by running through Yarra Valley’s upper-order…..He finished with 5/19.
Player of the Week, Aidan Ryan (70*) and Luke Morgan( 44*) combined, after a couple of early set-backs, to take Wangaratta to victory, with the loss of just three wickets.
Division 3: 2018
Wangaratta produced some of their best performances for several years in sweeping to the Division 3 flag…….Solid batting performances at the top of the order got the side away to a breezy start on each day.
One of the highlights was the opening stand of 86 on Day 3 in a touch over nine overs by Josh Newton and Jordan Blades.
Joe Thomas and Tom Nightingale, both English imports, proved decided assets…..
Captain Kent Braden produced possibly the best Week of his lengthy CW career, scoring 229 runs but Guernsey recruit Tom Nightingale, with 203 runs (Ave 101.5) and 8 wickets, was declared the Player of the Week.
Wangaratta looked to be in trouble in pursuit of Central Gippsland’s 175 in a tight Final.
They were 4/65 when Braden and Nightingale joined forces……Steady at first, and seemingly in danger of falling behind the required run-rate, they pushed things along nicely when settled, and their 102-run stand guided Wangaratta to a memorable victory……
Kent Braden: Has been a faithful, and consistent performer in Melbourne.
COUNTRY WEEK STATS IN A NUTSHELL
Most CW Trips: Max Bussell – 22 (between 1949 and 1975)
Most Centuries: Barry Grant – 5 (between 1990 and 2002) & Alex Fraser 5 (between 1933 and 1938)
Most Half-Centuries (50-99) – Barry Grant – 15
Most Runs in a Week: Ron Nicoll – 443 (1938), Barry Grant – 336 (2001)
Most Wickets in a Week : Bert Carey – 26 (1933), Max Bussell – 21 (1954)
Highest Partnerships: 250 – Clem Fisher & Alex Fraser (1937) for the 1st wicket, 245 – Paul O’Brien & Greg Rosser (1975) for 4th wicket, 243 – Clem Fisher & Alex Fraser (1934). For 3rd wicket, 221 – Wils Nicoll & Ron Nicoll (1938) for 3rd wicket
Most Wickets in an innings: 9/91 – Brian O’Brien (1970)
Most Wickets in a game: 11 – Bert Carey 6/13 & 5/27 (1930), 7/9 & 4/22 (1932), 6/11 & 5/39 (1933)
Most 5-Wicket Plus Hauls: 9 – Bert Carey, 7 – Max Bussell.
To see how the WDCA fared in the carnival click HERE.
This story appeared first on KB Hill’s website On Reflection and is used here with permission.
All photos sourced from KB Hill’s resources unless otherwise acknowledged.
To read more of KB Hill’s great stories on the Almanac, click HERE.
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Good to see these ‘lesser-known’ characters and stories coming to light.
Great work!
Great story KB
Where was the provincial final meant to be as I know even up to the 1990s they played the final at the MCG
I know in our league to was the highlight of the year with majority best players picked in the Timboon Stoneyford association though we were Division 6 &7, however by the 1990s you just had to make yourself available to get a game.
No offence to esteemed Almanac writer Luke Reynolds but he was only 14/15 at the time but he and I along with Luke’s stepdad and my Dad and couple of other father sons played.
One day we played Corowa Rutherglen league and John Longmire was watching.
We also played Kardinia Park which has since had an international game played there. I got a run out from the boundary in front of the interchange bench (with a relay throw). Made a duck there as well.
Dad would have played possibly close to 20 times as with Luke stepdad.
Dad highlights we’re playing on VFL grounds like Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, and taking 8 wickets at Moorabain