By the February of 1978, the Barrier team were participating in their fifth South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) Country Cricket Championships. Rod Johnston had taken over as skipper in 1975 from Ian Fillery, who was his deputy for this ’78 tournament which started with an impressive 117-run victory over the Southeast.
Batting first in the February 6 carnival opener against Southeast, Barrier made 5/199, with hard hitting left hander Fillery leading the way with 74, supported by David Mitchell, who made 48 at Kane Reserve off Churchill Road. They bundled out the Southeast lads for just 82. Geoff Delbridge was the chief destroyer on day one, collecting 4/31.
On Day Two the Barrier were equally impressive with the bat against Upper North, giving their opponents an imposing total of 4/226 to chase.
Opener Angelo Kalivas scored a polished 56, while Fillery fell just one run short of his half century.
The trio of Michael Fox (39), Brian Reardon (34) and on-fielder leader Johnston (37*) all were handy contributors in the total. Upper North was dismissed for 159, with fiery left hand quick Bill Slee taking the impressive analysis of 6/38.
Yorke Peninsula only made 116 in the Day Three contest, with Delbridge again amongst the wickets with a haul of four, while Fillery made 42 to continue his excellent start to the tournament, as the Barrier boys achieved a four-wicket victory.
Day four saw a big clash against the Murray Districts side, who were reigning champions and had dominated the Harry Meyer Cup in the early and mid-70s. Barrier batted first and made a middling total of 135, with Dean Cutting top scoring with 31.
Defending this total, Delbridge and Cutting ripped through the opposing batting side, dismissing them for a paltry 60. Delbridge finished with a five-wicket haul and the impressive figures of 5/28 while Cutting added to his batting effort with four wickets at a cost of just seven runs.
Week two of the SACA country cricket cup of 1978 started with another big win. Barrier batted first and produced a good total of 206, with Ian Fillery’s strong form with the willow continuing. He led the way with 56. They then bowled Southern out for just 39, winning by 167 runs. Cutting was the destroyer with 6/9, while Delbridge finished with three wickets at a cost of six runs.
After a win over Lower North in round six, the Barrier team lost their final game against the Eyre Peninsula at Alberton Oval.
Captain of the Barrier side for the first two carnivals in 1973 and 1974, Ian Fillery won the Batting Aggregate at this championship with 264 runs Geoff Delbridge was the leading wicket taker with 22 scalps.
Five players from the Barrier’s title winning side of 1978, captain Johnson, quicks Delbridge and Slee, all-rounder Cutting and batsman Fillery were selected in the team of the carnival, to play the SACA Second XI at Adelaide Number 2 oval on Thursday, February 16.
“Norm Fox was one of those great people who work in the background was very important component to the success at the carnival,” Barrier’s ’78 Captain Rod Johnston explained.
“We had dominated the first six days and knew as long as Murray Districts didn’t win outright we had enough percentage to win the carnival. While the figures may show we beat them in .50 of a percent, he felt were always had the title in hand on that final day. It was a pretty complete team effort.”
Nearly as famous as the Barrier’s inaugural Harry Meyer Cup victory, was the title winning celebrations on the Wednesday night at the Ramsgate Hotel and on the beach at Henley.
After the celebrations that were still going strong at 4.30am Cutting smashed an undefeated 60 against the SACA boys, which included six boundaries and a pair of sixes.
PLACE IN A BOX
Round 1 – 6 February 1978
Barrier 5/199 (I Fillery 74, D Mitchell 48) defeated Southeast 82 (G Delbridge 4/31) @ Kane Reserve.
Round 2 – 7 February 1978
Barrier 4/226 (Kalivas 56, I Fillery 49, Fox 39, Reardon 34, Johnston 37*) defeated Upper North 159 (Harris 46*, Slee 6/38) @ Adelaide #2
Round 3 – 8 February 1978
Barrier 6/121 (I Fillery 42, Robinson 3/16) defeated Yorke Peninsula 116 (Langdon 41, Delbridge 4/20) @ Broadview Oval
Round 4 – 9 February 1978
Barrier 135 (Cutting 31, Elliott 3/37) defeated Murray Districts 60 (Delbridge 5/28, Cutting 4/7) @ Railways Oval.
Round 5 – 13 February 1978
Barrier 206 (I Fillery 56, A Crompton 5/38) defeated Southern 39 (D Cutting 6/9, G Delbridge 3/6)
Round 6 – 14 February 1978
Barrier defeated Lower – Mid North
Round 7 – 15 February 1978
Barrier lost to Eyre Peninsula @ Alberton Oval
Representative Match – 16 February 1978
Country 183 (G Madden 38, R Ellis 28, D Cutting 60*, K Lewis 4/64) lost to SACA 5/194 (D Marsh 37, JJ Crowe 42, R Hutton 44) @ Adelaide No 2
SACA Country Champs Batting Aggregate – Ian Fillery (Barrier) 264 runs
SACA Country Champs Bowling Aggregate -Geoff Delbridge (Barrier) 22 wickets
PICTURE: Barrier Team 1977-78
Back Row L-R Greg McCoy, Geoff Delbridge, Denis Cetinich, Brian Reardon, Wayne Clisby, Norm Fox (Team Manager);
Middle Row L-R Tom Slattery, Peter Boase, Michael Fox, David Cutting, Herb Davey;
Front Row L-R David Mitchell, Rod Johnston (Captain), Ian Fillery (VC) Robert Barrett;
Absent – Bill Slee, Angelo Kalivas.
