Penrith Cricket Club Poidevin Gray Premiers 1983-84
Penrith Cricket Club | November 26, 2023
Back Row – Bob Clarence (Manager), Mark Gouldstone, Barry Coad, Scott Dickson, Greg Sheens, Glen Dixon, Tony Middlebrook
Front Row – Craig Tuckerman, Michael Wholohan, Peter Ryman, Trevor Bayliss (Captain), Paul Thomas, Stuart Hogan, Darren Morris
The Poidevin-Gray is, like its little brother the AW Green Shield, a quality Competition and one whose continuing strength is absolutely vital to preserving high standards in the Grade game. There were five rounds played in a 60/60 format; lose a match and it was pretty much sudden death. Very often, since the age restriction remains Under 21, PG teams can appear unbeatable on paper because they contain a large number of higher-Grade players.
This team, though, was a broad mix from across all Grades. The captain Trevor Bayliss, and Barry Coad, were the only regular First graders; Glen Dixon, Mark Gouldstone, Paul Thomas and Scott Dickson were from Seconds; Tony Middlebrook, Michael Wholohan and Darren Morris from Thirds and Stuart Hogan, Greg Sheens, Peter Ryman and Craig Tuckerman from Fourths.
The results are listed below, and by any assessment, the ingredient that leaps out is “character in adversity”. You know … when the going gets tough, the tough get going. In fact, the results sheet is an excellent coaching document!
Round 1 - Sydney University: Uni, batting first, scored a solid 7/218 from their 60 overs (Dixon 1/36, Morris 1/38, Hogan 1/39). An even time opening of 91 from Coad (46) and Wholohan (61) set the scene for Bayliss (56) to forge partnerships with Wholohan and Gouldstone. Penrith 4/219, won with three overs to spare.
Round 2 - Western Suburbs: Batting first, Penrith scored 7/246 (Gouldstone 91, Coad 77, Ryman 27). Looking good … then it rained, and the re-assessed target for Wests (long before Duckworth-Lewis) was 125 from 35 overs, a run rate of just 3.57 per over. No worries! Up stepped the lanky Sheens, who revelled in the conditions (5/12). Wests finished at 7/115.
Round 3 - Petersham: The pitch was wet, and Penrith, sent in, crashed to 7/79 and looked unlikely to bat out their overs. However, stern rearguard action from Middlebrook (54*) and a courageous ‘tail’ took the score to 9/174. Petersham reached 65, only one out, before Thomas (4/38) and Sheens (3/48) sent them crashing to 9/131. So, mid-competition report card: this team has guts and seems to know ‘how to win’.
Round 4 - Balmain: Rapidly-maturing left-arm orthodox spinner Thomas (6/47) and the medium fast sliders of Hogan (3/59) whacked the Tigers (175). Penrith rattled up 3/179, (Coad 47, Bayliss 44, Gouldstone 35*).
When Round 5 (Bankstown) was washed out, undefeated Penrith progressed to the Preliminary Final against the highly-fancied Northern District: Sheens (5/62) and Thomas (3/59) skittled them for 191. Penrith (3/193), powered to the Final via an outstanding captain’s century from Bayliss (107*), being the partnership-leader with Middlebrook (30*) and Wholohan (24). You can sense the momentum building.
The Final was at the neutral Old Kings Oval at Parramatta, against the more highly-rated Randwick, a team mostly of First and Second graders, and, the favourites with the bookies. Randwick batted first. Sheens (4/57) and Dixon (2/22) did early damage. Randwick were 6/51, three out to catches by Bayliss. But, they took the tip—always bat out your overs—and reached 9/158.
It’s a funny thing about Finals that a score, often regarded as moderate in normal circumstances, can look like Everest in the pressure-cooker of the Play-offs. And, so it was now. Penrith was reduced to 5/55 by a fiery Randwick attack led by David Knox, who went on to be a highly regarded Rugby player. Keeper Dickson (58) and Middlebrook (20) revived fortunes with a sixth wicket stand of 75, but both were out with 27 runs still needed. The ninth wicket pair of Hogan and Sheens edged the score along, steadily closer. Then Sheens was out, and still 11 runs were needed. Could Hogan and Thomas do it?
Manager Bob Clarence noted in his report: “Hogan had the experience and Thomas was not to be intimidated.” Then three runs were needed … and Hogan, facing a left-arm orthodox spinner, played a mighty stand-up sweep behind square leg for four! The Shield was ours!
Bob Clarence was to say later: “It would be fair to say that we have not seen a team with a greater will to win, greater fighting spirit or greater belief in their ability to do it. It was a real team effort but it is worth mentioning the leadership of Trevor Bayliss. Trevor led by example. He was always in command of the situation and the response of the team is a credit to both him and the players.”
