Sport
30 January, 2026
Past premierships celebrated
WHILE the heat may have seen play abandoned at the Purnim cricket club last weekend, there was still plenty to celebrate for those who gathered for what was a very special reunion.
The club last Saturday celebrated its 40 year premiership successes from their former Grassmere Cricket Association days.
During the 1985-86 season, Purnim dominated taking out both the end of season A Grade premiership plus the 50 over one-day Brian O’Halloran Cup competition.
The A grade match saw Purnim 378 defeat Woodford 116.
On that day, captain Garry Butters made 120, Rodger Henderson 71 and Henry Askew 57.
With the ball David ‘Mouse’ McLean took 5-30 and Mick McKinnon 3-37 to bowl Purnim to victory.
In the one day grand final, Purnim 9-212 with David McLean making 92 defeated Woodford 197.
Purnim Cricket Club spokesperson Rodger Henderson said it was great to catch up with former players and supporters to celebrate being premiers in both formats from 40 years ago.
“We have lost Graeme ‘Titch’ MacKay and a couple of now interstate based players couldn’t make it back, and unfortunately there was no cricket possible due to the heat but it still was a fantastic day,” Henderson said.
“Not just for the team members but the old supporters who came along to reminisce as well.”
Northern Raiders Cricket Club president, Trevor Dowd, said acknowledging past history via the Purnim and Grassmere foundations was an importance fabric of the Raiders.
