Hawkesbury enters the Sydney Grade Cricket Competition - Grade Teams 1985-86
Hawkesbury Cricket Club | March 10, 2023
In 1984, looking to expand the Sydney Grade cricket competition, the NSW Cricket Association offered Blacktown a position, which they declined. NSWCA then seconded former State player and Riverstone resident, John Wilson to canvas Hawkesbury cricket and report back to them on the viability of Hawkesbury being invited into the Sydney Grade competition. Wilson inspected Richmond Oval, McQuade Park in Windsor and other local grounds as well as speaking to HDCA representatives. He reported back that he felt the Hawkesbury could sustain a Grade club. From this and other similar investigations in other districts, the NSWCA invited Hawkesbury, Campbelltown-Camden and Fairfield-Liverpool to form Grade clubs. Thus, all the old Gibson Cup districts were now in the Sydney Grade Competition. These four Grade clubs (including Penrith) still play for the Gibson Cup each season, using results from the Grade competition from that season.
In the Hawkesbury, a steering committee was formed and, after lengthy consultation with NSWCA and HDCA, decided to adopt the new Bensons Lane complex on the lowlands of Richmond as its home, rather than attempt to ‘take over’ some of the local grounds. The new complex was seen as having greater opportunity for development in the future, with the potential for 3 grounds next to each other. Local cricket legend Beau Strachan led the steering Committee and was the inaugural President of the Club for the first 4 seasons. The inaugural Committee was - Beau Strachan (President), Barry Smith (Deputy President), Adrian Lindo (Secretary), Phil Tuckerman (Treasurer), Frank Garay, Ron Hall, Russ Mitchell, Les Madden, Reg Sligar, Hugh McKay, Owen Earle, Barry Quinton (HDCA Representative).
In 1985, the first Hawkesbury Cricket Club sides played Campbelltown-Camden with 1st, 3rd and 5th grades at Bensons Lane. 2nd and 4th grade played at Campbelltown-Camden’s also- new, and very similar, Raby complex. Hawkesbury and Campbelltown-Camden are still the only clubs in the Sydney Premier (Grade) Cricket competition with the facilities for 3 grades to play next to each other on adjoining fields.
The newly formed Hawks had great difficulty attracting experienced 1st Grade players in the first season. A player brave enough was Hawkesbury product Malcolm Cobcroft (Cobby), who had played in the Penrith 1st Grade Premiership-winning side in 1982-83. ‘Cobby’ was made captain of a 1st Grade side that was largely made up of HDCA Martin Shield players from the previous seasons, plus a few players from other clubs.
The Hawks teams for that inaugural round were as follows:
First Grade
Mal Cobcroft (Captain), Ian Alchin (wk), Barry Coad, Steve Cross, Gary Donlan, Charles Doyle, Mal Frost, Ken Gunderson, Steve Maraga, Mick Puzny, Ron Sanday.
Second Grade
Steve Tuckerman (Captain), Graham Barlow, Robert (Sam) Demattia, Rod Evans, Ron Hall, Warren Kirby, Keith Maskey, Hugh McKay, Steve Richardson (wk), Warwick Tuckerman, Robert Watkins.
Third Grade
Scott Strachan (captain), Paul Airey, Brian Carver, Ron Evans, Todd Duffy, Bruce Earle, Danny McVey, Glen Rothwell, Ken Stockbridge (wk), Craig Tuckerman, Peter Watkins.
Fourth Grade
Adrian Lindo(captain), Greg Denmeade, Michael Goddard, Shane Lindo (wk), Gordon Lowe, Steve Rourke, Pat Sleeman, Barry Smith, Andrew Sparkes, Michael Weaver, George Wilbow.
Fifth Grade
Kevin Buik (Captain), Dave Bennett, Shannon Elias, Anthony Ekert (wk), Peter Garay, Carl Gregg, Dean Laing, Gilbert Lee Mat, Doug McIntyre, Alan Mitchell, Ian Raffin
Originally published The History of Hawkesbury Cricket Club
