Pep

Kevin Pepper was just one of the many Kiama players that had the talent, but perhaps not the drive, to succeed. Despite his formidable body size and ferocious ability with bat and ball, it was unpredictable as to when his talent was going to appear. Motivation was always at a premium, and trying to build him up to perform at the peaks required for the team's sake could often be a chore, and in vain.

As a teenager he was almost unnaturally big for his age – fearsome before you even had to face up to him, especially in juniors. He wasn’t a monster like some of the Pacific Island kids that come through in the football codes now, but in the same way he had a big upper body that was driven along deceptively quickly by his legs. Even in lower Grade cricket he could intimidate, his speed and bounce on the coir matting having many an opponent jumping around. He could make the ball rear off a good length, especially off that coir matting that was prevalent in the years before the use of astroturf became widespread, and in the days before helmets began to make their way into South Coast cricket, it could be a dangerous afternoon for opponents if he was on song. When he was fifteen he was pursued by two or three Sydney clubs to play in their AW Green Shield side (which is the Sydney Under 16 representative competition), but as with most things in Kevin’s life, it was deemed to be too much trouble to follow through with.

Of course, having graduated to the top Grades, playing on turf wickets, none of it would have meant a thing if he couldn’t back it up with something else - in other words, if he didn't have the ability.

Kevin, or ‘Pep’ as he was known to his teammates, wasn't just a bowler. His size also lent himself to some big hitting when he came out to bat. He certainly held his own as a batsman, though he tended to be very hit and miss – pun intended. His figures probably show he could have been an asset higher in the order, but that his value was in the lower middle order. While winners of the batting average award can sometimes be helped by late order not outs and runs against weaker teams, Kevin’s effort in winning the Harry Brown Trophy in 1985/86 was more a reflection on the lack of runs in the top order than any perceived ‘easy’ runs he himself may have made. He showed defensive capabilities when it was needed, but he was much more interested in hitting the ball to, or over, the boundary to ever become a serious top order batsman.

He played his first game for Kiama in Grade cricket on October 8, 1983 in 4th Grade. After just five matches in 3rd and 4th Grades, he bypassed 2nd Grade to make his 1st Grade debut against Albion Park Rail at Geoff Shaw Oval on January 21, 1984 as a fill-in, when he was still 14 years of age. He scored 12 runs in his trip to the crease, and took one wicket from his nine sparse overs spread over the two innings of that match. After this, he played the final two matches of the season in 2nd Grade, where he scored 52, 36 not out, 6 and 68 in his four innings, and with the ball took 3/34, 2/25 and 3/67.

The following season, with Kiama’s 1st Grade team still strong and competitive (reaching the final), he played all but one game in 2nd Grade, his one 1st Grade appearance coming in a match against Gerringong where he only played the first weekend when Kiama batted most of the day, his contribution being a second ball duck.
His season in 2nd Grade can be seen to be defining of his characteristics as a cricketer. He was still playing Under 16 cricket every Saturday morning, and partly as a result of this he was often a reluctant afternoon cricketer, and when games were played at Bonaira Street Oval near Kendall’s Beach, it was the surf where he spent more time than on the cricket field. When batting, he was rarely more interested than trying to find the boundary no matter what the situation of the match, and his bowling was dependant on his motivation. On occasions he was unplayable and treacherous, such as against Lake Illawarra at Bonaira Street Oval in the last game before the Christmas break in 1984. ‘Pep’ had been stung by some criticism of him in an Under 16’s game that morning, while at Grade training that week it had been suggested that he wasn’t worth his place in the team, and that a couple of medium pacers in 3rd Grade who were starting to show some good figures may well be a better bet than he was. (Let me assure you that this wasn’t a well thought out argument, as one of the medium pacers being referred to in that conversation was your humble correspondent, and there was a huge difference in the seam bowling ability between Kevin Pepper and myself). Combine these two scenarios and ‘Pep’ had found his motivation to perform. Defending 217 from the week before (Scott Butler top scoring with a windmill-wielding 135), ‘Pep’ was at his fiery best, ripping out the top order in a trice, before returning late to take two more wickets and conceding almost no runs. He finished with 5/38 off 29 overs, and was only unable to finish off the tail from sheer exhaustion.
Unfortunately, that kind of motivation wasn’t always there to help inspire him to greater rewards. However, after the New Year break ‘Pep’ retained that form, and soon put behind his slow start to the cricket year. He finished that season with 25 wickets at 13.72, and his apprenticeship in the lower Grades had concluded.

For someone so naturally talented, Kevin’s training regime was perhaps a reflection of the completely amateurish preparation of teams during the 1980’s – although in many ways it is still true today. ‘Pep’ would show up at training whenever the surf died off at Kendall’s Beach. He’d lope in with that lop-sided grin of his, and drawl away in conversation to the batsmen padding up beside the nets. These batsmen would be keen to keep him in conversation, because if they could do so until they went in to bat, he would still have to get his shoes on, find a ball, mark out a run and be prepared to go before he could get at them. But even then, you never knew which Kevin Pepper was turning up to train. Most of the time, he would just roll in off two steps and send down a ball at about 50 to 75% velocity (still enough to dispose of lower Grade batsmen), which he would do for half a dozen deliveries over the course of fifteen minutes, before maybe looking to pad up himself, or just deciding to slink off back to the surf or home. On some days though, if someone had been in his ear or he just wanted to blow off some steam, he would come off an almost full length run, pound in, and hone in on the poor net batsmen with short thunderbolts, before producing the perfect yorker to crash into the stumps or (on some unfortunate occasions) the unprotected feet or ankles of the batsman.
On one memorable afternoon, a fellow teammate had suggested at school during the day that ‘Pep’ had lost it, and wouldn’t even be able to dismiss him in the nets that afternoon. Well, the challenge had been laid down, and in all honesty, the person in question probably thought that ‘Pep’ would be more likely to be at the surf that day than at training. But no, ‘Pep’ was there straight after school, and he was charging off the full run. The antagonist was in no position to back down, and so in he went. Now remember, this was in the days before helmets, and there are not a lot of places to hide in a batting net. For ten minutes this batsman faced four bowlers in his net, meaning every fourth ball he faced was from Kevin Pepper with his back up. With each delivery, the batsman in question was backing further and further away at the point of delivery, but no matter how far away he was, ‘Pep’ was still able to find him, collecting him on arms, legs, wrists, hands, fingers, ribs and back. On his final delivery, the batsman was literally back up against the leg side net, a metre and a half away from the stumps, as the ball was delivered. ‘Pep’ still found him. As he walked out of the net, ‘Pep’ simply looked at him with the hint of a smile and said, “You know, you were right. I couldn’t get you out today”.
The following season, Paul ‘Bubble’ Stewart made a similar faux pas, mentioning to all around him that “I haven’t been dismissed in the nets this season”. This was like petrol to a flame, as ‘Pep’ went from just sauntering around the bowling crease to moving back towards a full run. For the next ten minutes, the sound most heard in that net was the pinging of metal stumps being knocked over, and the wave of laughter from the other bowlers in the net getting louder and louder. ‘Bubble’ was bowled on no less than nine occasions during that session, the majority of those by ‘Pep’. Just because he could.

Freed from the shackles of having to play junior cricket in the morning, the 1985/86 season saw ‘Pep’ graduate to 1st Grade full time, and it was a season which showed the full talents of the now 16 year old. In a season where Kiama missed the 1st Grade finals for the first time in four years, ‘Pep’ was one of the few shining lights. In the 13 games he appeared in, he only made it to the crease with bat in hand on nine occasions. On three of those he remained not out. His aggregate of 172 runs at an average of 28.67 was enough for him to win the Harry Brown Trophy as leading Kiama batsman in 1st Grade for the season.

But it was his bowling where he excelled. In Round 2 he destroyed Gerringong in their one day game, taking 6/27 in Kiama’s victory. Against Albion Park Rail in Round 4 he finished with match figures of 7/47. Wickets didn’t always follow good bowling. In the following match against Shellharbour he finished with 1/16 off his 10 overs in the one day fixture, but with three dropped chances and numerous deliveries beating the outside edge, it could have been so much better.
With 1st Grade’s season floundering, and an outright victory required, ‘Pep’ stepped up again in the penultimate round to try and wrest a victory. Once again ‘Pep’ was beset by bad luck, his 17 overs bringing 1/34. He was then promoted to number three in the batting order to look for quick runs, his 17 off ten balls helping the team to declare with a lead of 44 runs. On the second weekend, ‘Pep’ came into his own, tearing in from the northern end at Keith Grey Oval, taking seven of the first eight wickets to fall, helping to bowl out Albion Park for just 129. Though Kiama fell 25 runs short in chasing the outright (they needed 85 off 8 overs), ‘Pep’ had proven his worth. His 15 overs in the second innings produced his best figures of 7/36.
His season tally of 34 wickets at 15.91 was his best finish for a cricket season, and combined with his batting made Kevin an all-rounder to be reckoned with.

