What a season!
In 68-69, St George achieved the first-ever Sydney double: first grade premiers and the Rothmans knockout winners.
After winning its opening match, St George was never headed in the first grade premiership.
Two players had stellar summers. Kerry O’Keeffe took an astonishing 73 wickets at an average of 15, even though he missed games while playing for NSW’s final four Sheffield Shield matches. Brian Booth amassed 852 runs at an average of 77 in his first full summer for St George for many years.
The final against Manly at the SCG was an intriguing game as Manly’s left-arm spinner, Mike Pawley, bowled superbly in taking 7-47 and holding St George to 199, a lower than expected score when Watson (46), Booth (60) and Wilson (31) all looked to be on top of the bowling. Late on day 1, Peter Leslie threw off his back pain worries and bowled fast swinging deliveries that had Manly’s former Test players Jim Burke and Peter Philpott all at sea before dismissing them as well as No 3, Peter Moore. The following Saturday featured the O’Keeffe show, as Kerry capped off a wonderful summer by capturing 5-49 as Manly were dismissed for just 150.
The Rothmans final was telecast in full and had Balmain at home at Drummoyne Oval matched against St George, who were missing Saunders and Booth. In those early days of limited-over cricket (36 x 8 ball over per innings), players had not yet worked out how to adapt to this new format and batting collapses were common. After a good start, St George threw away middle-order wickets and were disappointed with 205, which was well below the competition average then of 250.
Paceman John Martin had dismissed state players Tony Steele and Ross Collins early, and as the next two consolidated, acting captain John Rogers gave Martin a rest. Martin protested convincingly that he was bowling well and should finish his full complement of nine overs. In the next two overs he dismissed both batsman and soon after a fifth, breaking the back of Balmain’s batting in a wonderful display so that the home team was all out for 149.
Four young St George players were given a chance in the NSW Sheffield Shield team which that summer was to have a new look. For the first time the matches were to be played over four consecutive days, with no rest days on Sundays. That led to the retirement of Brain Booth, and with Bob Simpson also retiring, all the famous test players of the early 1960’s had left the NSW team. That meant the 22 year-old Doug Walters was now the most senior player and captain. The subsequent pool results reflected the inexperience, with much chopping and changing in selections.
Following his call-up as 12th man for the previous season’s last match, John Rogers was St George first players chosen for state duty. He started well in top-scoring against Queensland in Brisbane, but NSW were beaten inside three days. Following low scores during further decisive team losses against eventual winners WA and then the West Indies, Rogers was discarded and in came Peter Leslie who played one match and was twice 12th man before he was also dropped. John Wilson then debuted and held his place for the remainder of the season, finishing with a marvellous 114 against South Australia and averaging 44 from his 44 runs. Kerry O’Keeffe was chosen with four matches to go and held his place till the end of the season in a most promising fashion.
Meanwhile back in club land, Warren Saunders and Billy Watson totaled 643 and 631 for the summer respectively to support Booth’s 852. Martin and Leslie were back in form for St George and took 52 wickets between them – a pretty good result considering the mopping-up job O’Keeffe was doing of opposition tails.
And providing good support for the final time were Keith Francis and Vic Cristofani, both finishing their careers with a premiership 16 years after playing a significant role in the 1952-53 premiership win.
The annual report had this to say about the captaincy: “Warren Saunders’ superb personal performances, incomparable leadership and dedication to the spirit of the game, inspired the team at all times and created an atmosphere favourable to keen enjoyment and goodwill.
This story was originally published in the book written by John Rogers titled “Mr St George” - Warren Saunders and the culture of success he inspired.
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