Celebrating the Centenary of the MWCA, Part 2: Season 1935/36
Manly Warringah Cricket Association | January 14, 2024
Please enjoy Part 2 of a look back at the 100 years of the Manly Warringah Cricket Association with a sneak peek from the yet to be titled book by Stephen Shepherd. A fascinating look back in our history that we hope to continue over the the next few weeks. Enjoy!
SEASON 15: 1935/36
THAT'S QUEENSCLIFF. QUEENSCLIFF WITHOUT AN “E”
Clifton Leake had provided stability as President since 1930/31 but had to welcome his fourth Secretary in five years when H.Moulton retired in favour of R.A Baker on March 4, 1936.
The new Secretary, in a report counter-signed by his President, welcomed a new club – Protestant Churches – who finished third in C Grade. A “hearty welcome” was also extended to the Protestant Churches Cricket Association “which has been conducting its competitions on Saturday mornings, and last season affiliated with the M&WJCA”.
It was also noted that “at a conference between your Executive and the Manly and District Tennis Association, relative to the overlapping of seasons, a most satisfactory agreement was reached...”
Queenscliff won the A Grade for the first time since 1921/2 with 88 points, the Annual Report commenting that the club “no doubt owes it's success to a well balanced team. The runners-up, Narrabeen, with 74 points, performed well, but lacked the balance of the winners”.
Returned Soldiers, Premiers in 1924/5, continued to ply their trade in A Grade. In 1932/3 they came second, then seventh in 1933/4 and fourth in 1934/5. In 1935/6 their reputation for courage against the odds was recognised:
“Known for strong finishes, the Returned Soldiers, with 62 points, made a late run, to occupy third position”.
With their wins in B Grade in 1927/8 and 1933/4, Queenscliff's triumph saw them draw level with Brookvale as a four premiership club, though Brookvale still led technically with three in A Grade. Interestingly, the “e” on the end of Queencliff had been dropped from the club's name in 1933/4 for reasons unknown.
The main individual achievement in the A Grade was for catching, premiership winning captain G.Flynn taking 43 catches in the season, a new all Grade record which crushed the previous mark by 18.
The B Grade premiership was won by Balgowlah Footballers. Balgowlah Footballers finished on 88 points, holding off challenges from Manly Bakers (80) and South Manly (74). It was hard to distinguish whether Balgowlah Footballers were a different entity to the Balgowlah side who won A Grade in 1926/7 and who finished sixth in A Grade in 1934/5. However, there are no common players. It seems that Balgowlah Footballers called themselves Gas Co in 1934/5 before returning to their original name, therefore winning their second premiership as a Club. Still, as a suburb, Balgowlah had become the first to have a registered a premiership in all three Grades.
In C Grade an impossible standard was set. Mona Vale, who'd finished ninth in B Grade the year before, not only went through the season undefeated but won all of their 14 games outright. An “excellent feat” indeed. They had three of the top five bowlers, J.Henderson (71 wkts at 6.07), J.Belli (68 wkts at 7.3) and A.Lewis (43 wkts at 7.7) proving to be an unbeatable combination. But in the batting it was runners Manly Juniors who stood out, R.Taylor, J.Creary and W.Baker all among the five top run scorers, though Chas. Whiting from U.A.P led the field with 531 runs at 23.
The Association again entered a Telegraph Shield U23 team. North Manly's O.Robins (11 wkts at 9.81) and Lynwood's R Olsen (144 runs at 28.8) were the main contributors, but the team failed to advance after losing two of their three games.
The 1935/6 Annual Report gave “hearty congratulations to our esteemed Patron, the Hon. Sir Archdale Parkhill, K.C.M.G., MP.,…that a knighthood had been bestowed by His Majesty the King”. Parkhill, the Federal Member for Warringah, was in his tenth year of an 11 year stint. An arch conservative, so to speak, from 1934 to 1937 he was Minister for Defence and had also served as Acting Prime Minister.
Sir Archdale Parkhill
On a more sombre note there was the “loss by death, during the season, of Mr Frank Brand, an ex Publicity Officer to the Association and a keen cricketer in the district for many seasons, and we extend our sincere sympathy to his relatives”.
L.M. Ray, already a great servant of the Association, was really warming to the role of Treasurer, and a lot of his work centred around Ground Management. He noted that with the addition of “District Park Nos. 2 and 3, West Manly, Dee Why and Collaroy...the control of 9 ovals gave the Executive added revenue, and the outgoings increased accordingly”. The cost of maintenance and providing groundsman was a big item”, costing 26 pounds, with “H.Cooper (Keirle Park), C.Hatcher (Dee Why), J.Williams (District Park), H.Butler (West Manly) and J.McGrigor (Collaroy) “proving themselves most efficient in their duties”.
But the complications did not stop there:
“We are not unmindful of the fact that a second turf wicket is necessary for the District Club, and are still of the opinion that that this can be obtained within the District without any overlapping with the Junior Association, and to the mutual advantage of both the District Club and this Association. The District Park Trust have made preliminary arrangements towards making another ground available on District Park, and are also in agreement that the present playing areas are in need of top dressing and grading.”
There was a New Dressing Room built at Kierle Park, thanks to Manly Council (and I think it's still there). Balgowlah Oval was expected to be available for the forthcoming season. And this:
“A further application has been made to the Warringah Shire Council to place a wicket on the Brookvale Show Ground, but the Council concerned are not yet in a position to say just what the future arrangements will be in regard to this Oval.”
It is often lamented that in the Association's 100th year there are no turf pitches unless on loan from District or Shires. But history shows the preponderance of crickets grounds on the northern beaches is directly traceable to the efforts of the Association Executive of the 1930s.
RA Baker, in his first Secretary's report, dropped a hint to why this “young Association” was performing so well:
“Your Executive's desire to extend their sincere appreciation and thanks to Mr Clifton D. Leake, President of this Association. This gentleman has proved himself most courteous, and a very active leader”
The yet to be titled Centenary of the MWCA by Stephen Shepherd will be released in line with the Association's celebration of its 100 years.
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