Ironically, ‘Pep’ then missed the first half of the following season, not playing until after Christmas, so that he could focus on his HSC exams. ‘Pep’ was as committed to school as he occasionally was on the cricket field - preferring to be in the surf or indulging in other ... err... passions... and not overly interested about the studying side of things. So when he didn't play in order to complete his exams (and once they had finished, to complete his partying) it was somewhat of an oxymoron. The fact that he then failed, and instead repeated his final year of school (with even more disastrous results), but still played cricket for the SECOND half of the season, even as he was repeating Year Twelve, it made that lost half a season seem to be a little strange.

There was no such mistake in the 1987/88 season. ‘Pep’ was there from the start of the season, and perhaps his batting was what kept him inspired from the outset. In the first round match against Lake Illawarra he finished 40 not out after some lusty hitting late in the innings. But better was to come.

In the second game of the season, Kiama took on Jamberoo at Kevin Walsh Oval. Looking to build momentum, the batting had failed to fire again, and at 6/148 it had been left to ‘Pep’ to take control. It was one of his favourite scenarios. The ground was small, the situation cried out for someone to hit the team out of trouble, and the bowling attack was not the paciest going around. He began steadily, taking the singles and two's on offer, and hitting judiciously when the ball was pitched up or just a tad short. Partnerships ensued – 44 with Col Wright, 35 with Gavin Hartley, and 38 with Allan Piper. As wickets fell at the other end, Kevin held his head, and his individual total moved along with it.
At the fall of the ninth wicket, 15 year old Jason Wills appeared slightly nervously at the crease. Jason had made his debut in 1st Grade the previous weekend as a fill-in, but this was his first game as a 1st choice player. It was some years before he became the fearless stroke player that blazed runs to all parts of the field. On this day he was just a skinny kid at number eleven, coming in with his larger and more ebullient batting partner within sight of a 1st Grade century.
‘Pep’ had made his way to 68, and with the young number eleven at the crease, he began to take a few more liberties with the bowling. Two balls were swiped mightily into the adjoining public pool at the southern end, another into the trees that protected the rivulet and picnic area at the northern end. In a matter of overs he had moved into the nineties, and his young partner had managed to nibble three singles through the field that strangled him around the bat whenever he was on strike.
‘Pep’ knew he was getting close. Whether he knew exactly how many runs he was is now lost in the mist of time, but he knew enough to be forceful in his meeting with his new batting partner. "Forceful" probably isn't the correct word. "Intimidating" is probably closer to the mark. As they met in the middle of the wicket after ‘Pep’ had failed to retain the strike for the next over, Jason's instructions were clear. "Just block this bloke out, so I'll have the strike for the next over". And as they parted, there was one final word of advice "Don't fuck this up for me". Needless to say, despite his best and bravest efforts (Jason's words, not mine), the young number eleven was unable to complete his instructions as laid out, losing his stumps to Tony Hastings to the first ball of that over, and the innings concluded with ‘Pep’ stranded on 93 not out. Though he is unable to recall the precise words that were said to him, Jason assures me that they were not the most conciliatory words he has ever received from a partner upon his dismissal.

It was as a bowler, though, that ‘Pep’ made his reputation in our Club. He rarely used the bouncer as a weapon. His pace and size was fierce enough without having to resort to short pitched bowling. He wasn't a big swinger of the ball, but he could move the ball away from the batsman just enough to get the edge, especially when his pace had negated any attempt at footwork towards the delivery. He had a good off cutter that could scythe batsmen in half on occasions. His other great weapon was his line, which rarely wavered from a foot outside off stump. He would curse himself when he strayed onto the batsman’s pads. His line was most noticeable on the rare occasions that he played 2nd Grade, because he was far too good for 2nd Grade batsmen bowling that line. He would beat them time and again, but couldn't bring himself to straighten up for fear of getting down the leg side.
For those of us that played with him, it could be a frustrating time when it wasn't happening for him, because we knew just how destructive he could be. As has been related previously, it seemed at times that he was at his most dangerous when he was bowling against his own teammates at training, rather than against opponents on weekends. We wanted to see that Kevin Pepper turning up every week, making the opposing teams shake in their boots about having to face him.
For me, one particular afternoon will always stand out as the perfect example of what he could have been.
21st March, 1987. First Grade Semi-Final, Kiama Vs Shellharbour. Oakleigh Park, Warilla.

Imagine the atmosphere. Kiama – the minor premiers – have been shot out for just 140 after winning the toss and batting. The Kiama side, though a little shocked and sombre, still believe in themselves and their chances. They have good reason for doing so after the season they’ve had, finishing at the top of the table, and having escaped from some similar predicaments on their way. Shellharbour – the reigning premiers – are overjoyed. They’re lucky to be here at all, having just scraped into fourth spot in front of Jamberoo, some would say controversially. They know that in the time they have left on that first afternoon, they just need to survive. Make stumps with no wickets down, and it’s their day.
By the fence, 'Pep' is simmering. His contribution with the bat has been a duck, run out by the skipper trying to retain the strike, and the send off he received with it has not enlightened his mood. Kevin never believed in the benefits of a warm up, and this afternoon he just keeps pulling himself up and down, back and forth on the fence, allowing his frustration to simmer, eager to get amongst it. There was no need for motivation that day. He had only an hour to let loose, and he wasn't going to leave anything in the tank.
Running in from the northern end, Pep was a study in beauty. The fluid approach to the wicket was like watching a steam train rocketing along the tracks, momentum and speed building as he thundered toward the crease. He charged at top speed until within a metre of the umpire, at which point he exploded into his delivery stride, the force of his boots making the bails quake under his feet. His release sent the ball careering toward the far end at an exhilarating speed.
There is no way to say what the batsmen had in their minds that afternoon – whether they were approaching the final hour of the day as a period in which to score quick runs, or to ensure their wickets were intact for the run chase the following day. No matter what they were thinking, the truth was the only thing they could concentrate on that afternoon was survival – both batting-wise and physically-wise. Pep was on fire, attacking the batsmen with ferocity, short of a length and making them jump around the crease. And those on show weren't mugs – Ian Grant, Greg Harvey, Barry Pearson. But that afternoon they were like ducks in a shooting gallery. They played and missed, they fended away, they ducked missiles, they took blows on the body.
It was awesome to watch from where I was fielding at backward point. I was probably a bit close, certainly if the batsmen began to slash at the ball. In reality though there was going to be none of that on that afternoon. The ball was coming at them so quickly that they barely had time to poke at the ball than to wind up and give it a bit of heave-ho. The only thing that was going to be coming to me was something off the top of the bat, possibly via glove, chest and head. Shellharbour were on top, but no one wanted to be batting that afternoon.
In his spell of six overs that afternoon, 'Pep' finished with two wickets for just six runs, all from edges. Grant was caught at backward square leg trying to fend off a vicious bouncer. Harvey had his off stump plucked out of the ground with his feet rooted outside leg stump. The not out batsmen overnight would both have sported bruises from the attack they faced that afternoon. Kevin's spell that afternoon had the whole Kiama team believing it had the winning of the game the following day.
The next day 'Pep' was still fast, but without the venom of the previous evening. He, along with everyone else, had the stuffing knocked out of his sails when, with Shellharbour teetering at 4/29, Rob Jordan was dropped at second slip by Stuart Holmes off the first ball he faced. At 5/29 and the top order gone, the game would have been almost over. As it turned out, this was still true. Jordan went on to score 139, and the game for Kiama was lost.
'Pep' finished with 3/36 from 20 overs in that match in one of his more memorable performances. In all 1st Grade matches he took 75 wickets at 18.35, with a best return of 7/36 against Albion Park, and scored 591 runs at 19.71, with a best of 93 not out against Jamberoo. The figures tell the story of a player who had the potential to be a destroyer, but failed to take full advantage of it.

