(By Amanda Reid)
The long weekend in March, the Birchip Cricket Club held a 50-year and 30-year reunion celebrating “A” grade back-to-back Tyrrell League premierships in 1970/’71, 1971/’72 and 1988/’89, 1989/’90. 

It commenced with an afternoon tea at the Birchip Leisure Centre, with a display of articles from the “Birchip & District Guardian” and the “Donald Birchip Times”.  

The attendees were able to watch the last home-and-away “A” grade game of Birchip versus Brim KSH, at the George Cartwright oval. 

Brim KSH battled strongly, with only two batters not reaching double figures, putting a score of 5/166 on the board.  

Birchip struggled to secure any large partnerships, with Riley Doran entertaining with a couple of 6s and eight 4s to top score with 57 runs and 3 wickets, Birchip’s innings fell 37 runs short of the target.

Saturday Evening
The reunion proceedings continued at the Birchip Hotel on Saturday evening, with meals in the beer garden. President Brad Ryan commenced speeches by inviting past premiership captains to speak about the grand finals.  

Max Cartwright, captain of ’70/’71 and ’71/’72 premiership teams, spoke of four influential team members — the late Frank Tuck, Lin. “Spruika” Cahoon, Daryl Cooper and the late Ian “Sinny” Sinclair — who contributed in their own way to the success of the club throughout those years.  

1970/’71
The 1970/’71 grand final, was played at Wycheproof against Nullawil. Nullawil posted 220 runs in its first innings, Birchip was all out 126 trailing by 94 runs.  

In the second innings, Birchip restricted Nullawil to 146 runs in the second innings; Birchip needed 241 runs to win. 

Extract from “Birchip Guardian”: “At 236, Birchip suffered a set back when Cousland (9) was caught behind. Birchip needed 7 runs for victory, and had only 2 wickets in hand. 

Cooper (Daryl), who had been batting well, gained the honour of hitting the winning runs. Birchip had taken out the 1970/’71 premiership with a supreme team effort.”

1971/’72
The 1971/’72 grand final was played between Birchip and Narraport. Birchip scored 179 runs in the first innings, with Max Cartwright 48, “Spruika” Cahoon 52. 

Birchip bowlers restricted Narraport to 127 with a lead of 52. Birchip’s second innings continued strongly, with Daryl Cooper reaching 41 and end score 215, giving Narraport 267 to chase. B. Dillion achieved a hat trick and finished with figures of 6/15.  

Narraport could not chase down that target, with the great bowling of B. Rankin 5/29 ending Narraport chase to 183, and Birchip winning the successive premierships.

1988/’89
Anthony (Jock) Schofield talked about the 1988/’89 grand final as he was absent from the ’89/’90 team when his wedding coincided with grand final day.  

Birchip came up against Wycheproof, which won the toss and decided to bat.  Birchip bowlers put the pressure on Wycheproof batters straight away, with their innings coming to an end at 109.  Brad Cooper 4/22. 

Birchip replied with 172, leading by 63 runs. Scott Randall 42, Gary Living 5/58. Wycheproof’s second innings resulted in 157; Birchip required 94 to win. Bruce Morcom 4/55, Brad Cooper 4/46.  

Birchip’s second innings didn’t go to plan, losing 4/46, still needing 49 runs to win on the last day. Rain washed out play on third day, giving Birchip the premiership on the first innings results.

1989/’90
The 1989/’90 grand final saw Birchip take on Narraport. Birchip batted first, putting 253 on the scoreboard. Birchip had Narraport troubled at 6/62, but it managed to end its innings with 165. Steven Hall 4/49. 

Birchip’s second innings saw the lower order batsmen Bruce Morcom 71 and Steven Hall 69 not out, contributed to Birchip’s total of 227, leading by 315, Brian Allan taking 4/80 and 5/73. Birchip’s strong bowling line-up restricted Narraport to 188. Shane Blencowe 5/61.

Volunteers
Craig Blencowe, 1989/’90 captain, told of his experience of being part of a country cricket club, with community members contributing by volunteering in helping the club in any job that was required to make it successful on and off the field.  

President Dennis O’Connor, the late Ian Sinclair, Lou Martin, “Spruika” Cahoon and the late Fred Sparrow were names that came to mention for their hard work in helping the club and players.

To finalise the official proceedings of the night, current president Brad Ryan thanked his wife Connely, Amanda Reid and Andrew Sayle for their work with the reunion, but also throughout the season in all that they do for the club.  

Thanks also to Maureen Donnellon for her help researching the archives.

Sunday
On the Sunday, the premiership players attended the Birchip Harness Racing Club’s Mallee Bull Cup day, where they continued their catch up with locals and other team members who were unable to attend on Saturday while supporting a local event.