The F&DMCA Years 1945-1978

The Fremantle Mercantile and Disticts association–1945 to 1996

The Club Refounded

The last shot had barely been fired before cricket was in full swing in the Fremantle area.Two very fine cricket stalwarts in Albert West and Jack Knox-Peden joined forces to get things underway. West, formerly of the Essandee Club, and Knox-Peden , formerly of the Navy Club, were responsible for reforming the Spartan Club, re-constituting the F&DMCA and founding The West Australian Cricket Union.The latter was a union of all the district competitions in the Metropolitan areas and provided the frame work for inter-association matches and state games at that level against Victorian and New South Wales sub-district associations.

Albert West served as F&DMCA Secretary from 1919 until 1956 as well as being secretary of Essandee from 1919 to 1942 and President of Spartans from 1945 to 1959.He kept all the records of the association, Essandee Cricket Club and the early post war years of Spartans in a tin trunk but unfortunately when the trunk was presented to Brian Waterer in 1965it was discovered that termites had destroyed the contents.

The church was no longer involved in the club’s organisation and this naturally led to a change in outlook and personnel. However there were a few of the pre-war faces on hand to help get Spartans re-established. Ian McClumpha resumed as captain and in all his reign as club leader lasted from 1931 to 1948. He resigned from Spartans at the end of the 1947-48 to accept the position of Captain- Coach of the newly formed Hilton Park Cricket Club.George Prince was still there to lead the attack where he received considerable assistance from another pre-war player in Tom Langlands who had been an outstanding all-rounder in country cricket, and young demon fast bowler Tolly Chalmers. Other newcomers included Jim Fletcher, who later joined Scots Cricket Club where he captained the club, served a term as President and was awarded a Life Membership; Joe Rayner, who played with Spartans for 21 years before resigning to accept the post of Captain-Coach of the newly formed Medina Cricket Club and Bob and Keith Jeffries. The side looked strong on paper but the playing results did not match the promise and so the years from 1945 to 1949 were not all that successful with the club permanently in sixth place.

1949-50 was a little better and the club tasted its first post-war success by reaching the semi-finals only to lose to an old pre-war rival in East Fremantle. This was despite the efforts of KeithJeffries who took 7 for 39 in the match including a hat-trick. Off-spinner Jim Fletcher had a great season capturing 81 wickets.1950-51 was a disappointing anti-climax as the club slumped to an eighth placing in a nine team competition.The other clubs at this stage were W.W.F ( or Lumpers ), Scots, East Fremantle, CBC Old Boys, Hilton Park, Park, South Fremantle and Wanderers.

The next few seasons continued to be lean ones with the club never really threatening to be a force in the competition. In 1954-55 two major developments took place in the F&DMCA with two day cricket being introduced and the competition being split into two grades. Spartans were placed in the second grade which enabled the club to introduce some young players and rebuild the side.

Premiers

This reshaping of the team’s personnel met with almost immediate success and was in fact the foundation of a quarter of a century of high achievement by the club. In 1955-56 Bill Morcom led the side to a Minor Premiership and then in 1956 -57 Eric Dumble led them to the Second Grade Premiership. The Premiership team was Eric Dumble a leg spinning all-rounder,Lew Read ranked by many as the club’s greatest batsmen as well as being a fine wicket-keeper, batsman Alan Johnstone who later transferred to CBC and captained that club to a First Grade Premiership, George Pluske a great fast bowling all-rounder who took 70 wickets for the season, Jeff Newbold, Joe Rayner, Alf Dyer a courageous opening bat who also served the Association as secretary for many years, Bill Morcom, Colin Crompton who gave great service as a captain in First and Second Grade, Tom Langlands and Colin Hyde.

The results of the 1957-58 season surprised even the most avid of the club’s supporters. Promoted to the First Grade as a reward for winning the Second Grade Title they carrried all before them to reach the Grand Final against another pre-war rival in South Fremantle.South at this stage were a very strong combination indeed and at this stage Spartans lacked the ability or experience to beat them.

Despite the shrewd leadership of Colin Crompton the next season or two were somewhat of an anti-climax as the club didn’t really go close to achieving a place in the finals.Despite the success of the first year in the top grade the side lacked balance, the attack was hostile and accurate, the fielding was sound but the batting was extremely brittle and lacked the ability to grind out runs under pressure.

The Rise To Power

At the beginning of the 1959-60 season the club’s administration was completely overhauled. Jack Knox-Peden took over as President for the first of his nineteen consecutive years in that position, the volatile Joe Rayner became Vice-President while ” Mr Statistics”–Brian Waterer became Secretary, a position he filled for over a decade . A club constitution was drafted, a record book inaugurated and firm management principles put in place that led to the club becoming a stable, powerful and well respected organisation.

