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The 1960s
Officials, players, members and/or supporters first noted this decade

Steve Bell, John Bendall, Leon Bendall, Leo Borghesi (wicket-keeper), C. Boulter, P. Brosnan, P. Bruckner, David & John Burnes (John was President of the OXFC 1966 and 1967 and brother David also had that role from 1979 to 1981 when the first “A” Grade flag was won. David also went on to the highest position in the VAFA), John Corby, John Cosgrave, John Curtain, Paul (?) Dean, F. Doherty, M. Doherty, Jim Dwyer (Premiership player 1984/85), Laurie Dwyer (older brother of “Jimmy the dog” and son of Alan Dwyer), Paul (?) Dwyer, Gerald Fitzgerald, Bill Flynn, D. Forbes, Peter Fraser (ex-University), Bede Gibson, Greg Gibson, Neville Gibson, Trevor Gowers (Richmond footballer and Captain of the OXFC 1969 to 1973), Geoff Harris, Peter D Howard (Captain of Xavier XI in 1954), Alan Johnston, J. Keating, Peter L’Estrange, Gerry Maher, (?) Melick, Murray Laming (recruited from District cricket ranks in 1961/62), Brian “Fish” Lugar (wicket-keeper, President OXFC 1974 and 1975), Bob McHale, (?) Mainwaring, Dr. Jack “The Rat Doctor” Martin, Mick Mulcahy (Captain of the OXFC 1966 to 1968, its B&F 1965 & 1966 and VAFA “A” Grade Best & Fairest in 1966), Ken Mullins, Peter Quin, Peter Raffaele, Tim Reidy, Peter Ryan, Bruno Sinico (donated a bat to the Club), Julian Serong, Peter Slattery, Dr. Peter Stanley, David Stoney, Ian Stoney, Paul Sullivan, F. Webb, Simon Williams, Alan Woodley (Hawthorn FC Premiership player, OXFC coach 1970 & 1971), David Woodruff, Gavan Woodruff, John Zachariah (Premiership player 1984/85, 86/87 & 89/90), Paul Zachariah.

W. “Tank” Seabrook and Richard “Hiram” or “Hooter” Harridence (stalwarts of the tours of Tasmania, the latter after whom the “Hooter” award was named).

A team photograph of circa 1962 appears on the Club website. The players shown are, starting from the back row left to right (* Life Members):
John Curtain, Alan McLean*, Alan Dwyer (president), Bill Flynn, Paul Sullivan, John Corby and Peter Slattery, and, John Bendall, Mark Roberts*, Peter Rhoden (captain), Joey Pilkington and Lou Zachariah*.

At the beginning of this decade, the Club instituted an annual match against Launceston Grammar old boys through the services of Brendan Lyons, John Martin and David Gunn at the Tasmanian end and Lou Zachariah and Don Sanders for the Club. Although Brendan represented the O.Ls, he was an old Xavier boy, and, was the Secretary and one of the founders of the Tasmanian Branch of the O.X.A. from its formation in 1958. These matches would be played with the clubs hosting the event in alternative years on each states Labor Day for more than 20 years until among other things a run of successful years for the Club made it difficult to fit the tours in to the program due to potential conflict with final’s appearances. A one-off re-union with 2 games played took place in Launceston in October 2001.

Opposition players from 1960s ­ 1980s
The opposition has included many former District cricketers (and some former interstate representatives) and sportsmen who abandoned higher levels for business, family reasons or practice- time restraints. A report along these lines was provided by Don Sanders in the 1963 edition of “The Xaverian”, possibly due to the absence of reports on the Club’s activities in “The Xaverian” since 1954. An invitation was made for new players.

Some examples of sportsmen from higher levels in this era are Neale and John Fraser, Tony Ryan (son of Gerald Ryan, Xavier 1920 - Tony was a Victorian hardcourt tennis champion for some years. He scored 3 consecutive centuries for MCC “A”), “Typhoon” Tyson (England Test player), George Thom (ex-Australian player), Cyril Smith (ex-Queensland. fast bowler), Denis and J. & E. Cordner (all together in one match for OM No. 1 against the Club in 1968/69), Neil “Froggy” Crompton, Alan Aylett (ex-Victorian player), Alan Connolly (former Test and Vic. player), John Evans, Charlie Fildes, Lindsay Kline (Australian Test player), Ian “Liberty” Law (Hawthorn-East Melbourne cricketer and Hawthorn League footballer), Ross Oakley, Graham Whitford, and Dr. Ian McDonald (former Vic. player) played from time to time. Ian and his brother, Colin McDonald (Australian Test opening batsman), went on to play many years in the competition.

