1974-75 Easter Bunny brings home the chocolates for Petersham-Marrickville
Randwick Petersham Cricket Club | April 18, 2025
The 1974-75 Sydney Grade Cricket Grand Final was played over Easter Saturday and Easter Monday 29 and 31 March 1975 at Petersham Oval. The match was against second-placed Manly-Warringah who had defeated third-placed Gordon in the semi-final the previous weekend.
After morning rain, Brian Riley had no hesitation in sending Manly-Warringah in to bat after again winning the toss. And while the Sea Eagles overcame the loss of early wickets, they seemed on the road to recovery at 3-80. But the spin of Stuart Gardner (4-23) and Greg Hartshorne (2-33), coupled with the swing of Bill Moffatt (3-33), took its toll and the last seven wickets fell for 34 ending at 114. Immediately the innings completed, the heavens opened and washed-out play for the remainder of the day.
Beginning the run chase on Easter Monday, the locals didn’t have it all their own way with Bedkober and Lindsay Gibson going early and Hartshorne following for a score-line of 3-52. But Bill Anderson (30) and Graeme Hughes (42) dug in to see the target passed three down, before losing their last seven wickets for 30 posting a final score of 147. Manly batted again but at 2-53 it was all over and Petersham-Marrickville had won its first 1st Grade premiership since 1961-62.
The 1974-75 Petersham-Marrickville team was a well-balanced unit with some outstanding batting performances matched by a disciplined bowling attack and some keen fielding. Bill Anderson was the star with the bat scoring 567 runs at 35.4 while Martin Bedkober, who opened the batting and kept wickets, wasn’t far behind with 541. Greg Hartshorne with 469, Graeme Hughes with 463 and Brian Riley who made 456, were also heavy run-scorers.
There were three centuries with Bill Anderson making 109 against Cumberland in a game won, 4-251 declared to 147; Martin Bedkober hit 118 with 15 fours before being run out in the drawn match against Nepean, while Graeme Hughes scored his maiden 1st Grade ton hitting 114 in 168 minutes with 19 boundaries in a winning total of 6-306 playing NDs at Waitara Oval.
This number could have been much greater had just a few extra runs been scored before each of four dismissals in the 90s. Anderson was bowled for 91 by Murray Bennett against St George; Bedkober was caught behind for 98 playing North Sydney at Marrickville; Greg Hartshorne was caught for 91 in the semi-final against St George while Graeme Hughes was caught and bowled by Randwick’s Ron Crippin at Coogee.
David Chardon had a sensational season with the ball and but for an injury to his back, may well have ended up with far more than the exceptional 55 wickets he finished with. Not only was his the most wickets in the club but he also topped the 1st Grade competition. His average of 13.02 was also the competition best. Bill Moffatt finished with 36 wickets and Greg Hartshorne 31 to confirm their ability as quality all-rounders. Chardon again played for NSW Colts against Queensland and Victoria.
Petersham-Marrickville 1st Grade Premiers 1974-75
Back: Jack Ross (President), Graeme Hughes, John Coyle, Stuart Gardner, Lindsay Gibson, Peter Bain,
Bill Moffatt, Greg Hartshorne, Brian Hughes (Hon Secretary)
Front: Les Johns, David Chardon, Brian Riley (Captain), Martin Bedkober, Bill Anderson, Perry Nichols (Scorer)
Insets: left: Ray Hall, right: Brian Sharp
The Belvidere Cup is presented to 1974-75 winning captain Brian Riley by NSWCA President Alan Davidson while a proud Petersham-Marrickville President Jack Ross looks on.
Lyall Gardner
Randwick Petersham Historian