In the end 'Pep' just wandered out of the game. Unpaid fees hindered any real chance of returning in later years, though the likelihood of him doing so was never strong. Occasionally during an off season you could run into him at the Grand Hotel or at Tory’s Hotel, where over a schooner he would speak of being keen to have another crack – a thought that probably left his conscious the second you shook hands and parted company. In the end the promise of youth was allowed to rest without any real regret on his part, but maybe just a little from those that occasionally played with him.

Hat-Tricks (Part Two)

Ten hat-tricks down, and ten more to relate to you about. As I sit down to complete this article, I have just read about 16 year old Ken Nguyen from Shellharbour, who last weekend took a hat-trick on his First Grade debut. As wonderful an achievement as that is for him, he has set the bar so high now that his next few games can surely only end in disappointment. Then again, some of our careers have never even reached that height.

A hat-trick is a rare enough event in itself, but how about having two occur for the same team in the same match? This is precisely what occurred in Kiama Second Grade’s match against Shellharbour which took place on 5^th and 12^th November, 1966.

Shellharbour won the toss and batted on the first afternoon and was comfortably positioned at 2 for 96 in the first session of play. John James had been bowling as first change, and surely had no inkling as to what would occur next. With the batsmen set, he managed to get a ball through Matt O’Dwyer’s defences, dismissing him for 8. His next delivery also did for Tony McDonnell in the same way, leaving another Kiama bowler on a hat-trick. The new batsman Terry Holz probably approached the wicket in the same way that all of us who have had to face a hat-trick delivery - slightly nervy, hoping for a wide or a ball down leg side that could be negotiated with a minimum of fuss or effort. As it was, John James threw up a pretty handy outswinger, drawing the batsman forward, though he could only nick his first delivery through to keeper Allan Crapp, and James had a hat-trick to his name.

With the Shellharbour innings in tatters, he then took care of Jim McDonnell two balls later, and the following over bowled John Estreich to complete a “Longbottom-esque” feat of five wickets in seven deliveries, and one of (if not) the finest bowling spells of his career.

Shellharbour, who had been cruising, was dismissed for just 128 when skipper Bill Leyshon took the final wicket of the innings, Don Senior. Kiama’s reply, much like “Longbottom’s Match” as described previously, was lukewarm, falling short of first innings points by being dismissed for just 118. Unlike the other match described though, Kiama Second Grade was unable to run through their opponents to set up a victory chase in the second innings. Shellharbour batted steadily, no doubt knowing it was unlikely they could force an outright result with the amount of time left in the day. Instead they used it as batting practice as the Shellharbour bowlers put up their feet.

Their score had reached 4 for 103 before Bill Leyshon introduced himself into the attack, with immediate results. Terry Holz, the third victim in John James' hat-trick the previous weekend was the first to fall, caught by Jim Kentwell. Replacing him at the crease was Jim McDonnell. McDonnell was not only on a king pair, having been a part of John James’ hat-trick in the first innings, but by virtue of the fact that Leyshon had taken the final wicket of the first innings, and had taken a wicket with his first ball of the second innings, he was now facing a hat-trick ball as well. Call it bad luck, call it poor batting, call it what you like, but unfortunately for McDonnell he wasn’t up to the task, and was comprehensively bowled, completing both disastrous scenarios for himself.

So, despite the first innings loss, this match was accorded two pieces of history that allow it to stand alone in the annals of the Kiama Cricket Club.

The most recent addition to the hat-trick club is Michael Hook. The medium fast swing bowler had bounced around the Grades since his debut several years ago, but had always been a potent wicket taker. Topping the District Third Grade aggregate in 2010/11, and a handy bagful early in the 2011/12 season saw him elevated back into the semi-final bound Second Grade team.

On the final day of the regular season, March 24, 2012, Second Grade was in a touch of trouble in their match against lowly placed Jamberoo. With the first week having been washed out, and other teams getting on the paddock and putting up big victories, Kiama looked a chance to drop from first place to fourth in one afternoon. Jamberoo had been 0/89 at one point, and was 7/133 when 'Hooky" was introduced for his second spell of the afternoon. From all accounts, his first spell had been tame, lacking his usual bite and penetration. Given that Second Grade had only played on one weekend in the previous seven, because of byes and wet weather, it isn't hard to imagine that he may have been under-done. Still, desperate times bring desperate measures, and he was needed to stand up here.

His first ball of his new spell passed through innocuously enough, but his second was a beauty, knocking down James Thompson's stumps. The new batsman was Brendan Dallas, who had been sitting around for a couple of hours, perhaps thinking that he may not even have to bat that afternoon. Now whether he just wasn't expecting what he received as his first delivery, or he lost it in the background of the Jamberoo scenery, or (as "Hooky" maintains) the ball was just too fast for him, Dallas shuffled in front of his stumps, only to miss the full toss that careered into his pads, and the umpire's finger was raised skyward to the rousing appeal of the Kiama team.

Nine wickets down, and the end of a long season in sight, is not a situation to easily walk out to face a hat-trick delivery. Rueben Campbell was the young man with this distinct honour, and though he may feel differently, he was no match on this occasion for the bowler, as "Hooky" snuck his next delivery through his defences to shatter the stumps, and bring up a wonderful milestone.

Gary Koks had been a potent all-rounder whose bowling had been as quick as anyone in the competition in the early 1980’s. The weakening of several parts of his body forced him to give away the fast bowling part of his arsenal, to the point where it was rare of him to bowl an over of any description.

On February 1^st, 1992, Second Grade’s faltering season was taking another tumble at the Kiama Sporting Complex. Having scraped together 157 in their innings of the one day fixture (Gary Koks with 34 opening the innings), Jamberoo had been curtailed to 6 for 104 before an irritating partnership between hard head Rob 'Brickhead' Mason and renown tail-ender Tony ‘Red’ Hastings had taken Jamberoo to 142 without further loss - within 16 runs of victory and with three overs to bowl. With few options left available to him, Kiama’s fill-in skipper (your humble correspondent) threw the ball to Koks to bowl his rather dodgy off breaks.

The first four balls were as rusty as you would expect from someone who was now not a regular visitor to the bowling crease, and were deposited for nine runs. Seven runs required from 14 balls, and with the field spread, ‘Red’ tried to put the resulting long hop onto the top soccer field, but managed only to sky it to Chris Sellars at mid wicket. Despite a couple of juggles, Sellars took the catch, re-igniting some forlorn hope in the Kiama players. The batsmen had crossed whilst the ball was in the air, and so it was Mason who faced up to the final ball of the over. It was a quicker ball - a real quicker ball, one almost pulled from the memory of the whippy fast bowler of yore. It pinned Mason to the crease and crashed into his pads before the bat had barely begun its downswing, and the umpire ruled in the affirmative for the Kiama team.  Both of the  set Jamberoo batsmen had been dismissed in successive deliveries, and the game changed again.

Five runs came from the following over, leaving scores tied with six balls to go. ‘Koksy’ was left with the duty of securing an unlikely tie, and did his part when Craig Hazelton tried to hammer the first ball of the over to the boundary, only to completely miss and be bowled. Gary’s hat-trick had brought Kiama to the edge of a redeeming tie. The fairytale ended there however, with the winning runs coming from a single with a ball to spare. Despite the heart-breaking loss, which ended any hope of a finals berth for the Second Grade team, there was at least something to drink positively about at the Grand Hotel beer garden that evening for the Kiama lads.

As a part of Third Grade’s charge toward the final of the 1998/99 competition, Brendan Moore was the young opening bowler who was a key element in the success that they had that season. On the afternoon of February 20^th 1999, Kiama captain Chris Forbes had set The Rail a target of 187 from a maximum of 18 overs to pull off an unlikely outright victory. Just as unlikely would have been a Kiama win, but The Rail had decided to chase the outright, giving Kiama an opportunity as well. The pressure was certainly on the young 16 year old bowling pairing of Moore and Ryan Omrod, and The Rail batsmen threw willow at leather with gusto. At 3 for 77 with the big hitting Martin Spears and cagey old dog John Hallsworth at the crease there was a growing possibility of a boilover. Fortunately for Kiama, Moore struck at this point, having Spears caught by David ‘Moz’ McCormack. The batsmen had crossed while the ball was in the air, leaving Hallsworth to face Moore’s next delivery, a long hop that sat up and begged to be spanked. Unfortunately for John, Albion Oval’s boundaries had been set back just a little too far, and he was caught right on the flags by Chris Forbes. For the hat-trick delivery, Moorey decided on a full ball at the stumps. Scott Tozer saw the invitation and accepted the challenge, but was only able to put the ball into Ian Pearson’s hands. Brendan’s hat-trick took the steam out of The Rail’s chase, and they finished at 8 for 124 when stumps were drawn.

