The legendary cricket exploits of W. J. “Tiger” O’Reilly are very well known. Club records show, that Bill took an amazing 766 wickets at an average of 8.7 runs in his years playing first grade cricket for St George.
Those same records show that another O’Reilly - John William (St George Player No 186) and no relation to Tiger Bill – played 9 successful seasons with St. George. At the end of his time with St George in 1965-66, this “Other O’Reilly” ranked among the club’s top wicket-takers after Bill, having taken 304 wickets at an average of 18.4.
In 7 of his 9 seasons at St George, John took out the club’s aggregate and/or average bowling honours. John was among the leading Sydney First Grade wicket takers in many of these years being the top wicket taker in 1958-59 and 1962-63.