The club only finished in sixth position in the 1960-61 season but there were many signs that the players were increasing in maturity:

• Alf “Dunga’ Dyer and Neville Langlands shared a seventh wicket partnership of 109 against YCW.
• George Pluske revealed some of his outstanding all-round skill in scoring 69 against Palmyra as well as capturing 6 for 20 against Tally Clerks; ** Medium pacer Harold Bell Took 6 for 62 and 4 for 10 against Palmyra to return match figures of 10 for 72 and set up an outright win for Spartans.In fact during the years to come his some-what deceptive medium paced bowling was to bring about the downfall of many highly rated batting sides.
• Brian Waterer played the first of his many anchor innings that were to give the side stability but also make him somewhat notorious as the greatest stonewaller in the history of the F&DMCA. On this occasion he carried his bat for 5 not out out of a total of 62 against CBC — and he occupied the crease for three hours while doing so !!

The appointment of George Pluske as Captain Coach in 1961-62 brought a far more dedicated approach to the game and thanks to his clever leadership and brilliant individual efforts the club became the most competitive it had been in its history…some forty three years to this point.The batting still lacked depth although it was developing, the bowling was excellent while the fielding was superb.

They fought their way through to a showdown against CBC in the Grand Final only to lose by a mere twenty runs.The loss was hard to take as they had the agony of seeing CBC’s Tom Hegarty bowled around his legs for no score by Joe Rayner only to be given not out by both umpires. Hegarty went on to make 39 which was the highest individual score in the game.The umpire at the bowler’s end thought that the wicket-keeper may have interfered with the stumps while the square leg umpire wasn’t watching at the time. Spartans Grand Final star was medium pacer Ron Stanton who bowled with great determination to take 6 for 30 and 6 for 42 to finish with 12 for 72 for the match.Stanton finished the season with 48 wickets with his best haul being 8 for 39 against Scots.

1962-63 saw the club capture the first of many Minor Premierships following another season of improved performances the principal ones being:

• Joe Rayner slammed 105 against Scots in just over an hour and with the support of Lew Read added 135 for the fifth wicket.
• In the same game George Pluske captured 7 for 46 and 4 for 41… match figures of 11 for 87.
• Ron Stanton captured 7 for 65 against North Fremantle.
• Alf Dyer and Brian Waterer shared an opening stand of 107 in 90 minutes against CBC.

Under the rules of the Association at this time the teams finishing first and second on the premiership table played off the Grand Final while the teams finishing third and fourth played off for the Minor Premiership.

1963-64

 In the Grand Final again…. against CBC again…and the loser by a narrow margin again with the difference this time being 50 runs.The side was becoming better balanced season by season with some of the players developing into class performers.Some of the outstanding efforts:

• George Pluske enjoyed a magnificent season to finish with 70 wickets, with his pace and accuracy being almost frightening at times.
• A superb all-round performance by state golf champion Denis Bell who amassed 420 runs at an average of 35 and took 49 wickets at 11.2.He had two devastating spells of 7 for 10 and 5 for 11 against Tally Clerks.He too bowled very fast with great accuracy.
• Harold Bell and Lew Read both recorded centuries as they slaughtered the Scots bowling to the tune of a 180 run partnership which took just 75 minutes.
• Joe Rayner displayed his customary aggression with a pair of lightning innings.. 94 against Palmyra and 88 in the Grand Final…. with each innings lasting 60 minutes.

1964-65

… and another Minor Premiership. Wicket-keeper batsmen Doug Stewart who had scored 233 against Spartans in the previous seasons Grand Final, crossed over from CBC and supported by his experience and expertise many of the Spartan batsmen improved considerably.

Stewart scored 577 runs at an average of 52 for Spartans, and a further 505 runs for the WACU and the Association side … a total of 1082 runs for the season. For Spartans he scored 103 in an opening stand of 125 with Brian Waterer and 105 in a sixth wicket partnership of 157 with Harold Bell.His finest innings was when he carried his bat against South Fremantle to record 53 not out in a total of 84.

Palmyra had great difficulty in coping with the Spartan pace attack and they were skittled by Ron Stanton with 8 for 65 and by George Pluske with 7 for 36 in the return game.

The Club Expands

1965-66 saw the club increase its playing strength to two teams.Naturally this strained the club’s finances and playing strength in this initial year but slowly but surely these difficulties were overcome.