Most Kiama teams have struggled when taking on Warilla at their Oakleigh Park home base, but Kiama’s Second Grade side had made a pretty good fist of it in their one day match on November 15^th 2003. Batting first, they had amassed 210 before being bowled out in the 43^rd over. However, it still needed a bold statement from the bowlers early on if Kiama was to be victorious, as Warilla had a particular joy in overcoming all obstacles to defeat teams wearing the blue and gold baggy cap.

17 year old Josh Elliott opened the bowling, a role he had taken on that season with enthusiasm. His short ambling run to the crease could fool – has fooled – batsmen as to the fierceness of his bowling. Once he reaches the crease however, the powerful motion of chest and shoulder makes the velocity of his delivery decidedly sharp.

With Warilla’s reply at none for 7, the excitement began. McCorry was facing, and Elliott’s delivery was full and at the stumps, rapping him on the pads. The appeal from the Kiama team was met in agreement by the umpire, and Warilla was 1 for 7. The new man was Davis, who was clearly unprepared for the pace at which his first delivery reached him. With his bat still deliberating on its action the ball crashed into his pads, and once again the appeal was received in favour of the fielding team.

Chris Sloane walked out to face the hat-trick ball at number four. Sloane was one of those guys all cricket teams loved to get out early. His cricket field demeanour was… of an annoying nature. He loved to be hated, and teams loved giving him little success.

Settling himself in, his back foot was a touch in front of the crease, despite being surrounded by fieldsmen. Having seen the previous two deliveries, and knowing that a third delivery exactly the same was coming in an attempt to pick up the hat-trick, Sloane would have been thinking about getting as far forward to the ball as he could.

Elliott’s ball was quick, his right shoulder ripping through. Sloane’s weight began to move forward before he realised that what he thought was going to be a yorker was in fact a searing bouncer, perfectly pitched and rising off a good length right at his nose. Sloane flinched, reversing his weight distribution as quickly as possible, and threw his gloves up to protect his face. The ball careered into the padding around his hands, and by sheer luck rather than good management, the ball popped up but went straight back down the wicket rather than in the direction of the men in close. On most days this would have saved Sloane, but on this day Kiama had Ryan Gunning playing, and ‘Nugget’ was the best fielder in the Club. From short leg he dived full length across the wicket, spraying dust and dirt into the air, and tearing skin from his forearms, stomach and knees – but he grabbed the ball in his outstretched fingertips. It was an amazing dismissal, one etched forever in the memories of those who were there to witness it.

One thing most people who have played with or against Josh can agree on is that, if ever there was someone who could produce multiple hat-tricks, then Josh is one of those bowlers. He can literally, in the middle of a terrible spell of bowling, somehow turn it around and produce an over or two of unplayable deliveries.

Seven years later - almost to the day - on November 6, 2010, Kiama Second Grade took on Jamberoo at Kevin Walsh Oval, the scene of Michael Hook's hat-trick sixteen months later. Jamberoo had been sent in after losing the toss, and had weathered the early going okay to be 1 for 44, before opener Grant Russell was dismissed for 21.

Elliott had been toiling away from the start of the innings, economical apart from wides, which amassed almost half of the runs he conceded. The wicket of Russell had brought Mitch Hudson to the crease, and the young left hander was going to make certain he was behind the line of the ball. He moved across in front of his stumps to cover any slanting of the next delivery towards the slips cordon, only to find that the ball instead was dead straight, cart-wheeling his middle stump behind his legs for a duck. Todd Bridge came in to face the last ball of Elliott’s over, and as so many batsmen have done throughout his career as a bowler, Bridge made the fatal error of shuffling across rather than getting forward. The good length delivery beat him for pace dreadfully, thumping into his pads and leaving the umpire in no doubt as to his decision.

A further wicket fell in the following over before Josh returned to the bowling crease, this time facing stalwart Jamberoo journeyman Brian ‘Hobo’ Harris. Having witnessed the carnage of four wickets falling for just three runs while he stood at the non-strikers end, he would have had time to prepare himself for what he was about to face. What came at him was a searing yorker length delivery, a pearler straight from ‘Jellie’s’ finest weaponry. ‘Hobo’ managed to get his bat down on the ball in time, but was only able to squeeze it out towards the slips cordon. Waiting there at third slip was Rob Farrell, who had only been summoned into the cordon for this hat-trick delivery. There was, literally, no time to react. The ball was travelling at such a pace that, had Rob not stuck his hands up in front of his face as quickly as he did, he could easily have suffered a broken nose or cheekbone. General disbelief turned to incredulity when Rob not only avoided some critical damage to his face, he also held onto the catch, thus terminating Harris’ innings and completing Elliott’s second Grade hat-trick for Kiama.

Like all new players, when Nathan Simpson arrived at the Club as a sixteen year old from Albion Park in November 1999, he was asked “What do you do?” Having answered that he batted and bowled, but was “probably more of a batsman”, he was chosen for three matches in Second Grade, where he did three things – he batted in the middle order and scored a few runs, he did not bowl a ball (though more out of the fact that 2^nd Grade had nine bowlers in their team most weeks at that point in time), and he proved himself to be one of the best fielders in the Club (a story that lies in another chapter).

With available players slotting back into the higher Grades, Simpson went back to Third Grade, playing against the Warilla White side at King Memorial Oval. He batted at number three and scored 10 as Kiama Blue was rolled for just 120. With Warilla White just passing their first innings score, skipper Mark O’Dwyer threw the ball to Simpson, no doubt to see what he could do. He immediately impressed those in the Kiama Blue side with his pace, and he finished the innings with 2 for 29 as Warilla White took a 48 run first innings lead.

Chasing an unlikely outright, Kiama Blue scored quickly to declare at 3 for 193 (Nathan Simpson 20 not out), leaving a little under 30 overs for Warilla White to score 152 runs or Kiama Blue to take ten wickets for an outright result. The ball was thrown to the junior speed tyro’s, fifteen year old Steve Ross and ‘Simmo’. ‘Rossy’ was quick – the word from his Under 16 team mates was that he was the quickest of the fast bowling brigade – but wayward and generally short. Nathan was immediately on song, moving in swiftly off a modest run-up. Unusually for a left arm bowler, he chose to come around the wicket, but was still effective, slicing through the opening batsmen. His partner picked up the next two batsmen, but was proving expensive, his six overs costing 54 runs. Simpson continued to penetrate, picking up another two wickets as well as throwing down the stumps from cover to effect the run out of Monie.

Whether or not the Warilla side had given up on the chase for outright points before this is unknown – one can only assume it was the case. However, the assumption becomes irrelevant as Simpson comes in to conclude his eighth over of the innings. Despite the ball now being almost sixteen overs old, ‘Simmo’ is still making it perform tricks, and his speed, though down on what it was initially is still too much for Ty Cherry, who has his off stump plucked out of the ground. The following ball to Ken Pitt is cruel, a late dipping yorker at pace that rips out middle stump before the batsman knows what has hit him. Number eleven comes to the crease with the Kiama team on a high, looking as though they are going to pull off an amazing come-from-behind win. The veteran Russell Park bowls the next over, but cannot finish off the match, leaving Simpson with his opportunity. The first ball of his ninth over is another screamer, bending back from outside the right hander’s off stump to crash into middle before the batsman had an opportunity to play a shot. The innings was over, the match completed, and Nathan Simpson had announced to all that he was a bowler first, and a handy one at that. It was his final match in Third Grade that season, as he moved up to open the bowling in Second Grade in the side he helped to propel toward the 1999/2000 premiership.

There was another hat-trick for Kiama in Third Grade that season, this one perhaps the least likely of all that have been taken for the Kiama club. In 1999/2000 Kiama had entered two Third Grade teams, Blue and White. Blue was considered the ‘A’ team, though their premiership charge was halted in the semi-final. The White team was a team led by veterans such as Ian Pearson and David McCormack, bringing juniors into Grade cricket. It was a very successful three seasons, with almost twenty players progressing to Second and First Grade cricket from that team.

