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The April of the year 2000 marked the dawn of a new age for the Leeming Spartan Cricket Club, starting right at the top as Peter Read became our first new President in seventeen years following the record set by Brian Waterer.

Outgoing President Brian Waterer announced his retirement from both the Club and the Association executive, and it was the first time in forty-two years that our Committee did not have Brian involved in some fashion.

Peter Read assumed the top job on the back of many years of service to the Club, both as an Executive Committee Member, Vice President, Life Member, Captain, and outstanding player. Certainly, the Read name is synonymous with the Leeming Spartan Cricket Club, as Peter’s father Lew was also a longtime Spartan and Life Member.

It certainly marked a new era at the Spartans, and perhaps somewhat coincidentally, as the world moved into the twenty first century, we began to expand our online and digital presence in the face of the infamous Y2K Bug. See an early version of our website from 2002 below!

In internet years, our Spartan website is ancient, first launched in 2001, and has undergone many facelifts ever since, and continues to be one of the, if not the, most major communication and information tools we offer.

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The Club was of course in a sensational position in all corporate matters on the back of Brian’s decades of service, and Peter had been very much involved in this for the longest time.

Spartan President Peter Read pictured in 2002.

Peter Read (pictured left) was the clear candidate to succeed Brian, and although his time as President lasted just the three years, an extraordinary number of accomplishments were achieved, and the foundation for a new and lasting direction at the Club was laid.

It is also worth noting that these were the final years in which we spent in the old clubhouse on John Connell Reserve. The project for a new multi-million dollar facility on the reserve was very much underway, and would be opened in 2003. For the time being though, we continued to be based in the original building next door, where we had resided since 1986.

At the time of Read’s retirement from the Presidency position, he had well and truly become entrenched in the history of the Leeming Spartan Cricket Club. As was noted following our 2002 Annual General Meeting, “Everyone at the Spartan Cricket Club wishes to thank Peter for his tireless work around the club and looks forward to seeing him play his 400th game next season, and many more in the years to come.”

He certainly achieved that mark, and in 2003 Read retired on 400 games not out, ironically, one year before Brian Lara would achieve legendary status with the same number in Test Match Cricket.

This was to be a sensational era for the Leeming Spartan Cricket Club, and introduced a great new team of dedicated individuals who really did bring us into the twenty-first century, certainly the launch of our new website was a crucial piece of this.

Read led from the front during his time as President, and in the many years beforehand (he was inducted as a Life Member in 1983!), and this era is looked back upon with great appreciation, and enjoyment.

Read on below for a complete overview of the early years of this new millennium, from 2000 to 2002, or click here to see some photos from this era!


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 Next Chapter (Back To The Future 2002-2006) 


Spartans watching the cricket from the old clubhouse building on John Connell Reserve, circa 2002. Note the old rooftop, which has since been replaced.


2000/2001 Season – Changing Of The Guard

President: Peter Read (1st Year)
Senior Vice President: Dean Stammers (1st Year)
Junior Vice President: Brad Mant (1st Year)
Secretary: Graeme Ashley (11th Year)
Treasurer: Paul Hitch (3rd Year)

Following Brian’s retirement at the conclusion of the previous season, Peter Read became the Club’s first new President in an astonishing seventeen years!

Brian would later return to the position of President in 2002, following Peter’s retirement, creating a Waterer-Read-Waterer styling, with both men having been at the heart of the Leeming Spartan Cricket Club for more than four decades.

Brian first joined the Committee as Treasurer in 1958 and there were very few years in the interim that he did not have a role on the Executive.

It was also a successful season on the field, as four of our sides made the finals, and both the Third Grade and Sixth Grade went on the win the Premiership.

The standout team performance came from our Third Grade, who finished Minor Premiers, won the Premiership and also the One Day Final.

Eight players scored hundreds for the Spartans this season, including a club record 187 not out by Glen Dobson (since surpassed by Brad Mant’s 194).

Five bowlers took more than six wickets in an innings, including 8/3 by Chris Spinella against Gosnells!