1960/61
A fifth placed finish.

Averages/aggregates (if known):
Batting: Don Sanders (40).
Bowling: Peter Rhoden (28 @ 9.7).
Other bowling: Bill Carroll (13 @ 10) & Lou Zachariah (21 @ 13).

At the beginning of 1961, the OXA instituted awards for its affiliated clubs and the trophies went to the Best Club men at the OXCC and OXFC, being Lou Zachariah and Peter Rhoden respectively.

Highlights:
The highest opposition score was the 163 runs by MCC “A”, a tribute to the great job done by the bowlers in a competition including many former District cricketers.
Outright wins were effected v. MCC “C” & Old Caulfield. The Club’s highest total of the season, 3/167, was scored in the Old Caulfield game.

The Club had a comfortable win over the OLs in Launceston, 153 to 91 runs with Peter Rhoden’s contribution being 4/23 and 30 runs plus Mark Roberts (28 runs) and Lou Zachariah (4/26). The OLs batted a second time for 8/103 (Brian Smith 53). This was reported to be the first time any OXA team had played interstate.

1961/62
Captain: Peter Rhoden..
This did not prove to be a good season for the Club as there were problems getting sufficient numbers to turn out. There was some improvement in this regard later in the season and the Club finished sixth. Old Wesley won the title.

Averages/aggregates (if known):
Batting: Peter Rhoden (21).
Bowling: Bill Carroll (48 @ 9.2).
Other bowling: Peter Rhoden took over 30 wickets.

Highlights:
Lou Zachariah (5/70) & Ian Stoney (44 runs) v. Old Scotch.
Bill Carroll: 45 runs v. OMs (whilst in the midst of final year law exams).
Hat tricks by Peter Rhoden and Greg Gibson (reported as Greg’s second).
OLs were defeated in a close game with Leon Bendall making the breakthrough by taking three quick wickets. Jack Maddox, a St. Kilda District cricketer, represented the OLs and top scored for them with 49 runs.

Bill Carroll and Peter Slattery were awarded the OXA trophies as the OXCC’s and OXFC’s Best Club men respectively.

1962/63
Captain: Peter Rhoden.
The competition: 3 MCC teams (“A”, “C” and a Colts XI), club teams from St. Kilda and University, and school old boy teams from Caulfield Grammar, Melbourne Grammar, Trinity Grammar, Scotch College and Wesley College.

Members of the OXCC included an ex-Carlton C. C. player, Murray Laming. The side had its worst season. It finished last - one win, almost an outright win v. St. Kilda.

For the first time, the Club lost the game against the OLs, 170 to 139, despite Greg Gibson’s 8/78, Peter Rhoden’s 2/43 and 45 runs by Geoff Harris (including a 49 run last wicket partnership with Tank Seabrook, 9 not out). Due to rain, the game was played on a concrete wicket.

Highlights:
Murray Laming: 143 not out v. MCC “C”. This innings rescued the side from 6/31 to 8/240 declared. He also had two scores over 90 runs v. MCC “A” & Old Melburnians No. 2 side (“OM 2s”).
Lou Zachariah: 6/63 v. MCC “C”.

1963/64
Captain: Murray Laming.
This season commenced with greater promise than the last with a win over OM 2s. However, there were only 3 more wins for the season with 6 losses and a draw. The losses were all by less than 30 runs. New players this season included Jack Martin, Ken Mullins and Peter D. Howard.
Averages/Aggregates (if known):
Batting: Alan McLean.
Bowling: Bill Carroll.
Fielding: Peter Rhoden - “taking at least one catch in every game” (per “Laurels” No. 82).