The final match of the season between the White team and Jamberoo had no bearing on the final four in the Third Grade competition, but was still a success for the Kiama side who won by 161 runs. However, the highlight came on the second afternoon of the match, with Kiama pressing for their outright victory. Skipper Ian Pearson was performing the traditional duties for a team not playing in the finals and in their final day of the season – giving every player a bowl. Veteran Ross Wolf was filling in for the match, a role he performed often in those years, especially in teams that his sons were playing in. His opportunity with the ball came with Jamberoo having recovered from some early setbacks to rebuild to 4 for 69, with Reed having done most of the damage with 36. His innings came to an abrupt conclusion at this point, however, when he steered a ball from Wolf to Scott Koenig. With the batsmen crossing whilst the ball was in the air, it was the other batsman in the recent partnership, Jason Evans, who faced the next ball, the final ball of the over. Possibly also tempted by the short boundaries of Keith Irvine Oval, he also hit the ball in the air, finding only the safe hands of Ian Pearson to grasp the chance offered to him.

The first ball of Wolf’s next over was to Burke, and if he was aware of his imminent arrival into Kiama folklore he didn’t show it. However, becoming the third victim in a hat-trick to – and let’s be honest here – the novice bowling of Ross Wolf by allowing his stumps to be scattered, is a truly damning feat. The fact that Ross was not content with this, and then bowled the following batsman Callum Pirie the next over is even more astonishing. Thankfully ‘Pearso’ had the good sense to take him off before he could build up any further victims, leaving him with 4 for 10 from three overs, and a lifetime of bragging rights over more accomplished bowlers who have failed to pick up a hat-trick of their own.

Josh Jones, along with many of his contemporaries from the junior ranks, was forced to take a senior role in the First Grade squad before his time due to the generation gap that gripped the Kiama club during the late 1990’s. Fortunately ‘Doc’ is made of stern stuff, and didn’t shirk the responsibility that was thrust upon his young shoulders as he led the bowling attack.

On January 6, 2001 Kiama were busy trying to put their traditional rival Gerringong to the sword. They had been cruising for a decent total at 3 for 93 before ‘Doc’ and his leg-spinning partner at the other end (your humble correspondent) had run a swathe through the middle order, reducing Gerringong to a teetering 7 for 112. The wicket of Peter Neale caught behind by Tim Richardson was ‘Doc’s’ third for the innings and exposed number ten and eleven to him for the chance of a ‘five-fa’. Ashton Sims had yet to play rugby league for the Dragons or the Broncos or the Cowboys  in the NRL, but he was still a big kid, and he probably thought that the stride he got in to the next delivery was a decent one, even though it clumped him on the front pad. Certainly his reaction when he was fired out LBW, despite only a cursory appeal from the bowler when those behind the wicket went up in unison, was telling enough. ‘Doc’ himself admitted in the huddle at centre wicket that it “wasn’t even close”. Still, he had reached that pinnacle that so many of us have scaled and then failed to complete. Justin O’Hare was the final batsman for Gerringong, and must have wondered what was ahead of him. In fact, he treated the ball like he was a rabbit with headlights bearing down on him, and the perfunctory shuffle across his stumps only meant that when ‘Doc’s’ delivery thudded into his pads, the umpire’s decision was an easy one. Gerringong had lost 7 for 19, lost by six wickets, and Josh Jones was well underway to proving himself to be one of Kiama’s finest ever bowlers.

Update #1. The good thing about online publishing is that you can update it whenever something new and exciting comes along. And thanks to 1st Grade skipper in the 2016/17 season Nathan Barr, here is his description of the latest addition to the hat-trick club for Kiama, which occurred in the season just finished.

In a game against perennial heavyweights Oak Flats at Geoff Shaw Oval, it was 16 year old Blake Harrison, playing just his third game of 1st grade who joined the elite 1st Grade hat-trick club for the Cavs.

The Kiama opening bowlers had got the Cavs off to a great start against the strong Oak Flats top order with Josh Norris bowling his best spell of the season to remove both Nikataris brothers for 0 and 6.  At the 'houses end' tall left armer Glenn Cleary was showing all his guile and experience on a seaming wicket, tying the batsmen down and was unlucky not to have a wicket or two himself.

In the 10th over of the innings, Blake replaced Cleary with instructions from the skipper to bowl the same lines that had brought him success in his two other top grade games.

After a couple of dots, Scott McAndrew turned the third ball for a single bringing the experienced and dangerous Brynley Richards on strike. Blake's first delivery to Richards was straight and just short of a length, the moisture in the wicket from the rain the previous day saw the ball hold up a fraction. This had Richards through his defensive push a little early and he presented the easiest of return catches which Blake duly grabbed sending Brynly on his way for 1.

Jackman was the next batsmen in at number 5, a player that the Cavs had not come across before, but if his cricket prowess was even half as impressive as his beard this guy could bat. Blake gilded in and sent down the delivery which was a little shorter than his previous delivery and wider outside the off stump. It again sat up a little of the deck, putting it in the perfect zone for Jackman to rock back and cut the ball through point. The batsman gleefully accepted the invitation and launched into a firmly struck cut shot off the middle of his bat. Unfortunately for Jackman the shot was in the air and Ben 'Pumper' Jones swooped taking an excellent two handed catch at full stretch. Jackman was on his way and Blake had two wickets in two balls.

In at number 6 was Oak Flats captain Andy Twyford, another experienced player to face the hat-trick ball. Twyford took guard and the field was set with catching men in 3 slips, a gully, a catching cover and a short mid on.  Often on a hat-trick ball, the occasion sometimes gets the better of a bowler and they can send down the worst delivery of their spell, allowing the batsmen to watch the delivery harmlessly sail past. Blake, however did the complete opposite, bowling the ball that pretty much every bowler wishes they could bowl in this situation.  Blake let rip a full ball on an off stump and Twyford shuffled forward on his crease and prodded his bat out to defend that line. The ball then swung in late, moving past the inside edge of the bat and thumped into his pads. As the 11 Kiama players went up in unison for the LBW, the decision was taken out of the umpires hands as the ball rolled back onto the stumps, dislodging the bails. Twyford was bowled for 0 and Blake had his hat-trick, ripping the heart out of the Oak Flats top order. 

Hat-Tricks (Part One)

The taking of a hat-trick is an understandably difficult exercise. The success of snaring a single wicket for most people is tough enough; the snaring of two wickets in consecutive deliveries is a major achievement. How problematic is it then, to go that little bit further and make it three wickets in three deliveries?

Some people become obsessed about how “agonisingly close” they had come to taking one, or mull over how many times they have been within a mosquito’s wing of finally accomplishing the feat. Actually, it’s funny how people have stopped wanting to listen to me talk about the twenty eight times in my cricket career I have failed to convert two wickets in consecutive deliveries into that elusive hat-trick... though perhaps that story is for another time.

Keeping in mind the rarity of the event, the record of twenty hat-tricks achieved in all four Grades of the Kiama Cricket Club since 1946 is probably about par. Every one of those hat-tricks has their own story. Some are simple and straight forward - others are more interesting, unusual, and intriguing.

Phil Maloney’s hat trick against Oak Flats B Third Grade at Bonaira Street in 1987 came as a part of career-best figures for him to that stage of his career.

Bowling in the second innings, after Kiama had fallen for just 80 chasing Oak Flats B’s 91, Maloney bowled unchanged from the Kendall’s Beach end, finishing with 7 for 54 from 18 overs in a marathon effort. His hat-trick came toward the end of the innings, picking up Edwards, Oliver and Waterman as his consecutive scalps. Maloney’s bowling figures may have been even better had his opponents not declared nine wickets down in an attempt for outright points, which Kiama failed by five runs to chase down when stumps were drawn.

The Hartley family has had a huge influence on the Kiama Cricket Club over many decades, so it should come as no surprise that one of them was able to snare a hat-trick. Perhaps the only surprise is that eldest brother Ian Hartley was the only one to do so in Grade cricket for Kiama. He did however choose the day that his brother Alan made his 1^st Grade debut to perform the feat, and that sidebar was to become more fortuitous than either would have imagined.

Playing Gerringong at Kiama Showground on November 3rd 1973, Ian, like Phil Maloney some years after him, bowled unchanged through the first innings. On the face of it, his spell was certainly shorter and perhaps more damaging. He had the first two wickets Boxsell and Skeers back in the shed with the total on just three – both caught by younger brother Alan on debut. A recovery of sorts took place, until with the score on 17 Hartley struck again, this time bowling Norm Carradus for 7. Jeff Grant came to the crease and immediately edged behind to keeper Keith Brown. Barry Watkin replaced him, but was powerless to stop the next delivery careering into the stumps, giving Hartley his fifth wicket for the innings as well as completing his hat-trick.