2000/2001 Award Winners
Graeme Ashley

Best Club Person Award

Read/Waterer 

Club Champion Award

Gary Boyes Paul Hitch

Peter McGilvray


1st Grade:

Captained By Greg Dudley

It was however a disappointing season for our First Grade, only winning 3 and losing 8, to finish seventh.

Captain Greg Dudley continued to lead from the front, scoring 441 runs, including 100 not out for the season, while wicket-keeper Clayton Wilson scored 309 runs and claimed 29 dismissals.

Paul Hitch also had a great season, with 227 runs and 31 wickets, and Jason Cunningham also impressed with 364 runs.


2nd Grade:

Captained By Peter McGilvray

Coincidentally, our seconds finished in second place with a win/loss ratio of 8 and 6.

Unfortunately, they lost the Semi Final to East Fremantle.

It was an outstanding all round performance by skipper Peter McGilvray, who scored 550 runs and took 20 wickets.

Other solid performers for the season were Brad Mant with 397 runs, Jason Hamling with 384 runs and Graeme Bond with 317 runs.

Steve Rickard took 27 wickets, including a 7/97, while Shayne Hersey took 24, with a 7/18 in the routing of CBC.

“Pommie” import Craig Thornton scored 100 not out against Kwinana.


3rd Grade – Two-Day & One-Day PREMIERS!

Captained By Graham Pound

An outstanding season for our thirds, who took out all three trophies – the Minor Premiers, Premiership and One Day Final victory, with a win/loss margin of 12 and 2.

An interesting aspect of the season was the tussles with Hilton Park.

We defeated Hilton by 1 run in the two-day fixture, 3 runs in the one-day fixture and by 1 run in the Semi Final.

An outstanding season by veteran opener Danny Hambleton, who scored 572 runs. Graham Pound led from the front with 370 runs and 25 wickets.

Bowlers with major contributions came in the form of Darren Fletcher with 27 wickets, Kevin Wade with 26 and Sean Wright with 25.


The Premiership Victory

Leeming Spartan Cricket Club 9/105 (Steve Quartermaine 30, Sean Wright 20) defeated Canning Districts 104 (Kevin Wade 4/16, Darren Fletcher 4/37) by 1 wicket.

The Premiership Team (In Batting Order):  D. Hambleton, G. Marle, M. Brown, A. Walker, S. Quartermaine, G. Pound (Captain), S. Buckby, S. Wright, K. Wade, A. Wragg, D. Fletcher.


The One-Day Premiership Victory

Leeming Spartan Cricket Club 8/194 (Steve Quartermaine 110 not out, Andrew Walker 50) defeated East Fremantle 97 all out (Darren Fletcher 4/14, Kevin Wade 4/40) by 97 runs.

Walker and Quartermaine were also involved in a 111 run partnership for the 5th wicket.

The Premiership Team (In Batting Order):  D. Hambleton, S. Buckby, M. Brown, S. Quartermaine, G. Bond, A. Walker, G. Pound (Captain), S. Wright, K. Wade, A. Wragg, D. Fletcher.


Click to view a larger version.


4th Grade:

Captained By Antony Bright

Our fourths split the season, with seven wins and seven losses to finish 4th overall, losing to SJ Blues in the Semi Final.

A season highlight was the outright defeat of Gosnells; bowling them out for just 40 (with Chris Spinella taking 8/3) and then, incredibly, only 25 in the second innings as Mick Bennett with 4/16 and Spinella with 4/8 (12 for the match) doing the damage.

Outright victors over Gosnells was certainly the highlight, knocking them over for just 40 and 25!

David Blight had a great year with the bat, scoring 583 runs (including 114) and Captain Antony Bright scored 327 runs also.

Chris Spinella was the standout in the bowling department with 37 wickets, well supported by youngster Craig Pereira with 25 and Mark Nash with 22.

Twenty five players moved through the grade during the season, making stability difficult and in the end it was a very creditable result.


5th Grade:

Captained By Peter Lansbury

Finished seventh, winning four and losing nine games.

Although most players made a contribution at some stage of the season, the lack of consistency proved the downfall.

Veteran opener Graeme Ashley made 330 runs, while Peter Lansbury with 276 and Gareth Finlay with 205 were the other main contributors.

