Newspaper Article on Rod Bower passing 10,000 First Grade Runs
Penrith Cricket Club | July 20, 2026
10,000 and still counting
November 1994-94 - Penrith Press
AFTER passing the 10,000 mark for the total number of runs scored in Sydney grade cricket, Rod Bower has set his next target — 12,120.
“I figure another three seasons,” said Penrith’s eight-season veteran, who will be 35 next week.
That would make him the highest scorer of all time in a competition which is steeped in tradition, having moved up to 11th place and within 68 runs of Australian coach Bob Simpson.
It was two seasons ago, in September 1992, that Bower’s 10,000 target was reported in the PRESS.
However, apart from personal milestones, he has another target in grade cricket.
“I’d like to win a competition before I retire, and I’d like to win it with Penrith,” he said.
That seems a forlorn hope this season, as Bower concedes the aim for the Panthers now is just to win as many games as they can.
Ironically, the closest he came to winning the competition was during his 10 years with Bankstown.
“We got beat in the final once, by Penrith.”
Bower joined the Panthers in 1986/87 and although he had one season away — with Balmain in 1991/92 — he has made Penrith home. He lives and works locally and believes in playing for the club in the area.
“I enjoy Penrith, it’s a great place, and the players I play with are fantastic,” he said.
Initially an all-rounder, he played for NSW from 1984 to ’87 and the highlight was winning the Sheffield Shield final in 1985/86.
While his later absence from the State side was a mystery, Bower is philosophical.
He said he probably didn’t score as many runs as he would have when he was in the side and also that he “wasn’t diplomatic enough.”
“It’s the same old story — I’d like to have been as level-headed and know then what I do now,” he said.
Bower says he will continue playing “as long as I’m still enjoying it and still competitive”, as well as staying fit and supple.
One area of his game he is pleased with is seeing the ball — vital to a batsman — as he now wears glasses after going through a lean period two seasons back.
This Saturday, Penrith will play Bankstown at Bankstown Oval.
— BRAD EARL
HIGHEST RUNS SCORERS IN GRADE CRICKET
BATSMAN | CLUB | CAREER | RUNS
W Bardsley | Glebe, Western Subs | 1898-1933 | 12,119
“T” E Andrews | Petersham | 1909-43 | 11,672
S J Carroll | Gordon | 1939-66 | 11,314
J W Burke | Manly, Northern Dist | 1946-72 | 11,231
A Alderson | Cumberland, Syd Uni | 1941-68 | 10,705
B C Booth | St George | 1952-77 | 10,674
J Chegwyn | Randwick | 1926-56 | 10,455
W J Saunders | St George | 1951-73 | 10,400
M A Noble | Paddington | 1894-1925 | 10,127
R B Simpson | Petersham, Western Subs | 1952-80 | 10,111
R J Bower | Bankstown, Balmain, Penrith | 1977- | 10,043*
