Manly Warringah - 2nd Grade side 1976-77
Manly Warringah District Cricket Club | December 10, 2024
The Manly Warringah Waratahs finished the 1976-77 2nd grade regular season as high-flying minor-Premiers, but were unable to take out the final against North Sydney. Still, it was a memorable season.
See below Captains Ian Howell’s summary in our 1976-77 Annual Report.
Season 1976/77 was an unforgettable one for the Second Eleven. Manly "Streaked" the opposition in the Minor Premiership Stakes, only to go down after a gallant fight to North Sydney in the Final. Despite this, we gained some solace in the knowledge that our contribution to the Club Championship success was significant - 80 competition points in all. Much of the side's success can be attributed to the great team spirit that developed and strengthened as the season progressed. Tom Purcell deserves a great deal of credit for this. ‘'Marlon'' captained the side for the first six rounds, earning the respect of all players, before his fine personal form warranted Tom's promotion to first grade.
The bowling department was our main strength, and here the perennial Brian Kinsey was outstanding. Two hundred and thirty-six point six overs, sixty-eight maidens, fifty-eight wickets at eleven point one, plus 5 runs and still ''BK'' couldn't get out of Seconds! His marathon performance in the final taking 6 for 66 from 26.4 overs (including ll maidens) out of North Sydney's total of 316, must rank as possibly his finest effort. B.K. now bowls with such complete control that Iam certain next season will see him emerge as a key member of the first eleven. Over the last few seasons Brian has set an example to the club's younger players, continually working hard on his fielding at practice. Last season saw Brian stand out as perhaps Second Eleven's most reliable fieldsman.
Ken Nichol enjoyed a fine all-rounders season. The ''Bear'' strode majestically to the crease at Chatswood Oval with our score tottering at 7 for 90, chasing Gordon's 153. Sixty-three runs and no wickets later, he elatedly left the scene of his triumph, congratulating Jimmy Stewart for ‘'stickin' around" whilst he "went for the runs’. Ken bowled with all of his old fire and pace throughout the season, and was justly rewarded with forty-four wickets. The opening pace combination of Ken and Jeff MacPherson was a class above second grade, and indeed better than most other clubs could provide in first grade.
It was a bitter disappointment for Jeff when he sustained a badly torn groin muscle in the early overs of the final, as his fiery bowling in the semi-final played a major part in our victory. Jeff struggled for form early in the season, but once ''in gear'' he bowled in sustained spells of aggressive fast bowling, capturing thirty-six second grade wickets, one transistor radio. He rarely failed to gain an early break through.
Bob Green very creditably bore the brunt of the spin bowling load, and was extremely unlucky to be named as twelfth-man in the final side. Bob bowled with great steadiness and troubled most batsmen with his ability to drift a delivery away from right-handers. When Bob learns to vary his deliveries a little more by use of the bowling crease and pace variations, he will develop into a top quality off-spinner.
The batting contained an excellent blending of experienced players with promising stroke-makers.
Jim Stewart was our most dependable and consistent bat, time and again steering us through tight situations. Jim is a very knowledgeable cricketer, and his assistance and advice to me was always respected and appreciated. I am certain that The Doctor'' would do Manly proud as captain of any eleven in which he may be selected.
Sam Mesite improved tremendously last season. Not in technique, for Sam has always had plenty of that, but in his mental approach to his batting. In both the Semi and the Final, Sam displayed great determination and concentration, and there is no doubt that once he incorporates these factors regularly into his game, then a permanent first grade spot will be his.
Greg Hill is another fine prospect. He started the season very well and continued his consistency up to Christmas, when he gained merited promotion to First Grade. Unfortunately for Greg his form deserted him in the last few matches, but unquestionably he is a player of the future. Greg at all times fielded impressively, as well as building a few mounds for this season's Rugby Union goal-kickers!
Peter Jesser came to us from Queensland, and although not scoring as many runs as he would have liked, Peter nearly always got the innings away to a good start. His gully fielding, notably early in the season, was magnificent, and 'P.J.'s'" great team-spirit made him a very popular member of the side.
Mark Byers, together with Sam Mesite and Grant Mairs, improved greatly as the season progressed. Mark's batting, as exemplified by his fighting innings in the final, is of a high standard. His wicket-keeping however, is where I feel Mark showed the greatest development. He kept superbly in the Final, concentrating well, and in Mark the club has a fine cricketer of the future.
Grant Mairs worked his way up to seconds from fourth grade with several outstanding performances with both bat and ball. His batting came on in leaps and bounds, and if Grant maintains his tremendous rate of development, then next season could be a big year for him. Grant bowled his leg-spinners quite well, and with more practice should become a talented all-rounder.
Rick De-Silva played several games in Seconds before rising to first grade. The experience gained by Rick should bear fruit in 1977/78.
Tom Spencer and David Packer both played the early games, performing very well and gained promotion to first grade.
Frank Turner joined us late in the season after being side-lined through injury, and batted very forcibly - his thumping 85 in 75 minutes against Mosman being a typical ''Frantic'' innings.
Bob Rickey played extremely well in both the Semi and Final, scoring two half-centuries and capturing handy wickets. “Six-Ball'' will be very difficult to keep out of higher grades next season.
Greg Simpson, John Seyffer, Bruce Tapp and Gary Flowers all contributed to the team's success in their limited opportunities.
The year would not be complete without thanking firstly our scorer Rolf Kinsey for his untiring efforts, and secondly the mothers, wives and girlfriends who so generously gave of their time and efforts to uphold the reputation of afternoon-tea at ''The Room at the Top".
Ian Howell – 2nd Grade Captain 1976-77
