In March of 1979, Western District, who were leading the first grade competition, played Northern Suburbs in the penultimate match before the semi-finals.

Norths, who were having a poor season, blooded some young players with a view to the future and realistically were given no chance against the powerful Wests lineup.

On a typical Majura wicket, that did no batsman any favours, Norths were sent in and bowled out in their first innings for 101, with Wests one for 22 in reply at stumps on the first day.

Rain during the week did nothing to settle the Majura wicket down, however, Wests Bruce Willett and Greg Beacroft on resuming their innings, safely commandeered the first 30 minutes taking the score to 41 before Willett was dismissed.

As the wicket dried out, the ball started playing more tricks than a magicians convention and in particular the decidedly quick Randall Strongman, was making the odd delivery rear from a good length.

Wests strong batting lineup were good enough to reach 6-98, only four runs from victory, when the wheels fell off and four wickets fell for no runs including three to Strongman in his last over.

Norths, having prised victory from the jaws of defeat, celebrated as if they had won the premiership, while Wests despondently headed to their dressing shed where their captain, Dene Moore, tore strips off them for losing to a bottom placed side.

Only a thin brick wall divided the two change rooms and Moore’s dressing down of his team provided wonderful entertainment to the young victorious Norths players.

However, there was still a couple of hours of playing time remaining, so Norths with one player absent, prepared to get in some extended batting practice for the next season.

The Wests captain Dene Moore was one of the great medium pace bowlers in the history of Canberra cricket and his competitive streak and pride, had not been factored into the equation.

Moore ripped through the opposition top order batting to have Norths 4-0 and eventually all out for 28, with Wests winning the match outright by nine wickets.

The Wests captain ended up with figures of 5-10 off ten overs and, in what must be a Canberra first grade record, an astonishing 8 wickets fell for no runs, Wests last four and Norths top four.