The composition of the F&DMCA at this stage was:-

First Grade

• South Fremantle (Premiers)
• CBC (Runner-up)
• Spartans (Minor Premiers)
• East Fremantle
• Hilton Park
• Palmyra
• Scots
• Tally-Marmions

Second Grade

• Cockburn (Premiers)
• Park (Runner-up)
• Rockingham (Minor Premiers)
• CBC
• East Fremantle
• Hamilton
• Hilton Park
• Palmyra

Club Officials

• President Jack Knox-Peden
• Vice President Joe Rayner
• Secretary Brian Waterer
• Treasurer Brian Waterer
• First Grade Captain Lew Read
• Second Grade Captain Colin Crompton

Lew Read had taken over as Captain Coach but the result was very much the same….another Minor Premiership for the First Grade. The better performances:

• Scores of 99, 86 not out and 60 by opener Frank Ellis who later enjoyed a successful career as a trotting reinsman.
• Scores of 86 and 82 by Doug Stewart who left the club at Christmas time when he moved to Victoria to live.
• John Spencer made a superb 119 against Tally-Clerks.
• 7 for 11 by Harold Bell against Scots and 8 for 33 by his brother Denis against Tally-Clerks were the pick of the bowling performances.

The Second Grade was led by the veteran Colin Crompton with their only win coming in the very last game of the season. More importantly some very promising juniors had been introduced into the club’s ranks. The better efforts were:

• Bevan “Wacka” James took 6 for 48 against Hamilton which was the first of many occasions on which he was to rout that particular club. James bowled a variety of spinners with great bounce and he developed into a superb all-round player being a very sound batsman and a magnificent gully fieldsman.
• A consistent performance by wicket-keeper Bernie Maher who took 14 catches and made 8 stumpings. Unfortunately this was his one and only season with the club as he enlisted in the army and left the state.

1966-67

• President Jack Knox-Peden
• Vice President Joe Rayner
• Secretary Brian Waterer
• Treasurer Brian Waterer
• First Grade Captain Lew Read
• Second Grade Captain Colin Crompton

For the First Grade this was one of their least successful seasons during the sixties and they finished in fourth place. The Seconds won their first major trophy and naturally enough it was a Minor Premiership! There were very few outstanding performances in the top grade but the seconds had several:

• Bevan James stepped up his one man war against Hamilton with bursts of 5 for 5 and 5 for 30. He also took 5 for 49 against CBC and gave proof of his developing status as an all-rounder with scores of 58 and 52 not out.
• Colin “Pop’ Crompton seemingly improving with age returned scores of 78, 75 and 55.
• Wicket-keeper Roy Gough took 12 catches and made 9 stumpings during the season.

In 1967-68 the F&DMCA adopted the WACA system of finals with the team finishing on top at the end of the qualifying round being awarded the Minor Premiership. The semi-finals were played between first and fourth on the ladder and the other between the second and third placed sides. The semi-final winners then played off for the Premiership.

And Spartans greeted this change by winning the Minor Premiership……in both grades!

Club Officials

• President Jack Knox-Peden
• Vice President Joe Rayner
• Secretary Brian Waterer
• Treasurer Brian Waterer
• First Grade Captain Lew Read
• Second Grade Captain Colin Crompton

This particular First Grade side would have to rank as one of the finest in the club’s history. The side lost narrowly to South Fremantle in the semi-final after a very dour struggle. In batting order the side was:

• Harold Bell a brilliant right hand bat, a very capable medium pace swing bowler and rated by many as the finest fieldsman in the history of the F&DMCA.
• Brian Waterer a determined and dour right hand bat, a very capable close-to-the -wicket fieldsman , an off-spin bowler and a safe wicket-keeper.
• Denis Bell a fine right hand bat, a bowler of express pace and a very safe fieldsman.
• Lew Read would be a contender for the title of the club’s greatest batsman as well as being one of its greatest captains, an outstanding fieldsman and an above average wicket-keeper.
• Ron Caporn at this stage an outstanding junior being a brilliant right hand bat and a brilliant fieldsman.
• Sam Hume a dogged and high scoring left hand bat, a very good fieldsman, a capable wicket- keeper and – at times- a dangerous leg spin bowler.
• Joe Rayner a big hitting right hand bat, a steady leg spin bowler and a very fine fieldsman.
• Les Reynolds A steady right hand bat, an outstanding off-spin bowler as well as being a safe and reliable fieldsman.
• George Pluske in all probability the greatest player in the club’s history to this point.A great right hand fast bowler, a very good batsman and a magnificent fieldsman in any position.
• Ron Stanton a very fine right hand fast-medium paced bowler, a punishing batsman and a great fieldsman.
• Roy Gough a determined right hand bat, a steady top spin bowler, a very safe fieldsman and a reliable wicket-keeper.

