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The 1940s
The Second World War Years and the 1940s

Officials, players, members and/or supporters first noted in this decade
John Bourke, Greg Burns, Don Collins (wicket-keeper), J.J. Cooke, Dr, F. Costigan, K. Cussen, Alan Dwyer (President of the OXFC 1963 to 1965, made a Life Member of the OXFC in 1968), J. Hoppe, Peter Jorgensen, M. Keleher, John Kelly, Ken Kelly, E. Keogh, Bruce Laird, Gordon Laird (Captain of the OXFC 1952 & 1953), Robin McCooey (President of the OXFC 1954 to 1958), Murray McKenzie, Bernard Mahoney. John Mornane, John Minnis, B. Buller Murphy, Keith Mustow, F.X. O’Halloran, Mick Peppard, Peter Peppard (Captain of the OXFC 1947, President of the OXFC 1951 to 1953). Dr. Dave Quin, John Rice, Frank Smyth, Leo Starr (retired after 1953/54 season to become the Club’s official and best umpire), Bill Stutt, John Watson, Eric Woods, Lou Zachariah (on occasions President, Secretary, baggage man as well as all-rounder for the Club; also engaged in various capacities for the OXFC, including its President from 1959 to 1962, the latter a “B” Grade premiership year resulting in the OXFC’s elevation to “A” Grade in the VAFA. He also became the Old Boys’ first President of the VAFA in the early 1970s and a Life Member of the VAFA in 1967. He was made a Life Member of the OXFC in 1968 and the OXCC in 1974.

1940/41
Captain: Allan Keane.

Lal McLennan graduated from his medical studies. He became the resident at Horsham Hospital and later went on to military service.

Military service:
Kevin Crosbie training with the A.I.F. Dick Buxton and John Dynon joined the Militia.
Reg Foley stationed with the R.A.A.F. at Laverton.

The Club’s Annual Report to “The Xaverian” 1940 noted:
“The Club has decided to make every effort to keep going during the war years because it feels that it is rendering a very useful service to the School in keeping as many Old Boys in close touch with their Alma Mater. In recent years great disappointment has been felt at the lack of enthusiasm of the Younger Old Boys towards the activities of the OXCC., but strenuous attempts are being made at the present time to remedy this state of affairs”.

Despite the war time difficulties, recruiting efforts were made which included the arrivals of Alan Dwyer (a useful left-hand bowler until his retirement from playing after the 1953/54 season) and John Mornane, self confessed bowler of googlies. Also, Brendan O’Halloran returned to the fold.

In the last game, the Club defeated the eventual premiers, Myrall, despite fielding only eight players. Alan Dwyer (4/30) and Dr. Allan Keane (3/48) were the wicket takers.(Query: Is this match the genesis of the legend of Alan and one other player alone starting the game, one bowling and one in the slips, and holding out until support arrived?). The Club finished fifth with 4 wins and 5 losses.

Highlights:
Brendan O’Halloran: 58 runs v. Elsternwick (first meeting).
R.(Dick or Bob?) Willis: 64 runs v. Black Rock.
R.(Dick or Bob?) Willis: 77 runs & Frank Higginbotham 53 runs in the second game. v. Elsternwick
Keith Mustow: 5/50 v. Elsternwick.
Alan Dwyer: 5/36 v. Darling.
Keith Mustow: 6/35 v. Brighton (1st innings).
Alan Dwyer: 6/22 v. Brighton (2nd Innings).
Kevin Crosbie: 5/43 v. Hampton.

Bowling partners:
Kevin Crosbie (4/35) & Brendan O’Halloran (3/25) v. Elsternwick.
John Molomby (4/34), Keith Mustow (2/14) & Alan Dwyer (3/23) v. Myrall (first meeting).
Keith Mustow (3/17) & Alan Dwyer (5/36) v. Darling.
Keith Mustow (6/35) & Joe Kelly (3/59) v. Brighton.
Keith Mustow (3/32), Alan Dwyer (3/26) & Kevin Crosbie (2/11) v. Black Rock.
Keith Mustow (3/49), John Molomby (3/36) & Alan Dwyer (3/51) v. Box Hill.
Alan Dwyer (4/30) & Allan Keane (3/48) v. Myrall (second meeting).