After a mini-recovery Hartley removed Malcolm Thompson to have all six wickets in the innings to that point. A run out, along with Milton Cox coming on first change and snaring two wickets, stopped the procession, but he managed to pick up one last wicket, once again with the help of Alan, whose three catches as a fieldsman on debut in First Grade is unmatched in Kiama history. Ian finished with 7 for 25 in that innings, and his 3 for 8 in the second gave him his first ten wicket haul in First Grade.

Tony Douglas completed the Second Grade match against Gerringong in 1970 in victory for Kiama with his hat-trick. His first two wickets came from the final two balls of his sixth over, leaving Gerringong at 8 for 27 chasing 138 for victory. Brian Dore bowled a wicket maiden in the following over, before Douglas bowled Mick ‘Flash’ Ashmore for a golden duck to complete his trio of wickets.

Five years later, and having changed his allegiance to the Kiama club, 'Flash' himself took a hat-trick in the Third Grade match against Lake Illawarra on March 1, 1975. Kiama had lost first innings, and having set Lake 108 runs to win outright on the second afternoon, they needed their bowlers to stand up and provide some real penetration. Fortunately, 'Flash' chose this moment to take a stand, with the Lake batsmen having a real crack at chasing down the target in the few overs available to them. Bowling through the innings with Allan Snelling at the other end, 'Flash' ran through the Lake batting, finishing with 7 for 33, including his hat-trick which he took in the middle order. Combined with his 5 for 41 in the first innings, and his 32 runs in the first innings with the bat, and the match was a personal triumph.

In his first match for Kiama in the newly merged S.C.D.C.A competition, Arthur Pepper completed a hat-trick in the second innings against Tullimount Second Grade on November 9^th, 1946. It was late on the second afternoon, with Kiama having secured a one run lead on the first innings. In those days there was no bonus points system, so with little time left Tullimount was left to bat out the afternoon as best they could. In his third over, J Willis tried to loft Pepper over cover but only found Haddy Canham’s safe hands, which took the catch. The following delivery, new batsman McCormack played an identical shot, for an identical dismissal. Enter B Willis, whose brother was the first wicket to fall. No doubt aware of the situation, he apparently tried to defend a straight delivery from Pepper, but only managed to leave a gap between bat and pad which the ball squeezed through, completing the hat-trick by losing his middle stump.

Ben Lidden marked his arrival in Kiama with a hat-trick on debut, and in First Grade as well. Playing in the opening round of the 1952-53 season against Jamberoo, Lidden had to cool his heels while the quartet of Allan Snelling, Bill Longbottom, Leo Henry and Nev Regan all had their opportunity at the batsmen on show. Jamberoo, with only ten players, had progressed along to 6 for 110 before ‘The Lithgow Terror’ was thrown the ball. His early deliveries were swift but erratic in length, and enough for those watching to confirm his nickname was justified. With his sixth delivery he uprooted the stumps of Hogan, who must have been confused as to what he would receive next. Whether this was playing on the minds of the incoming batsmen is impossible to tell, but Lidden’s next delivery was similar to the previous one, and left the stumps scattered. Noel Hamilton was the final batsman to the crease, and his feet were rooted to the spot as he flayed at another Lidden screamer, but only managed to nick it through to keeper Len Bickel to complete the hat-trick. Much was made of this over in the Kiama Independent and through word of mouth in the following week, but it mostly came to nothing. In the second innings Lidden went for none for 25, and played only four other matches during the season, all in Second Grade. Four further matches in Second Grade the following season were the final in his career with Kiama.

Steve Buchan was a medium pace bowler who played Fourth Grade with the premiership teams in the early to mid 1990’s. His hat-trick came against the old foes, Gerringong in the first match after the New Year break in January 1994. His first two wickets were straight forward, but it was his third victim who, from all reports, stole the show. In an attempt to throw off the bowler, the batsman charged at the bowler before he released the ball, but then also moved back into his crease at the point of delivery. The resulting shot was part slash over slips, part self preservation, part defensive prod. The problem was, the ball was of a good length, and it crashed into the stumps. Play was apparently held up for some time as both sides tried to recuperate from their laughter following the event.

Arguably the Kiama Cricket Club’s greatest player, Bill Longbottom, took three hat-tricks for Kiama in the years after the Second World War, more than any other bowler.

His first was in the second round match against Jamberoo Second Grade on October 28, 1950. Jamberoo had secured first innings points in a low scoring derby, and had then batted on through most of the second afternoon without looking to exploit an outright result. At 7 for 177 it appeared as though they were going to bat until stumps, until the re-introduction of Longbottom to the attack saw all three final wickets fall in successive deliveries. Willie Jones, who had opened the innings and made 89 was the first to go. This exposed numbers ten and eleven to the wily medium pacer, and he soon cleaned them up to complete his hat-trick, bowling the number eleven Alexander to put the issue beyond doubt.

His second hat-trick came in the following season, in the First Grade match against Albion Park at Kiama Showground played on the 16^th and 23^rd of February, 1952. The match itself was one of the best (statistically) of Longbottom’s career. Albion Park won the toss and batted first, and had made a pretty good fist of the innings at 4 for 95 before Longbottom forced their hand, destroying the middle and lower order. The last six wickets fell for just ten runs and the innings closed at 105. Longbottom finished with 5 for 25, his first five wicket haul in First Grade in the S.C.D.C.A competition. Kiama’s reply was not sufficient to take first innings points, falling for just 81 runs. Needing to make immediate inroads, Kiama’s captain Keith Young, who had bowled Longbottom at second change in the first innings, now decided to throw him the new ball – with devastating results. With the score on just two, Longbottom crashed through the Park top order, clean bowling Mick Pearson, John Stubbs and Des Stubbs with three deliveries. He ended up bowling through the innings, with Albion Park being dismissed for just 60. Longbottom finished with 6 for 17 for the innings, a match haul of 11 for 42, and Kiama went on to win the game outright.

Is it possible to beat that for a match effort? 11 wickets for the match, five in each innings, and a hat-trick in the bargain? Most of us would believe not. But most of us aren’t Bill Longbottom.

Kiama won the toss in their second round match against Albion Park First Grade at Kiama Showground on October 17, 1953, batted first, and went on to score 177 in their first innings. Batting in the middle order, Longbottom contributed the top score of 33 runs, proving his all round value once again.

Albion Park began their reply, and apart from the loss of Williams had most along steadily to 1 for 25, before skipper Arthur Hall made a bowling change, bringing Longbottom into the attack. And so began one of the most remarkable spells of bowling in Club and District history.

The first three balls of the over passed without event. The fourth ball found John Stubbs, already a part of one Longbottom hat-trick, lofting to Allan Snelling and being dismissed for 12. The fifth ball of the over was to Beattie, who had crossed while the catch was being taken the previous delivery. Beattie failed to learn from his dismissed partner, hitting that delivery to Alan Carson who also took the catch, dismissing the batsman for 12. With the batsmen crossing again, it was left to Crocker to see out the hat-trick delivery, but an edge saw him snapped up by Leo Henry, and Longbottom had completed yet another hat-trick.

But the fun didn’t stop there. Connaughton came to the crease to face the seventh ball of Longbottom’s first over, but he was just as ill-equipped to handle the seaming and swinging ball, and only managed to nick it through to keeper Len Bickel to complete a rare ‘double’ hat-trick of four wickets in four deliveries. The next batsman Brooker was able to see off the final delivery of the over, leaving Longbottom with 4 for none off one over, and Albion Park reeling at 5 for 25.

Longbottom began his second over by conceding a three to Ken Hickey. Whether this was a ploy or not is unknown, but with his following delivery he bowled Brooker, meaning he had taken five wickets in just seven deliveries. The rest of the over failed to see either wickets or runs, leaving Longbottom with 5 for 3 off two overs.

His third over was more eventful, with two further wickets. With the first ball of his fourth over, Longbottom dismissed Des Stubbs, closing out the Albion Park innings at just 36. Longbottom’s 3.1 overs had brought him the unbelievable figures of 8 for 3. And as Albion Park had only ten players on that day, it is not stretching the realms of possibility to think that he would have finished with nine wickets had they had their full allotment on that day.

Albion Park followed on and was dismissed for 58 in their second innings, leaving Kiama as victors by an innings and 85 runs. Longbottom’s figures in the second innings? None for 29 from six overs. Cricket is a great leveller, but the great ones do shine brightly on more occasions than not.