Every player in the side was capable of big scores, in fact seven of them scored centuries for the club, the bowling had everything – pace,swing, off and leg spin –and was supported by what was regarded by Association officials as the finest fielding side to play in the competition in the period from 1945 to 1968. The leading performances:

• Denis Bell destroyed Tally-Clerks batting with 7 for 54 and did likewise to CBC with 5 for 21.
• Other top bowling hauls were 6 for 39 by Reynolds, 5 for 10 by Pluske, 5 for 33 by Rayner and 5 for 37 by Stanton.
• Most of the batsmen scored at least one half century but of greater value was the increasing number of sound partnerships that led to many big team totals.

Second Grade

The team went through the qualifying rounds undefeated, defeated CBC in the semi-final but couldn’t quite go all the way and lost the Grand Final to East Fremantle.There were some great performances:

• Ron Caporn, in a brilliant debut, scored 134 against Rockingham.
• Colin Crompton, still leading from the front, knocked up scores of 97, 95 and 53.
• Bevan James continued to torment Hamilton with returns of 5 for 12 and 5 for 17 in the first match – for match figures of 10 for 32 – and 5 for 79 in the return match. He also recorded a career best of 98 not out against East Fremantle.
• Left hand medium pacer Pat Miller returned match figures of 10 for 127 in the Grand Final.

1968-69

• President Jack Knox-Peden
• Vice President Colin Crompton
• Secretary Brian Waterer
• Treasurer Brian Waterer
• First Grade Captain Lew Read
• Second Grade Captain Colin Crompton

The season started in disastrous fashion. Joe Rayner, Les Reynolds, Sam Hume, Tony Morley ( who was also a South Fremantle and state footballer) and Wayne Murray all left to join the newly formed Medina Club as they were residents in that district.Morley and Murray were highly talented juniors and were just on the verge of outstanding First Grade careers. To add to the club’s woes Denis Bell and Frank Ellis retired from cricket to take up other outstanding sporting careers – golf and harness racing respectively.

Despite all this the season turned out to be a highly successful one with the First Grade being runners-up to Hilton Park in the Grand Final and the Seconds reaching the Semi-Finals where they lost to Rockingham. Among the highlights:

• Harold Bell had a marvellous season amassing 561 runs at an average of 37.This total included 118 against Scots and other scores of 72, 63 and 60.
• Bell and Lew Read shared an opening stand of 148 against East Fremantle. At this stage of their careers the pair were in devastating form and each repeatedley tore attacks apart. Read’s aggregate for the season was 302 runs.
• George Pluske skittled Tallies with a burst of 7 for 27 while Bevan James did likewise to East Fremantle with 6 for 15.

For the Seconds John Spencer made a fine 136 against Park during a third wicket partnership of 168 with Alan Reynolds. A rising star in left hand fast medium bowler Barry Maher took 29 wickets for the season.

1969-70

First Grade: Premiers

• President Jack Knox-Peden
• Vice President Colin Crompton
• Secretary Brian Waterer
• Treasurer Brian Waterer
• First Grade Captain Lew Read
• Second Grade Captain Alan Reynolds.

A most memorable season when a dream became a reality as the First Grade team thrashed Hilton Park in the Grand Final to win the club’s first premiership since 1925-26 at the top level.The win was based on the inspirational leadership of Lew Read, great bowling by George Pluske and Bevan James supported by a superb display of fielding by all members of the side.

The Grand Final scoreline:

• Spartans 136 and 0 for 5. Hilton Park 74 and 66
• The side in batting order was … Harold Bell, Lew Read, Brian Waterer, Ron Caporn, Pat Miller, Alan Reynolds, John Spencer, George Pluske, Colin Hyde, Bevan James, Barry Maher
• Harold Bell had another great season with the bat as he totalled 409 runs which included 125 against South Fremantle and 101 against East Fremantle.
• John Spencer kept wickets brilliantly taking 17 catches and making 8 stumpings. As well his big hitting in the lower order was of great value.
• Bevan James bowled magnificently to set up the Grand Final win when he mesmerised the opposition batsmen to take 5 for 28 in the first innings.

The Second Grade lost their semi-final to CBC but it had been a very good season for them:

• Ron Caporn scored 103 in a partnership of 158 with Laurie “Dogs” Farmer.
• Colin Hyde skittled Scots with the remarkable figures of 7 for 9 and 5 for 7 which made an incredible 12 for 16 for the match!
• Alan Reynolds andd Roy Gough had an opening stand of 103 in even time.
• This was the last season in which Colin Crompton was to captain a Spartan side. In all he led club teams for eight seasons and 86 games…36 in First Grade and 50 in Second Grade. In all he played 131 games for 2520 runs, 67 wickets and 47 catches.