The bowling was evenly spread; Mike Thyssen and Beau Carter each picked up 15 wickets and Blake Carter, Gareth Finlay and Peter Lansbury claimed 14.

Perennial wicket-taker Mick Bennett took 7/33 against Kenwick to help achieve an unlikely victory at the end of the season.


6th Grade – PREMIERS!

Captained By Dave Hackett

Our 6th Grade had another stellar season, again winning the Premiership to follow last season’s success, thereby going back to back!

Once again although the team suffered losses to Kenwick during the season then proved too strong for them in the Final.

Season highlights included back to back scores of 300, including a club record score of 187 not out by Glen Dobson against Armadale in Round 15 (the total reading 8/300 from 40 overs).

Incredibly, the following round saw another 8/300 score against Roleystone.

A truly sensational year, back-to-back Premiers, a mountain of runs and a Club record highest score made our 6th Grade a daunting opponent for most!

Dobson finished the season with 678 runs, while Phil Flavell also made over 600 (621 in all – including 115 not out).

Skipper Dave Hackett made 532 (including 123) to cap off a great batting performance for the team.

Team stalwart Jim Leinasars again starred with the ball, capturing 32 scalps for the season, while Phil Maley took 29, and Dobson and Dave Jones claimed 24 to help maintain ascendency against most opponents.


The Premiership Victory:

Leeming Spartan Cricket Club 2/104 (Ron McDonald 50) defeated Kenwick 102 all out (Noel Wood 4/24) by eight wickets.

Noel Wood routed the Kenwick batsmen early, before Ron McDonald ensured there would be no hiccups in chasing down the small total, the Spartans comfortable victors in the end.

The Premiership Team (In Batting Order):  D. Hackett (Captain), R. McDonald, P. Flavell, G. Dobson, J. Parsons, P. Maley, G. Boyes, D. Stammers, J. Leinasars, D. Jones, N. Wood.


2001/2002 Season – A New Club Captain

President: Peter Read (2nd Year)
Senior Vice President: Brad Mant (2nd Year)
Junior Vice President: None
Secretary: Jason Hamling (1st Year)
Treasurer: Andrew Walker (1st Year)

A further changing of the guard saw the 2001/02 season start with a new First Gade Captain, as cricket journeyman Wayne Fontana was recruited from Ballajura to take over from Greg Dudley.

Greg Dudley has not only been our best batsman over the past decade (and possibly in the history of the Club), but has been a fantastic supporter, serving the Leeming Spartan Cricket Club as committee man, our First Grade Captain, and financial advisor to the President.

His business commitments were unfortunately restricting his efforts as Club Captain and he decided that it was in the best interests of the Club to stand down from the position. Fortunately he continued on as a player.

Mick Bennett, who also had an outstanding on-field season through claiming 49 wickets and a Premiership, won the Graeme Ashley Best Club Person Award for the first time, while perennial champion Sean Wright took home the Read/Waterer Club Champion Award through an excellent all-round season in the Second Grade.

On the field, we had a rare unsuccessful season, going by our performances in recent past seasons. In terms of the Association, ours was still a record to be envied by most other Clubs. We continued to field six competitive sides and two teams the finals, with the First Grade finishing Minor Premiers and the Fifth Grade becoming both Minor Premiers and Premiers.

Globally, just prior to the beginning of this season in October 2001, the world experienced one of its most devastating days in September, with the attack on the World Trade Centre. Players returning for the new season were visibly disturbed, hollowed and shocked by this atrocity, and this footnote on our website is but a small dedication to the thousands affected.


2001/2002 Award Winners
Graeme Ashley

Best Club Person Award

Read/Waterer 

Club Champion Award

Mick Bennett Sean Wright

1st Grade – Minor Premiers:

Captained By Wayne Fontana

Recruitment was the order of the day during the off-season, and it resulted in the addition of two quality batsmen in Kevin Adair and Stefan Vucens in addition to the new captain.

A win/loss record of 9/2 saw the side finish on top of the table at the conclusion of the regular season, eventually finishing third after losing to Phoenix in the Semi Final.

A highlight was scoring a massive 9/305 against Kardinya Lakes, including a second century of the season for Jason Cunningham (127).