Initial Success - The First Premierships (Part Two)

After the disappointment of missing the final in 1946/47, Kiama First Grade did not make the same mistake the following season. Once the preliminary rounds had been completed, it was to be Kiama and Albion Park lining up against each other for a tilt at the title.

The teams had played each other twice during the season. Albion Park had a comfortable 54 run first innings victory in the match prior to Christmas, with Brian Raftery’s 69 being the stand out. Their second encounter had been in the final round of the competition, with the match drawn when Albion Park appealed against the light at 5.20pm on the second afternoon. At 6 for 135 chasing Kiama’s total of 183 a result either way had still been possible. Brian Raftery was again in the runs, compiling 59, while Ned McAdam for Kiama had scored 68. The two results perhaps had Albion Park holding the upper hand going into the final, but not by a great margin.

The final began on Saturday afternoon, April 3rd 1948, at the Shellharbour ground. It was a late end to the cricket season, one that threatened to run into the rugby league and rugby union seasons as a result. No one at the time knew just how late the season would run…

Kiama skipper Keith Young won the toss and duly elected to bat in what was a time honoured tradition. Just as impressive was their start. Openers Noel Simmons and Stewart Warnock played immaculately on the well prepared surface. Albion Park’s initial bowling attack of King, Guthrie, Lamerton and Parnell made no impression as Kiama reached 58 without loss. With no immediate ideas of where a break through might come, Kiama provided one for themselves, with a call for a sharp single from Warnock finding Simmons not up to the challenge, and the throw to the keeper’s end leaving him short of his ground.
The Kiama innings from this point was distinguished by three good partnerships, and then a gaggle of wickets immediately following them. Another good partnership took place between Warnock and McAdam, taking the total to 90, which must have been an imposing thought upon the opposition. Two wickets for two runs helped to bring the Park side back into contention. Warnock and John East (fully recovered from his broken arm from the previous season’s 2nd Grade final) then added 40 for the fourth wicket, before they both fell along with Col Raison in the space of one run.
“Shim” Tull and Malcolm Joyner then got together and scored 66 between them in an entertaining partnership which reinstated Kiama’s supremacy. From all reports available, “Shim” was never a man to die wondering with the bat in his hand, and was not one to allow the occasion to weigh him down. In his whirlwind innings, he smashed three sixes over the boundary, and a few others that landed just short to be call fours. His innings of 47 was only cut short when Noel Lamerton finally got a ball past his blazing bat to fell his stumps. The day’s play was called off not long after, and Kiama was set at 7 for 189 after the first Saturday’s play.

On the second Saturday, the Kiama team was able to add another 33 runs to their overnight total in losing their final three wickets. With a first innings total of 222, the Kiama side would have been well pleased as they took the field for Albion Park’s reply. Few sides lose matches with such a total on the board, and though this match would be played to an outright conclusion, it was just the start a team would want.

Albion Park began their first innings on that second Saturday afternoon, and made steady progress. The major difference from the Kiama innings was that there was no significant partnership to set the total up. The first wicket put on 30 runs, and the total had reached 1 for 51 without any danger, but from that point on wickets tumbled before another duo could get themselves set. Albion Park’s opener, Alan O’Keefe, was the mainstay of the reply, scoring 55 before he was the sixth man dismissed with the score still 102 in arrears of the Kiama first innings. The Kiama bowlers were rotated around in their attempt to find breakthrough’s, mostly with good success. Eight of the top nine Albion Park batsmen reached double figures, but only O’Keefe could go on to make a significant contribution, with partnerships broken with regularity. Albion Park ended that second day’s play at 9 for 155, and when play commenced again on the following Saturday Albion Park could muster only another five runs, leaving their first innings total at 160 runs, and a deficit of 62 runs.

Kiama began their second innings early on that third Saturday afternoon. With the match to be played until its conclusion, it was imperative that the team scored enough runs to defend when their opponents took to the crease in their final innings. No doubt the Kiama team would have seen a total of around 200 as perfect – along with their first innings lead, it meant Albion Park would have to chase down 262 in order to win the final, a score that would be difficult to achieve. Albion Park on the other hand would have been hoping to get through the Kiama side for anything around 100 runs, leaving them a chase similar to the total they had achieved in their first innings. One thing that is for certain is that neither side could have imagined how the match would now pan out.

Albion Park started exactly as they would have wanted, picking up two wickets with only ten runs on the board. Noel Simmons and Ned McAdam were both sent packing by Guthrie in what was a fiery start to the Kiama second innings. The rebuilding of the innings was left to arguably Kiama’s two most important players, Stewart Warnock and Keith Young. Another wicket or two would see Albion Park on a roll and in a position to exploit the middle order. However that was not to be. Both Warnock and Young took advantage of the good batting conditions and solidified Kiama’s chances. Their nerveless batting would have helped to ease their team mates concern, and by the time that Warnock finally fell for another excellent innings of 42, their partnership of 82 had led Kiama’s total to 92 and the lead had stretched to 154.
It was turning into a long afternoon for the Albion Park bowlers, with wickets hard to come by. John East joined Young in putting on 52 runs for the fourth wicket before he departed. His replacement at the crease was Shim Tull, who continued in the same vein.
At the other end, Keith Young was putting on a master class, showing no signs of weariness and pushing the total beyond the reach of the Albion Park side. His steady off side strokes were punctuated by a couple of thumping pulls through mid-wicket for boundaries. As the Albion Park bowlers tired, and began searching for any way to pick up his wicket, Young instead brought up his century, which he scored out of the total of 182. It was his second century in the two seasons of the SCDCA and perhaps his most important.
Late in the day, Kiama’s charge continued unabated. With his century raised, Young went on a rampage just before stumps, adding another 30 runs to his total in a matter of just ten minutes, including five boundaries. The partnership between Young and Tull was terminated at 77 and the score at 221 when Tull was adjudged LBW to Vin McBarron, and the third day’s play concluded a few balls later. Young was 130 not out, and Kiama was 283 runs in the lead with five wickets in hand. Surely victory was only a weekend away for the Kiama team.

Albion Park was in need of an amazing start when they gathered again at the Shellharbour ground on the fourth Saturday afternoon, and for them they got it. In the third over of the day both the night-watchman Graham Conn and Malcolm Joyner were bowled for ducks by King, and at 7 for 221 the fielding side could see some light at the end of the tunnel. With the lead having stretched to almost 300 though, it appeared that even if the final three wickets fell quickly, it would be a forlorn hope for Albion Park to be able to chase down such a total. Unfortunately for Albion Park, it was to be much, much worse.
Albion Park needed three more wickets on the fourth afternoon of the final, but they were not forthcoming. Young and Carson extended their partnership with few problems. Unlike Test matches that are played over this time period, the two teams kept coming back to a restored wicket each Saturday, meaning there were few unusual deviations for the batsmen and little for the bowlers to exploit. Carson was also no mug, having opened the batting on previous occasions. So the Kiama batsmen continued on their merry way, piling on the agony for the Albion Park bowlers, who by this time must have lost all enthusiasm for the contest. Though they must have known that there would be no declaration, to try and pick themselves up to pry out those three remaining wickets must have been near impossible. The partnership reached 103 before Carson was finally dismissed, and with the total at 8 for 324, and the lead at 386, one could have forgiven Keith Young if he had felt some mercy for his opponents at this point and declared. It was not to be - and with his own score on 199 you can probably understand that decision. Col Raison was the new batsman, and was the first to congratulate Young when he brought up his double century not long afterwards.
The lead passed four hundred by mid-afternoon on that fourth Saturday, and the game must have begun to lose its substance for the fielding team. How do you keep yourself going under such an onslaught? Where the result of the game has now become almost superfluous because of the total that would need to be achieved? Remember that it was now the end of April. The football seasons were in full swing, and that was where the attentions of most people had turned. And yet this final had to be played until a result was achieved, and the Kiama team were happy to continue to plod on – maybe even until winter arrived. You had to admire the Albion Park players for still being there, still playing the game, still striving to complete the innings, still turning up – even though in their hearts they knew that there was almost no chance of them winning the match.
Young was outscoring his partner 2 to 1 as he raced through the 200’s and began to approach yet another milestone, the magical triple century. The daylight was beginning to get watery in the sky, and autumn colours in the trees glowing a deeper gold, when finally Keith Young was found wanting. Perhaps in an attempt to bring up his 300 with a boundary, Young launched a wide ball in the air to cover, where he was caught by a substitute fielder who was covering one of the Albion Park players who had football commitments that afternoon. The partnership for the ninth wicket had been broken at 143 – which at the time of writing remains the record for the ninth wicket for Kiama in all Grades.