Highlights:
Greg Gibson: 70 runs v. Old Scotch.
Jack Martin: 55 runs v. MCC Colts.
John Cosgrave: 6/22 v. OM 2s, &, 5/62 v. Old Scotch.
Bill Carroll: 6/22 v. Old Caulfield Grammarians & 5/30 v. MCC Colts.
Bowling partners: Bill Carroll (6/18) & Peter Rhoden’s combined total of 8/20 in the outright win v. St. Kilda. Alan McLean scored 53 runs in the second innings of the same game.
Alan McLean (80 runs) & John Cosgrave (5/52) v. Old Wesley.
OLs were defeated on a heavily rain affected wicket at Xavier (not the main oval - 145 runs (Alan McLean 53 runs) to 88 runs (Lou Zachariah 5/30 & Bill Carroll 4/34).
Lou Zachariah and Don Sanders were made honorary members of the OLs for the parts they played with Brendan Lyons in setting up the annual match.

1964/65
Captain: Murray Laming.
The team made it to the finals for the first time.
The team made a successful start to the season with 3 outright wins over Old Camberwell Grammarians, MCC “C” and Old Scotch No.2 side (“OS2”) but 2 first innings losses followed.
The game against the “Cs” commenced with a first innings defeat by one run and the “Cs” needing only 102 to win outright in about 100 minutes. After reaching 5/85, the Club’s bowlers prevailed to dismiss the “Cs” for 92 runs.

The victory against OS2s was reached when the team chased down 118 runs in less than 58 minutes for the loss of 4 wickets.
The next game, against Old Trinity (“OT”), was also won outright.
This placed the team second at Christmas but after the break the team suffered 2 losses, However, the next 3 games were won, including another outright win against MCC Colts with Lou Zachariah taking 12 wickets.

The semi-final game
The team played the higher placed University Club XI in the semi-final. The opposition, who only needed to finish with a draw to proceed to the Grand Final, fielded a very strong side which included Frank “Typhoon” Tyson of English Test fame, George Thoms (ex-Australian player) and Alan Aylett (ex-Victorian cricketer and League footballer). University won the toss, batted first, reached 7/256 at stumps and batted on for the first 30 minutes of the second day as allowed, leaving insufficient time for the OXCC to reach the needed victory target.
University went on to win the title.

Averages/aggregates (if known):
Batting: Alan McLean.
Bowling: Lou Zachariah.
Don Sanders was awarded the OXA trophy as the OXCC’s Best Club man..

Highlights:
A player new to the Club this season was Brian Lugar who for several years kept wickets for Essendon in District cricket. He was to give the team confidence behind the stumps and made stumpings standing up to the medium pace bowling of Lou Zachariah.
Alan McLean: 63 runs v. MCC “C” & 2 unbeaten hands of 62 runs v. St. Kilda, &, 80 runs v. Colts.
Paul Sullivan: 75 runs v. Old Caulfield Grammarians.
Peter Rhoden: 5/56 v. Old Scotch No.1 side, &, 5/35 v. “Cs”.
Bill Carroll: 6/44 v. “Cs”, &, 5/23 v. OT.
Lou Zachariah: 7/14 v. OS2s, &, 5/32 and 7/31 v. Colts.

A “fine century” by Leo Borghesi (107 runs) and the 5/40 by Peter Rhoden helped the Club defeat the OLs in Launceston. In the OLs history, it is recorded that the team had slumped to 4/7 in its run chase after the 119 runs scored by the OLs before Leo came to the crease and then 5/9 until he was joined by John Burnes (24 runs). They took the score to 6/142. Leo and the tail (who all scored 20 or more) took the score to 229 all out.

1965/66
Captain: Murray Laming.
The Club finished fourth but required an outright win in the last round to reach the final four. Unfortunately, it had to face the strong University side again in the semi-final. The Club was without 3 of its regular players and was defeated although University lost 7 wickets in passing the score of190 all out scored by the Club.

Averages/aggregates (if known):
Peter Rhoden was given a special mention in “Laurels” for scoring and/or taking wickets in most matches.
Bowling trophy: Lou Zachariah.

Highlights:
Tim Reidy 6/22 & Peter Rhoden 5/17 in an outright win v. Old Trinity (“OT”). Murray Laming: 62 not out v. OT.
Peter Howard: 53 not out v. Old Scotch No.1 side.
Peter Rhoden (71 not out & 6/41) & Peter Howard (53) v. Old Caulfield Grammarians. Peter Rhoden: 5/36 v. Colts, &, 5/16 v. MCC “A”.
Lou Zachariah: 5/22 v. Old Melburnians No.1 side.

