Carlton Cricket Club First Grade Premiers 1956-57 - Dramatic Premiership

Carlton Cricket Club | April 06, 2023

Dramatic Premiership

Season 1956-57 was a great one for Carlton. The final four was in doubt until the last ball was bowled in the home and home series, and Carlton’s dramatic rise from almost a hopeless position to the premiership captured the imagination of the cricket public.

In the first three rounds of the season, North Melbourne won a one-day game by 17 runs. Heavy rain washed out the opening day of the second round, but Carlton went on to defeat St. Kilda by 49 runs, and the Cup Day fixture saw Hawthorn-East Melbourne win by 40 runs.

With rain again a bugbear, South Melbourne closed their innings at 104 in the fourth game and, in the time remaining for play, Carlton lost five of the best batsmen for 10 runs. Play could not be resumed until 3.30 p.m. on the second day, but, in the wintry conditions, Carlton fought to 99, when rain finally wrecked their hopes with 35 minutes remaining for play.

A good win was obtained against University, but there was a disappointing display at Footscray. The last game before Christmas saw Carlton defeat Northcote by 103 runs.

In the warmer weather, Carlton amassed their highest score of the season – 6/315 – to defeat Essendon by 128 runs. Seccombe scored 59 not out, Wake 53, Denison 51, Thompson 48 not out and Numa 30.

Next game was against Fitzroy, and a great struggle developed. Carlton made 135 and 105 (Numa 47) and dismissed Fitzroy for 92 (Smith having the remarkable figures of 8/38 and 4/40). Carlton thus won by 43 runs on the first innings.

There was more excitement in the next game, which was against Collingwood, and Carlton won by eight runs. Carlton compiled 238, Numa hitting up 70, O’Hehir 51 and Farmer 43. Collingwood’s response was 230, Numa’s 3/35 being best.

The Carlton had a great win over Richmond by tow runs. Richmond were bundled out for 146, Farmer taking 3/34, and closed their second innings at 5/139. Carlton closed at 4/148 (Seccombe 55, Short 31, Numa 30, Wake 30), and lost 2/100 in a second innings, Numa being top with 56 not out and Trembath making 35. This gave a fifth successive win.

Unexpectedly Prahran halted Carlton’s progress scoring 271 (Smith 3/66) to 181, Lalor scoring 64 and Short 30. The next game, against Melbourne, was vital, as they were third. They could make only 110 runs against the hostile bowling of Bernie Smith and Barney Jones. With Bert Numa and Tom Trembath in the van, Carlton closed at 9/167. The Melbourne team collapsed for 70, with Keith Farmer and Jones the destroyers, backed by magnificent fielding.

As South Melbourne had lost at Collingwood, Carlton entered the four for the first time for eight years. The opposing team was Hawthorn-East Melbourne, and, with the first four hours of the first day ruined by rain, hopes of a victory were lessened. The Combine made 211, in 344 minutes, Smith’s 3/48 being best.

This left Carlton only 153 minutes to make the required runs. The real feature of the innings was the opening partnership of 121 in 74 minutes by Ray Wake (53) and Tom Trembath (85), and at stumps Carlton had lost 9/229. This left Fitzroy to meet Carlton in the final. In good weather Carlton batted first, and made 249, with Trembath making 65, Wake and Bob Denison 47 each and Fred Lalor 30. Fitzroy lost 2/34 that night and, on the second day, Carlton applied the pressure so solidly that the innings ended for 157. All bowlers worked hard, but Jones came out with 5/61. In a second innings, Carlton got really on top and closed at 9/441. Opener Numa made 106, Ron Short 111 and Denison, No. 8 batsman, 66. In the remaining time Fitzroy lost 3/62 (Smith 2/11), and the pennant was well won.

Numa again won the Club championship for the fifth time, closely pressed by Farmer, Smith and Wake (who had the highest aggregate). Numa also won the batting average and Smith won the bowling. Farmer, vice-captain when Baird retired, had easily his best year, he and Smith taking 97 of the 162 wickets secured.

Almost as pleasing as the success on the field was the completion of the new members’ bar and lounge. Despite the heavy cost, it was considered certain that it would pay handsome dividends because of the increased patronage. Howard Houston was a great worker in this project.

Jim Baird and Bert Numa were made life members after 20 years and 18 years respectively of service to the Club.