1970-71

• President Jack Knox-Peden
• Vice President Colin Crompton
• Secretary Alan Reynolds
• Treasurer Brian Waterer
• First Grade Captain John Spencer
• Second Grade Captain Roy Gough

This season was somewhat of an anti climax. South Fremantle defeated Spartans in the semi-final and then caused a sensation when they forfeited the Grand Final to Hilton Park. Most of their players were league footballers and their club would not release them on the weekends of the game. Brian Waterer who was President of the F&DMCA at that stage suspended South Fremantle from the association and they subsequently disbanded as they could not guarantee that they would not do likewise in the future. So passed one of Spartans oldest and bitterest rivals as they had been competing against one another since 1919.

The Seconds had a poor season and finished in seventh position.

1971-72

• President Jack Knox-Peden
• Vice President Colin Crompton
• Secretary Peter Dama
• Treasurer Ron Stanton
• First Grade Captain Ron Caporn
• Second Grade Captain Peter Dama

The club bounced back to the forefront of the association with both sides making the finals. The First Grade lost to Medina in the semi-finals but batsmen Harold Bell 334 runs, Lew Read 302 runs and John Spencer with 308 runs all had good seasons.

The Second Grade won their semi-final but were beaten by Park for the Premiership. Captain Peter Dama led the way with 400 runs with a top score of 108 not out while bowlers Dan Davy 31 wickets, Colin Hyde 28 wickets and Ian Hutchins with 24 wickets all had a fine season.

1972-73

Another First Grade Premiership

• President Jack Knox-Peden
• Vice President Colin Crompton
• Secretary Peter Dama
• Treasurer Ron Stanton
• First Grade Captain Ron Caporn
• Second Grade Captain Brian Waterer

After a desperate struggle to make the four the side lifted to great heights to win their semi-final and then defeat CBC in the Grand Final.The win was based on fine teamwork rather than individual brilliance with the turning point being the run-out of CBC”s Graeme Wood for 99. Wood went on to a distinguished First Class and Test career. The Spartan team in batting order was:

• Harold Bell, Lew Read, Kevin Minett, Ron Caporn [Captain], Ray Bastin, Peter Kynaston, John Spencer, Morrie Pietroniro, Ray Griffiths, Ian Hutchins, Barry Maher
• Left hand medium pacer Barry Maher took 60 wickets for the season which included six separate hauls of five wickets or more in an innings.He was brilliantly supported by express bowler Peter Kynaston who took 39 wickets. John Spencer led the batsmen with 380 runs.

Second Grade

Dominated the competition all season to win the Minor Premiership but inexplicably lost their semi-final to Rockingham.Terry Wortley with 245 runs was the best of the batsmen while Bevan James showed that he was now a genuine all-rounder with 233 runs and 39 wickets.

1973-74

A Three Team Club

Following some very careful planning and some successful fund raising the club was able to add a third team to its playing strength for the season. The club was developing into a rather large organisation and it was becoming obvious that the composition of the committee was going to become a very vital factor in the club’s survival.

The Association at this stage comprised 15 clubs fielding 25 teams as follows:-

First Grade

• CBC (Premiers)
• Hilton Park (Runners-up)
• Hilton Park (Minor Premiers)
• East Fremantle
• Hamilton
• Kwinana
• Park
• Scots
• Spartans

Second Grade

• Spartans (Premiers)
• Rockingham (Runners-up)
• Rockingham (Minor Premiers)
• CBC
• Hilton Park
• Kwinana
• Magpies
• Oceans XI
• Park
• Scots

Third Grade

• Hamilton (Premiers)
• Davilak (Runners-up)
• Davilak (Minor Premiers)
• CBC
• Kardinya
• Kwinana
• Rockingham
• Rovers
• Spartans

Spartan Officials

• President Jack Knox-Peden
• Vice President Brian Waterer
• Secretary Peter Dama
• Treasurer Ron Stanton
• First Grade Captain Ron Caporn
• Second Grade Captain Brian Waterer
• Third Grade Captain Ron Stanton

First Grade

Had a miserable season and missed the four for the first time in thirteen years largely due to the fact that they lost the last five games of the season. Ron Caporn with 336 runs was the best of the batsmen while Peter Kynaston was the mainstay of the attack with 45 wickets supported byJohn Spencer who kept wickets with his usual brilliance.