Keith Young had been dismissed for 297. It had been an innings of determination and concentration, pushing on beyond the point where most batsmen would have thrown their wicket away, their job well and truly done. Though the spirit of the bowlers would have waned as the innings wore on, it would still have been an effort on Young’s part to continue on his relentless run purge, given that in the end it was only he himself who could have given his wicket away. He had batted for the better part of ten hours over two afternoons, and recorded what is still far and away the highest individual score by a Kiama batsman in the Club’s history.

Another twenty runs were added by the final pair, before the innings was finally brought to a conclusion at 487 at stumps on that fourth Saturday afternoon, April 24th 1948. The Albion Park bowlers had put in marathon efforts. King, Guthrie and Stubbs had shared eight of the ten wickets between them whilst bowling sixty percent of the overs. They now had a week in which to prepare themselves for the task of chasing 550 runs in which to win the 1st Grade Premiership, a task that, if they succeeded in, meant in all probability that the season wouldn’t finish until the end of May.

The fifth Saturday of the final was May 1, 1948 – the first (and only) time the cricket season stretched into the month of May. Albion Park began their second innings with only ten batsmen, though surely no one would have been surprised if they had more than one player unavailable or missing. It is impossible to tell how the Albion Park team approached this day. Did they have any belief at all that they could win? Did they go into the day just looking to accumulate as many runs as possible for as few lost wickets as possible? Did they think that attack was the best form of defence, and hope to flay the bowling attack around and scare them into submission? Or did they just believe the whole thing was a lost cause, and play accordingly?
Like I said, it is impossible to know. What we do know is that the Park lost several early wickets, quickly falling to 4 for 33, and from that point on it was really only a matter of time. A defiant 49 not out from Hickey in the middle order was full of bluster, as the ten man batting side was dismissed for 111 runs, leaving Kiama as victors by a ridiculous margin of 438 runs.
Was it relief that Albion Park felt at the conclusion of that game? You can only imagine so. Five weekends for a match – even a final – is long enough, without having to go through what they did. No doubt it was this match that eventually brought in the rule to restrict the final to just two playing days. In Kiama’s case though, if it had been in force in 1948 it would have dimmed what is a magnificent spectacle in the history of the Club.

Kiama Vs Albion Park

2-Innings Match Played At Shellharbour, 03-Apr-1948, S.C.D.C.A 1st Grade

Kiama Win Outright by 438 runs

Round	Final
Toss won by	Kiama
Home Side	(neutral)
Comment	Match took five Saturdays to complete. Kiama won the First Grade Premiership [1st]. Stewart Warnock half-century [3]. Keith Young century [2]. With his 52nd run in 1st innings, Stewart Warnock reached 500 1st Grade runs [1st]. With his 24th run in 2nd innings, Keith Young reached 500 1st Grade runs [2nd]. With his 2nd wicket of 2nd innings, Stewart Warnock reached 50 1st Grade wickets [1st]. Day 1 Kiama 7/189 (Joyner 19* Carson 0*)

Kiama 1st Innings 222/10 All Out (Overs 72)

Batsman	Fieldsman	Bowler	Runs
Noel Simmons	run out		29
Stewart Warnock	c W Parnell	b Noel Lamerton	54
Ned McAdam	c C King	b Lou Stubbs	19
Keith Young*	c Vin McBarron	b Noel Lamerton	1
John East	c K Anderson	b Kevin Hickey	19
Shim Tull		b Noel Lamerton	47
Col Raison	st K Anderson	b Kevin Hickey	0
Malcolm Joyner		b C King	28
Alan Carson		b C King	15
Graham Conn	not out		7
George Carson+		b E Guthrie	1
extras		(b2 lb0 w0 nb0)	2
TOTAL		10 wickets for	222

FOW
1-58(Noel Simmons) 2-90(Ned McAdam) 3-92(Keith Young) 4-132(John East)
5-133(Stewart Warnock) 6-133(Col Raison) 7-189(Shim Tull) 8-211(Alan Carson)
9-219(Malcolm Joyner) 10-222(George Carson)

Bowler	O	M	R	W
C King	9	1	24	2
E Guthrie	14	1	44	1
Noel Lamerton	13	3	29	3
W Parnell	11	1	31	0
Kevin Hickey	19	0	72	2
Alan O'Keefe	3	0	12	0
Lou Stubbs	3	1	8	1

Albion Park 1st Innings 160/10 All Out (Overs 58)

Batsman	Fieldsman	Bowler	Runs
Alan O'Keefe		c&b Graham Conn	55
W Raftery		b Shim Tull	15
Noel Lamerton	c Malcolm Joyner	b Stewart Warnock	10
Brian Raftery	c Malcolm Joyner	b Shim Tull	10
Kevin Hickey	c Stewart Warnock	b Malcolm Joyner	11
Lou Stubbs*		b Stewart Warnock	1
W Parnell		b Graham Conn	20
K Anderson	lbw	b Malcolm Joyner	11
Vin McBarron	c Col Raison	b Graham Conn	13
E Guthrie	run out		8
C King	not out		0
extras		(b6 lb0 w0 nb0)	6
TOTAL		10 wickets for	160

FOW
1-30(W Raftery) 2-51(Noel Lamerton) 3-72(Brian Raftery) 4-94(Kevin Hickey)
5-97(Lou Stubbs) 6-120(Alan O'Keefe) 7-135(K Anderson) 8-149(Vin McBarron)
9-155(W Parnell) 10-160(E Guthrie)

Bowler	O	M	R	W
Malcolm Joyner	14	2	35	2
Shim Tull	14	1	33	2
Stewart Warnock	9	2	18	2
Graham Conn	18	3	52	3
Ned McAdam	3	0	10	0

Kiama 2nd Innings 487/10 All Out (Overs 154)

Batsman	Fieldsman	Bowler	Runs
Noel Simmons	c Kevin Hickey	b E Guthrie	2
Stewart Warnock	c Lou Stubbs	b C King	42
Ned McAdam	c C King	b E Guthrie	0
Keith Young*	c sub	b Noel Lamerton	297
John East		c&b Lou Stubbs	18
Shim Tull	lbw	b Vin McBarron	22
Graham Conn		b C King	0
Malcolm Joyner		b C King	0
Alan Carson	c C King	b Lou Stubbs	43
Col Raison	not out		43
George Carson+		b Lou Stubbs	10
extras		(b7 lb2 w1 nb0)	10
TOTAL		10 wickets for	487

FOW
1-2(Noel Simmons) 2-10(Ned McAdam) 3-92(Stewart Warnock) 4-144(John East)
5-221(Shim Tull) 6-221(Graham Conn) 7-221(Malcolm Joyner) 8-324(Alan Carson)
9-467(Keith Young) 10-487(George Carson)

Bowler	O	M	R	W
C King	33	2	95	3
E Guthrie	31	2	92	2
Lou Stubbs	27	1	74	3
Noel Lamerton	28	3	92	1
W Parnell	12	0	51	0
W Raftery	3	0	11	0
Vin McBarron	13	1	34	1
Kevin Hickey	7	1	27	0

Albion Park 2nd Innings 111/9 All Out (Overs 32)

Batsman	Fieldsman	Bowler	Runs
W Raftery		b Stewart Warnock	11
Alan O'Keefe	c Col Raison	b Stewart Warnock	2
Noel Lamerton	c Alan Carson	b Shim Tull	19
W Parnell		b Stewart Warnock	0
Lou Stubbs*		b Stewart Warnock	11
Kevin Hickey	not out		49
Vin McBarron	lbw	b Keith Young	3
K Anderson		b Graham Conn	2
E Guthrie		b Keith Young	2
C King	lbw	b Graham Conn	3
extras		(b2 lb5 w2 nb0)	9
TOTAL		9 wickets for	111

FOW
1-4(Alan O'Keefe) 2-20(W Raftery) 3-20(W Parnell) 4-33(Noel Lamerton)
5-53(Lou Stubbs) 6-64(Vin McBarron) 7-75(K Anderson) 8-80(E Guthrie) 9-111(C King)

Bowler	O	M	R	W
Malcolm Joyner	5	1	13	0
Stewart Warnock	12	1	41	4
Shim Tull	3	1	6	1
Graham Conn	6	1	20	2
Keith Young	6	0	22	2