Brian Riley the spectator

Village Green. The first grade final UNSW against Northern Districts in 80-81. I'm in the slips next to Jungle (Jim Robson), as always, when I look to the eastern side of the ground and see a couple of blokes settling down on the grass, an esky between them. It's Brian Riley, the captain of Petersham in the 76-77 final - a legendary sledger.

'Jungle, look who's just arrived,' I say. Naturally Jungle didn't have a clue as he was half-blind back then.

'It's Riles. This'll be interesting.'

Soon after we get a wicket and out comes ND's captain, the former Test player Ross Edwards. Ross had said in the press at the start of the season that a lot of ordinary players were making 500 runs a season and he'd be disappointed if he didn't make 700.

His tally to that day was about 380. I brought Henry (Geoff Lawson) straight on from the racecourse end and as he marked out his run, that familiar voice rang out.

'Hey Rosco, how's that 700 lookin'? Only 320 to go.'