Plays of the Past

Despite losing Tongala opener Trevor Hine, a century maker the day before, early in its innings the Kyabram team scored the 87 runs for victory comfortably. Captain Laurie Casey scored 31 and had support from Alan Lanyon and Greg Bowers.

– Girgarre’s Laurie Casey, 15, played nine consecutive games of cricket, for his club and the association. He led Girgarre juniors and later the same day played in Girgarre’s senior team in the B-grade competition.

That was followed by his debut for the senior KDCA competition against Murray Valley and then the country week junior commitments.

Among the names in the KDCA representative teams were Bill Fry, Peter Warburton, captain John Wallis, Bob Ferguson and John Lilford.

– Veteran Kyabram bowler Perc Perkins became the new champion of the Valley View Bowling Club when he beat Ray Crow.

It was Perkins’ ninth club championship, two at Valley View, six with the Kyabram club and one at Ouyen.

1985

Kyabram SEC employee and star cricketer John Hill made headlines when he scored an amazing 149 for Kyabram in its total of 6-278 against Stanhope.

It was just a week after he had made a half century against the visiting Sri Lankan team in a representative game at Shepparton.

Hill struck 13 boundaries and shared in a 135-run partnership with Russ Morgan, who made 54. Openers David Collins and Dallas Normington had earlier set the team on its way

Wyuna was on track for a finals berth when it scored 6-224 against Girgarre, assisted by the work of Noel Cox (57) and all-round star Peter Ryan (62). Openers Guys and John Wallis set the early tone.

– Sharryn Andrews and Bernie Phyland were the Merrigum Tennis Club’s singles champions of 1985.

They took their titles when Phyland defeated last year’s champion Noel Healey in a gruelling three set game – 6-2, 6-7, 7-6. Andrews defeated Jenny Lawler 9-6 to win the Commonwealth Bank Shield.

– Tongala lawn bowler Alby Smith won his 11th Tongala singles championship.

His first club title came way back in 1953-54 and his opponent in the final was Les Saunderson, who was playing in his first championship final. Saunderson put up a fight, but lost 18-25.

1995

Merrigum finalised its coaching panel for the season by appointing two former Kyabram, players to assist senior coach Peter Ryan.

Utility star Gary McKenzie was named Ryan’s deputy and Steve Kightly took over the reserves coaching role. McKenzie had been a member of three successive Kyabram reserve grade premiership teams from 1990-92, but didn’t play the previous season.

Kightly was returning to Merrigum after four seasons with Picola United.

Col Poole was appointed to the under age team coaching role for a sixth successive season.

– Kyabram claimed the Goulburn Murray zone A-grade junior country week title in a dramatic finish against Deniliquin at Shepparton.

Kyabram’s one-run win came in a rain affected game when Matt Mongan pulled in a finger-tip catch off the last ball of the match to deprive Deniliquin of victory.

Daniel Kent scored 37, Robert Burgess (33) and Nathan Harding (13), while Chris Boylan was the pick of the bowlers with 4-38 and Jamie Vegtyer claimed 3-27.

Ron Cunningham was coach of the Kyabram team.

– Merrigum bowlers Laurie Campbell and Garth Wiffen won the Goulburn Valley pairs championship at Tatura.

They were the first Merrigum club bowlers to take the title, winning over 18 ends from a Euroa pair.

The Merrigum pair beat Stanhope’s Geoff Mulcahy and Barry Williams in a nail-biting lead-up game. Wiffen, who was a two-time Merrigum singles champion, while Campbell had only moved to Merrigum two years early to become the town’s postmaster.

– Brose Oval was the site for a second Des Campbell century (in the C-grade competition) of the season. The veteran scored 140 for Tongala, with support from Alan Davis (67 not out) and son Blake (34).

In other cricket highlights, Stewart Vick took 4-26 in the B-grade game and Scott Hanson took 3-34 in the A-grade game against Rochester United.