Manly Warringah 3rd Grade - 1987/88 Undefeated Premiers

Manly Warringah District Cricket Club | January 01, 2025

1987/88 was a fantastic season for the club, finishing 2nd in the Club Championship and plenty of promise for future seasons.

However, the highlight was our first grade premiership in 13 years with 3rd Grade going through the season undefeated. It was, and still is, our only undefeated premiership.

Across 14 regular season matches the team won 11 and drew 3, before defeating Penrith in the Semi-Final and Randwick in the Final.

Below is skipper Gary Flowers report in the 1987/88 Annual Report.

After fourteen victories and no losses a premiership was a fitting reward for the team. Successes such as this are only achieved through hard work and dedication and this team was no exception in that regard. Perhaps in hindsight, however, a key factor in the team's success was the victory against Sutherland in the first round of the season. Achieved against long odds it provided the players in the team with the confidence that proved to be the team's hallmark throughout the season.

Whilst there was some outstanding individual influences during the season the success achieved was the result of an outstanding team effort based around strong team spirit, outstanding fielding* and a strong will to win.

Nevertheless, throughout the season there were a number of outstanding individual performances which played a significant part in the team's performance. Without a doubt the success story of the season and team's most outstanding player was Gary Holmes who captured 57 wickets at an average of just over nine runs per wicket. These figures clearly speak for themselves and were a just reward for a dedicated player who has improved dramatically in the past two seasons to the extent that he is now pressing for higher grade honours.

Apart from Gary Holmes the team was extremely well served with bowlers all of whom made outstanding individual contributions throughout the season.. Scott Barclay demonstrated that he is an opening bowler of great potential with his effort in the semifinal against Penrith being a superb effort of true character.

"Merv" Hughes opened the bowling with Scott Barclay and achieved well deserved success troubling batsmen throughout the season and taking a hat-trick against Randwick early in the season.

"Merv" with the bat also highlighted the team's will to win and fighting spirit by scoring a personal best 69 not out against Campbelltown in the last round of the season.

Glen Evans did the bulk of the spin bowling and he also turned in some fine individual performances winning promotion to second grade earlier in the season. Apart from taking wickets, Glen also took some great catches and kept the crowds entertained with some typical innings.

The side was fortunate to have the benefit of all rounders such as Lee Pedrola and David Gainsford who made significant individual contributions throughout the season. David Gainsford in particular batted very strongly early in the season with one innings of 93 against Randwick proving to be a match winner. In the field David was also outstanding.

Lee Pedrola gave match winning performances with both the bat and the ball throughout the season. His century against Fairfield was an outstanding effort while his innings in the semi-final against Penrith showed a great deal of maturity. With the ball Lee also performed well, supporting the other bowlers and always placing the opposition under pressure.

In the batting department, Tim Blank was the team's leading batsman. Tim showed of numerous occasions that he is a class player capable of performing at much higher levels.

David Ford also played a number of significant innings and towards the end of the season regained the form which we all knew he was capable of. Both David Ford and Tim Blank were outstanding in the field bringing off some remarkable fielding efforts and catches.

John Scott earned promotion to the team after early strong performances in the lower grades. John quickly became an integral part of the side and demonstrated that once in, he had the ability to concentrate for long periods of time.

Last but by no means least was a contribution made by Andrew Fraser. "Fraze" was an integral part of the team taking over the wicket keeping duties after the injury to Brian Bilton early in the season. In this area he improved with each game giving very competent and polished performances in the games at the end of the season. After some initial "jetwatching" Andrew made a number of significant contributions with the bat, demonstrating that in tight situations he could always be relied upon. His "out of the ground" six in the final was indicative of his fighting spirit.

Other players who also contributed to the team success throughout the season were Stephen Colby who played in the first five games then being promoted to second grade. As mentioned, Brian Bilton was the team's wicket keeper and but for injury, would have been in the team throughout the season. David Patterson played during the season and was twelfth man for the finals. Bert Pearce, * Craig Vale and Tony Rodgers also made contributions to the team when they played.

The team was managed professionally and confidently by Don Sellin who was as much part of the team as all of the players. His management on a week-to-week basis ensured that everything ran smoothly and this played no small part in the team's success.

It is to be hoped that his invaluable services will be available to the club in future seasons.

I would like to thank the club committee for their support throughout the season and, in particular, for providing the practice facilities and conditions which were significant in allowing the team to make the achievements it did.

Special thanks must also be given to the club masseur Allan “Vet" Waters who was of great assistance to the team during the finals series. The club is clearly extremely lucky to have a person such as the "Vet" available.

Special thanks must be given for the efforts made during the season by the club coach Alan Campbell. The team's outstanding fielding was in no small part due to the emphasis "Gene" placed on this aspect of the game at each, practice session. In lead up to the finals "Gene" also made an invaluable contribution to the team's preparation.

Ron Holmes, as Chairman of Selectors, once again did an excellent job. Throughout the season he was always supportive showing great confidence in the team from the beginning of the season.

My personal thanks also go to the various parents, wives, girlfriends and friends who provided support and assistance throughout the season, all of which was gratefully acknowledged by the players.

Whilst this was the first premiership achieved by the Club in the last thirteen years, this team success in the 1987-88 season, I am confident, will be seen as just the first of a number of similar successes in forthcoming seasons.

GARY FLOWERS

Captain

Team Photo

A Waters (Masseur), J Scott, G Holmes, L Pedrola, G Flowers (Capt),

D Sellin (Scorer/Manager), M Hughes, D Gainsford, A Fraser, S Barclay, D Ford, D Patterson

ABSENT T Blank, G Evans