Kevin Adair also scored a ton, with 114 against Kelmscott.

New Captain Wayne Fontana became the third Spartan to score a century in the First Grade, making a season high 128 not out against Kardinya Lakes in the same game as Cunningham.

Four batsmen scored over 300 runs for the season, Cunningham with 433, Adair with 369, Fontana with 364 and former captain Greg Dudley with 332 runs.

Neil Benbow (34 wickets) and Matt Smith (27 wickets) led the bowling attack.


2nd Grade:

Captained By Brad Mant

Started the season in great style, but fell away after Christmas and finished fifth, with 5 wins and 8 losses (with one match washed out).

Jason Hamling scored 299 runs and Captain Brad Mant contributed 281 for the season.

Alec Lacey led the bowling attack taking 23 wickets, and was ably assisted by Shayne Hersey and Sean Wright with 18 each.


3rd Grade:

Captained By Graham Pound

The reigning Premiers produced an even display throughtout the season, ultimately finishing fourth, winning 8 games and losing 6 during the year.

Unfortunately they lost the Semi Final to Hilton Park, a team who had been a great opponent the previous season (we defeated them by a solitary run in the two-day fixture, 3 runs in the one-day fixture and by one run in the Semi Final).

Kevin Wade took an impressive 7/30 against Roleystone and finished with 22 wickets, easily leading the bowling stocks.

In the batting department, Craig Forsyth scored 403 runs, whilst the evergreen Danny Hambleton finished with 397 for the season, including 100 against the eventual Premiers.

Steve Quartermaine also contributed 323 runs for the season for yet another excellent year with the willow.


4th Grade:

Captained By Des Carruthers

A very creditable performance from our Fourths, who gave time in the middle to a number of inexperienced players.

Finished fifth, winning 6 and losing 8, in a season where a massive thirty-one different players took to the field over the course of the summer.

Antony Bright enjoyed an excellent season with the bat, scoring 375. David Blight made 214 runs, while Andrew Wragg was the leading bowler with 27 wickets. Gareth Finlay also claimed 22 wickets.


5th Grade – PREMIERS!

Captained By Dick Manning

An outstanding season from our Fifth Grade, who finished the regular round fixtures as Minor Premiers, before going on to win the Premiership.

The team won their last two matches outright to claim top spot, defeating first Kelmscott and then Cockburn outright.

Winning their final two games outright, our Fifths finished a top of the ladder and went on to claim the Premiership over arch-rivals CBC!

Mick Bennett claimed 8/27 and 6/36 against Kelmscott in that outright rout.

Captain Dick Manning led superbly, scoring 340 runs and taking 22 wickets. Peter Lansbury scored 284 and new player Leon Kingston made 239 runs for the season.

Mick Bennett took an extraordinary 49 wickets while Chris Spinella turned in a great all round performance with 219 runs and 39 wickets.

After defeating Phoenix in the Semi Final, Manning’s men went on the win the Grand Final against old enemy CBC.


The Premiership Victory

Leeming Spartan Cricket Club 7/170 (Kevin Nash 46, Kevin Poller 33) defeated CBC all out 99 (Mick Bennett 5/31, Dick Manning 3/27, Chris Spinella 2/31) by 71 runs at John Connell Reserve.

The Premiership Team (In Batting Order):  K. Poller, K. Nash, B. Stray, R. Manning (Captain), P. Lansbury, L. Kingston, C. McNerney, G. Ashley, C. Spinella, M. Bennett, A. Seaward.

Click to view a larger version.


6th Grade:

Captained By Dave Hackett

By their own high standards the Leeming Spartan Sixth Grade had a reasonably average season, winning 7 and losing 14 games to finish seventh.

Notwithstanding the season result a number of batsmen had good summer; namely Phil Flavell, who scored 534 runs, Dave Hackett with 442 and Dave Abercrombie with a season aggregate of 354.

The bowling was carried by Dave Jones and Justin Parsons with 28 wickets each.

Dave Abercrombie added to his runs with 22 wickets and Ray Turnbull also took 22.



The Leeming Spartan Cricket Club Website in 2001. Click for a full sized image.


Spartans out the front of our original clubrooms on John Connell Reserve, with construction of the new clubhouse well and truly underway in the background.