“The Xaverian” 1941 reported:
“Keith Mustow (fast), and Alan Dwyer (left hand medium), bowled exceptionally well in every match and each took over 30 wickets at a cost of less than ten runs a piece”.
The Club defeated the School 95 (Alan Dwyer 7/35) to 108.

1941/42

Military service:
The Club was advised of the death of Jack Drake whilst serving with the A.I.F. abroad. He was vice captain of the OXFC in 1935.

Dr.Lal McLennan, Arthur Monks, Doug Buxton and Kevin Crosbie - abroad with the A.I.F.
Bill Stutt, Keith Mustow and Reg Foley (R.A.A.F.) and Alan Dwyer (Militia/24 Battalion A.I.F. serving for 4 years in New Guinea).

Highlights:
Brendan O’Halloran 6/24 and 91 runs in a losing team v. Newport.
Bowling partners: John Bourke (4/80) & Brendan O’Halloran (3/38) v. Seddon.

1942/43 to 1944/45 IN RECESS

1945/46
The next Club report in “The Xaverian” occurred in the 1946 edition. For the 1945/46 season, it reported that the Club had been the guests of a former player, Vern Sheahan, at his country property at Glenmore.

In the 1947 edition, the Club was congratulated for its reformation after being in recess during the war.

1946/47 Return to the MCC Club XI Competition
Fortunately, the School was able to make the School oval available. Two other teams could not do so and they were rejected by the organizers.
The first game back in the Club Elevens was against Hawthorn-East Melbourne at Wattle Park.

Captain: Dr. Frank Costigan.

Averages/aggregates (if known):
Batting: Dr. Frank Costigan.
Don Collins, a first year player, ran a close second in the batting averages Bowling: John Rice (also a first year player)

Highlights:
Dr. Frank Costigan: an innings of 161 runs (in 100 minutes) v. Roger Moss’ MCC.
Tenth wicket record partnership: 124 runs - Dr. Frank Costigan & Murray. McKenzie.

Dick Carroll increased his tally of runs to 2028, placing him second (behind Frank Higginbotham).
Kevin Crosbie reached 198 wickets to equal the record held by Maurice Collins.

It was noted in the 1947 edition of “The Xaverian” that over the past 21 years, 146 members had represented the Club in 196 matches being 78 wins, 102 losses, 15 draws and 1 tie.

1947/48
There was a risk that the MCC Club XI would not proceed as the MCC was unable to find enough grounds for its own teams. However, the situation was saved when the School made its ground available to the MCC teams when the OXCC was playing away fixtures.

The Club finished in third place. No opposition team scored 200 runs, the team suffered no batting collapses and was said to be well balanced in batting and bowling, neither a brilliant team nor a one-man team.

Averages/aggregates (if known):
Batting: Peter Peppard (269 runs @ 38.4)
Bowling: Ken Kelly (Ave. 9.3)

Highlights:
Ken Kelly: 6/20 and 5/24.
R. Batten: 6/20.
Peter Peppard: 72 runs in 35 minutes.
Kevin Crosbie became the first member to pass 200 wickets for the Club.

1948/49

1949/50
Captain: Ken Kelly.

The competition: 3 MCC teams, Hawthorn-East Melbourne, Old Scotch, OXCC and OMs (the eventual premiers).
3 wins, 5 losses and 2 draws. Details of the matches are included in the 1950 edition of “The Xaverian”.

Highlights:
John Billings: 5/53 v. Old Scotch.
John Kelly: 53 runs v. Hawthorn-East Melbourne.
Bruce Laird: 53 runs (his brother, Gordon, 28 runs also) v. Old Wesley.

Bowling partners
Peter Jorgensen (3/12), Alan Dwyer (3/17) & Gordon Laird (2/8) v. OMs. This game was won on the first innings but, although chasing 112 to win outright, the batting in the Club’s second innings collapsed to 9/65 at stumps, thus avoiding an outright loss. The OMs were the Premiers this season.