Second Grade: Premiers

Went from rags to riches as they barely scraped into the four, but then crushed Oceans X1 in the semi-final and went on to defeat Rockingham by 196 runs in the Grand Final to win the Premiership:

• Grand Final Scores Spartans 167 and 196. Rockingham 85 and 87
• The Side in batting order;- Brian Waterer [Captain], Neil Stingemore, Morrie Pietroniro, Ray Griffiths, Eric Ash, Bevan James [Vice Captain], Roy Gough, Ron Stanton, Ray Glazbrook, Steve Carter, Ian Sheridan
• Fast medium bowler Steve Carter took 8 for 25 and 5 for 22 to return match figures of 13 for 47 in the Grand Final. In a qualifying match against Kwinana he had match figures of 11 for 63.. 7 for 29 and 4 for 34. He finished 38 wickets for the season.
• Bevan James scored 315 runs and took 40 wickets.
• Morrie Pietroniro with 450 runs and a highest score of 145 and skipper Brian Waterer with 429 runs and a top score of 108 were in prolific form.The pair shared a second wicket partner-ship of 228 against Park.
• George Pluske, in what proved to be his final season with the club, took his 600th wicket to cap of a marvellous career.

Third Grade

Made the four easily only to lose the semi-final by 4 runs to Hamilton the eventual Premiers. The captain, Ron Stanton, led from the front with 298 runs and 40 wickets while their very good attack took a bundle of wickets with Barry Preedy 28 wickets, Colin Hyde 24 wickets and Neil Tondut 20 wickets all enjoying great seasons.

The highlight of this season was the “Past and Present Player’s Reunion” held on the 9th March 1974. Representatives from every era of the club attended, many of whom spoke to the gathering recalling many incidents from bygone days. The founder of the club – the Reverend W.R.Hibbert – could not attend as he was living in Victoria but he sent a letter to be read at the reunion in which he explained how the club came to be formed and the reason he decided to give it the name of Spartans. The evening was a marvellous success and was an important step towards creating a greater club tradition.

1974-75

• President Jack Knox-Peden
• Vice President Brian Waterer
• Secretary Peter Dama
• Treasurer Ron Stanton
• First Grade Captain Lew Read
• Second Grade Captain Brian Waterer
• Third Grade Captain Ron Stanton

This season opened with some apprehension concerning the club’s playing strength as several players had retired and a couple sustained injuries which restricted the number of games for which they were available.However, all turned out well as the sides performed with distinction.

First Grade

Lew Read had resumed as captain and under his astute leadership the side dominated the qualifying rounds to win the Minor Premiership and looked by far the best side in the grade.An inexplicably poor performance against Park in the semi-final ended their hopes of being Premiers, which Park duly went on to win. John Spencer with 315 runs and Barry Maher with 25 wickets were the star performers.

Second Grade

Most of the premiership team of the previous season had been promoted to the top side so this side was almost completely rebuilt and lacked the strength of its predecessor. Despite this they scraped into the finals, defeated Rockingham in the semi-final by the barest of margins -100 runs to 99 runs – but went down to Hilton Park in a somewhat one sided Grand Final. Openers ( and brothers-in-law ) Ray Glazbrook 269 runs and Brian Waterer 254 runs held the batting together with off-spinner Gary Reid 36 wickets and left hand quickie Rodney Maher 33 wickets spearheading the attack.

Third Grade

Naturally this to was a rebuilt side and struggled far more than they had in the previous couple of seasons.They had to win the last game of the season to get into the four but to their bitter disappointment lost it to Park 211 runs to 210 runs.Ron Stanton was once again outstanding with 259 runs and 36 wickets, sixteen year old pace bowler Peter Bentley took 18 wickets at 7.8 to finish second in the Association averages and wicket keeper Ray Griffiths showed his all-round ability with a stylish 102 against Kardinya.

Spartan Sportsmans Club ( Incorporated.)

In order to place the club on a more professional basis and to cope with the expansion taking place within the club it was decided to take the necessary steps to make the club an incorporated body. This meant that a properly constituted constitution had to be drawn up and legally approved.This was duly done and the club was granted incorporated status as The Spartan Sportsmans Club prior to the opening of the 1975-76 season. The full committee in this first season as an incorporated body was as follows:-

• President Jack Knox-Peden
• Senior Vice President Brian Waterer
• Junior Vice-President Lew Read
• Secretary Terry Wortley / Brian Waterer ( who took office when Wortley was transferred in his employment)
• Treasurer Steve Carter
• Committee Harold Bell
• Committee Roy Gough
• Committee Barry Maher
• Committee Ron Stanton
• First Grade Captain Barry Maher
• Second Grade Captain Roy Gough
• Third Grade Captain Brian Waterer
• Under Sixteen Captain George Prince (Junior )

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It was with deep regret that the club received the news in June 1975 that the founder of the club, the Reverend W.R.Hibbert, had passed away at his home in Victoria.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

First Grade

The side held a place in the four for most of the season and was lying in third spot at the end of the qualifying round. Unfortunately an abysmal performance in the semi-final saw them lose to Hilton Park by 150 runs.