President Calls Stumps:

At the conclusion of the 2001/02 season, Peter Read retired from the top position due to work and family commitments, having helped produce a sensational era for the Club.

By this stage, the Club, now into its eighty-fourth year, was very much becoming the epitome of the South Metropolitan Cricket Association, envied by all other clubs, and this was achieved through a mountain of work by club officials.

In early 2002, the Club’s administration had been extremely, so much so that we had only 6 presidents since inception! The last president served 23 years, the secretary 12 years and the current coach was in his 13th year.

This level of commitment was unprecedented, and resulted in great success for the Club, and made the new millennium extremely welcomed by our vast number of players and supporters.

Peter’s time as President was extremely positive, we claimed a number of Premierships, enjoyed great and exciting social events, and had an unforgettable Club Windup – the last one in our old clubhouse.

His retirement came while at the top of his game off the field, and was met with much disappointment –  but as they say in politics, that really is the best time to go!


The Era In Review:

By comparison, this was a short era, but one that will forever be fondly remembered.

Having seen the retirement of a Brian Waterer, who served as President for a record 21 years, incumbent Peter Read was not to be intimidated, overseeing a great period of success and laying foundations for crucial aspects we still utilise today.

The launch of our new website, one of the first amongst Clubs in our association, continuing progression towards our new clubhouse, creating a fun and enjoyable atmosphere for all, and getting results through out all grades were just some of the many works Peter was responsible for during his time in office.

Of course, he was aided by a sensational team, an extremely hard-working Committee that continued to further our success and legacy, all the while sitting opposite an enormous construction site.

From Graeme Ashley, Brad Mant, Jason Hamling to Mick Bennett, Paul Hitch and Peter Fergusson, the Club’s Committee was second to none, and ensured that the Leeming Spartan Cricket Club remained the envy of the competition, and had by far and above the greatest social experience for players.

See some great photos from this period by clicking here!

Although Peter would only serve as President for three years, by comparison a small term, he achieved a sensational amount in that time, particularly with a major construction project occurring next door, which must have impeded on attendances at the Club at times.

Nevertheless, this proved to be a spectacular era for the Club, and a hugely enjoyable one at that. When all grades are performing well, continually pushing for finals, as was the case during this period, the Club is far better for it, and off the field, there was much enjoyment and entertainment to be had.

This was overall, a short (by comparison) but successful period, and to Peter and his fantastic Committee, the Leeming Spartan Cricket Club is extremely appreciative.


The 5th Grade boys celebrating their Premiership in 2001.


See More Photos From This Era


The Era In Statistics:

Leeming Spartan Presidents:

President Seasons Years Held
Rev. W.R. Hibbert 1918-1920 2
S. Thomson 1920-1942 22
A.E. West 1945-1959 14
J. Knox-Peden 1959-1978 19
B.M. Waterer 1978-1982 4
P.J. Dama 1982-1983 1
B.M. Waterer 1983-2000 17
P.A. Read 2000-2002 2


Chapter Thanks:

A special thank you to Graeme Ashley, Brian Waterer and Daniel Coombs for the countless hours they have spent in compiling the historical information regarding this chapter of Leeming Spartan Cricket Club history and preparing it for our website. This incredible effort is part of what makes the Leeming Spartan Cricket Club one of the most historically accurate and successful clubs in Western Australia.

Adapted and updated with new content for the new Leeming Spartan Website in July 2017 by Daniel Coombs. Last updated in August 2017.


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 Next Chapter (Back To The Future 2002-2006) 


Some of our senior Spartans celebrating a Third Grade Premiership in 2001 in the old clubrooms on John Connell Reserve.


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© Leeming Spartan Cricket Club (2024), All Rights Reserved

This document is for knowledge and viewing purposes only, and is therefore not to be copied or reused in any form without the express written consent of the Leeming Spartan Cricket Club (Inc.).

The Leeming Spartan Cricket Club (Inc.) logo is a copyright of the Leeming Spartan Cricket Club (Inc.) (ABN 24 114 629 534) and is not to be used for commercial purposes without express written permission from the Leeming Spartan Cricket Club (Inc.).

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