Peter Kynaston, in his last season with the club before transferring to Swanbourne C.C. in the Suburban Turf Association, played brilliantly. He made 395 runs with a top score of 101 and took 30 wickets with 6 for 24 being his best effort with the ball.He also won the Association Team’s batting trophy as well as being adjudged best player for the WACU in the series against Victoria.

Second Grade

On paper this looked to be a better side than we had fielded at this level for a while but it didn’t quite fulfill that promise. They scraped into the four only to lose their place due to another side being unfinancial and forfeiting the points for the last game of the season to the club just behind Spartans on the ladder. Harold Bell and John Spencer each totalled 212 runs for the season to share the batting while Rodney Maher with 21 wickets was the leading bowler.

Third Grade: Premiers

This time it was Spartans who were able to sneak into the four because the aforesaid unfinancial club forfeited to them … and the margin between Spartans and the fifth placed side was 0.60 of a point!! Many people were of the opinion that they were in a false position and that they would soon be eliminated but these critics ended up eating their words. Spartans defeated the Minor Premiers ..Park.. in the semi-final by 198 runs to 134 runs and then, after trailing CBC by 20 runs on the first innings fought back to win the Grand Final by 64 runs.

• The Scores Spartans 164 and 197: CBC 184 and 113
• The side Laurie Farmer, Bevan James [Vice-Captain], Barry Preedy, Brian Waterer [Captain], Peter Dama, Eric Ash, Ray Turnbull, Keith Warner, Peter Bentley, Peter King, Bob Chapman
• Bevan James with 198 runs and 37 wickets was once again in outstanding all-round form. ** Brian Waterer with 313 runs at 44 led the batsmen as well as winning the Batting and Best All Rounder trophies for the Association.
• A trio of young pace bowlers in Peter King with 27 wickets, Peter Bentley 23 wickets and Bob Chapman 23 wickets gave the attack a great deal of penetration.

Under Sixteen

Did very well to finish in third spot but were defeated in the semi-final. Some very promising players were introduced in this grade with the pick of them being:

• Dean Knowles with 161 runs and 8 wickets.
• Clifton Carter, a very promising quickie who captured 24 wickets.
• Peter James Who achieved F&DMCA and WACU status, winning the best fieldsman award in inter association matches.

********* It is worth noting that the club’s turnover for the season was $4500. By contrast the turnover for the season 1955-56, twenty years previously, had been 27 pounds..$54.. which was an increase of 900%.***********

1976-77

• President Jack Knox-Peden
• Senior Vice-President Brian Waterer
• Junior Vice President Laurie Farmer
• Secretary Terry Morter
• Treasurer Steve Carter
• First Grade Captain Barry Maher
• Second Grade Captain Roy Gough
• Third Grade Captain Brian Waterer
• Colts (Under 23) Captain Ray Griffiths

For the first time in its 59 year history Spartans acquired an official home ground. Melville City Council granted the club the Karoonda Reserve in Booragoon as its headquarters . The club did its part by funding the installation of practice wickets on the reserve. The fine social facility now at the clubs disposal led to the development of a very interesting social life for the club which benefited both the morale and financial well -being of the club.

First Grade. This side was once again almost completely rebuilt and was one of the youngest ever put in the field by the club at this level, which meant of course that the side lacked the maturity to make an impression on the competition.Little did the club realise that this was the beginning of a lean spell that was to last well over a decade. Steve Carter with 239 runs and 20 wickets and Barry Maher with 28 wickets enjoyed good seasons.

Second Grade. This side also played good cricket all year to make the four but were well beaten in the semi-final by Oceans X1. Good performances were given by Roy Gough with 186 runs and 22 wickets, Val Steenholdt with 216 runs and David Blight with 24 wickets.

Third Grade: Premiers

Dominated the competition to win the Minor Premiership and the Premiership. The side was labelled “Dads Army” because its average age was over forty but all concerned enjoyed themselves thoroughly to play some very good cricket.

• Grand Final Spartans 234 and 102. Phoenix 189 and 87
• The side Eric Ash, John Spencer, Bevan James [Vice Captain], Brian Waterer [Captain], Ron Stanton, George Prince, Barry Preedy, Peter Bentley, Phil Thornton, Noel McCaskie, Keith Warner
• The side had outstanding all-rounders in Ron Stanton 370 runs and 35 wickets, Bevan James 280 runs and 15 wickets and Peter Bentley 156 runs and 17 wickets. John Spencer with 338 runs and 22 wicketkeeping dismissals and Brian Waterer with 286 runs also played a major part in the success.

Colts….Under 23: Premiers

This side filled a gap in the club’s framework by providing extra games for the younger players and presenting them with more opportunities to gain experience. To the club’s great delight they won the Premiership.

• Grand Final Scores. Spartans 102. CBC 97.
• The Side Eric Taylor, Ray Griffiths [Captain], Peter Read, George Prince, Peter Bentley, Val Steenholdt, Noel McCaskie, Peter Gibson, Garry Reid, David Blight, George Mazzini
• Three players in Bentley, Prince and McCaskie played in both the Third Grade and Colts Premiership sides. Bentley with 122 runs and 13 wickets, Reid with 15 wickets and Blight with 10 wickets were the outstanding players.

The Club Continues To Grow

1977-78 With the playing membership steadily growing the committee decided to add a fourth team to the club structure. The Association structure at this stage was:-

First Grade

• CBC (Premiers)
• Phoenix
• East Fremantle
• Scots
• Hilton Park
• Spartan
• Hamilton
• Oceans XI
• Park
• North Fremantle

Second Grade

• CBC (Premiers)
• Cockburn
• Scots
• Spartan
• Park
• East Fremantle
• Hilton Park
• North Fremantle
• Rockingham
• Hamilton

Third Grade

• Oceans XI (Premiers)
• Spartan
• Hamilton
• Hilton Park
• CBC
• East Fremantle
• Park
• Scots
• Phoenix
• Rockingham

Fourth Grade

• Cockburn (Premiers)
• Spartan
• Park
• CBC
• North Fremantle
• Hamilton
• Phoenix
• East Fremantle
• Hilton Park

Colts

• CBC (Premiers)
• Spartan
• Hamilton
• Scots
• Phoenix
• Park
• North Fremantle
• East Fremantle

A total of 47 sides reflected the progress the Association had made towards becoming one of the major cricketing bodies in Western Australia. Club stalwart Brian Waterer was in the twelfth year of his fifteen year reign as President of the Association.

1977-78

• President Jack Knox-Peden
• Senior Vice President Brian Waterer
• Junior Vice President Roy Gough
• Secretary Terry Morter
• Treasurer Russell Turton
• First Grade Captain Steve Carter
• Second Grade Captain Roy Gough
• Third Grade Captain Brian Waterer
• Fourth Grade Captain Lew Read
• Colts Captain Eric Taylor.

First Grade

Started poorly but finished in great style to win the last six games in a row and finish in sixth spot. Left handed all-rounder Morrie Pietroniro was outstanding with 461 runs and 26 wickets while Barry Maher with 42 wickets, wicketkeeper Ray Griffiths with 26 dismissals and 161 runs and Steve Carter 139 runs and 27 wickets all enjoyed outstanding seasons.

Second Grade

This particular side never really lived up to their capabilities. Far too many players showed great promise but failed to achieve any consistemcy with their performances and all too often crumbled as soon as any pressure was applied. The side did make the four but lost the semi-final to C.B.C.- 243 runs to 211. This was their finest effort for the season…..it was also the last time this side was to make the four for over fifteen years. Roy Gough with 295 runs and 13 wickets, Ian Sheridan with 21 wickets and wicket-keeper Russ Kernahan with 24 dismissals were the leading players.

Third Grade

This season proved to be one too many for a lot of the veterans. The side cruised into the four, luckily won the semi-final by a mere 15 runs but had neither the legs or determination to win the Premiership.

• Grand Final scores Spartans 145 and 109: Oceans X1 160 and 3 for 95.
• Ron Stanton in his final year with the club made 289 runs and took 37 wickets. This gave him a total of 617 wickets which was the new club record, passing the 601 wickets taken by George Pluske. Others to do well were John Spencer with 474 runs and 24 dismissals behind the stumps, Eric Ash 235 runs and Neil tondut with 148 runs and 25 wickets.
• Brian Waterer with 273 runs and Bevan James with 147 runs and 23 wickets were prominent and it was the fifth successive Grand Final for the pair as Captain and Vice Captain.

Fourth Grade

Lew Read came out of retirement to captain the side and as always his inspiring leadership brought results where they lost to CBC but only after getting the worst of a rain affected turf wicket.

• Grand Final scores Spartans 72 and 50: CBC 66 and 4 for 57
• Harold Bell with 387 runs and Lew Read with 327 runs formed an awesome opening partnership, promising all-rounders in George Mazzini with 320 runs and 26 wickets and Ray Turnbull with 193 runs and 30 wickets were great contributors while pace bowler Mitch Hart took 27 wickets and won the association bowling average.
• Sixteen year old pace bowler Tony Carroll took 9 for 26 in the first innings of the Grand Final, the best post-war bowling performance by a Spartan player.
  Colts.
• Finished in third spot but didn’t play consistently enough to warrant a higher placing. The highlight of their season was a splendid partnership of 234 between Peter Read who scored 163 and David Ringin who made 96