Bowling partners:
Lou Zachariah (5/23 & 5/5, including a hat trick) & Paul Sullivan (4/7) in dismissing the MCC “C” for 15 runs in their second innings. The game was won outright (MCC “C” 59 & 15 v. OXCC 8/118).
Lou Zachariah 5/30 & Peter Rhoden 5/35 & 6/88 v. Old Scotch No.1 side. Greg Gibson scored 104 not out as part of an outright victory.

OT were defeated outright in a one day game. An outright victory was also achieved off the fifth ball of the last over against the Colts in a two day game.

The OLs were defeated in Melbourne, 6/188 to 88, with Gavan Woodruff 82 not out whilst Bill Carroll took 7/9 from 6 overs. Jack Maddox (26 runs) again appeared for the visiting team.
The Club also won a game against the Commonwealth Bank.

1966/67
Captain: Murray Laming.
An absence of new blood and the loss or unavailability of performers from the previous seasons (injuries, university examinations and holidays) witnessed a plunge in the Club’s fortunes from a finalist for two seasons to a side recording four wins only despite the bowlers restricting all opponents to scores of less than 200 runs. In issue No.92 of “Laurels”, Bill Carroll took the opportunity to indicate that a number of old boys of Xavier were playing at higher levels. Some notable examples of their number given were: Peter Williams - Captain of Richmond XI and captained the Victorian Second XI against NSW.
Jim Cosgrave - Veteran Opening batsman for Hawthorn-East Melbourne (“HEM”). Brian Jones - also playing for HEM.
Mick Mulcahy - consistent Opening batsman for St. Kilda.
David Cotter - rose from the St. Kilda Thirds to its Firsts before Christmas.

The Club also conceded the “Tasmanian Ashes” (157 to 94) in an away game to the OLs, possibly (or probably) from too much enjoyment of the hospitality of their OL hosts as well as the 5/45 taken by Brian Smith. The OXCC’s wicket-takers were Murray (5), Lou Zachariah (3) and Gavan Woodruff (2).

1967/68
Several players, including two of the Club’s most experienced and decorated players, Murray Laming and Brian Lugar, missed the first half of this season. Nevertheless, the Club had a satisfactory season though it missed the finals. It won 7 games and lost 7 games, two narrowly.

Averages/aggregates (if known):
Batting: Gavan Woodruff.
Bowling: Bill Carroll, well supported by other bowlers, Peter Rhoden, Gavan Woodruff and Lou Zachariah.

Highlights:
Gavan Woodruff: two centuries and a score in the 90s.
Peter Stanley: one century.
Greg Gibson: a score in the 90s.

In the OLs match, the Club lost for the first time on home soil despite Gavan Woodruff’s 103 runs out of the team’s score of 8/189 (Brian Smith 4/47). The OLs replied with 6/191 (Jack Maddox 63 runs).

1968/69
Captain: Brian Lugar.
This season started badly with the loss of the first 4 games played as one day fixtures. These were followed by 2 wins on the first innings and another loss. There was little prospect that the Club would reach the finals and so it turned out with the Club finishing “as a middle-of-the-list team”.

Highlights:
Trevor Gowers: 5/44 (13 overs) v. Old Trinity.
Gavan Woodruff: 5/44 (12 overs) v. Old Scotch.
Lou Zachariah: 5/46 (12.1 overs) v. Old Scotch.
John Zachariah: 8/28 (from 9 overs) with Peter Rhoden taking the first 2 wickets in the game v. Old Caulfield Grammarians.
Peter Rhoden: 61 runs v. Old Caulfield Grammarians.
Jack Martin 75 runs & Greg Gibson 56 runs v. Old Camberwell.
Greg Gibson: 54 runs v. Old Wesley.
Simon Williams: 50 runs v. University.
Simon Williams, a score of 40 runs (opponents not named).
Paul Sullivan: 40 runs v. MCC “A”,.
Alan McLean: a score of 55 runs v. Old Scotch..

Bowling partners:
Bill Carroll (4/55), Gavan Woodruff (3/39) & Lou Zachariah (2/35) v. University, Trevor Gowers (5/44) & Peter Rhoden (3/26) v. Old Trinity.
Lou Zachariah (5/46) & Gavan Woodruff (5/44,) v. Old Scotch.
Gavan Woodruff (4/70) & Bill Carroll (4/101) v. Old Wesley.
Paul Sullivan (4/59) & Lou Zachariah (3/52) v. Old Melburnians No. 1 side.
. The annual social match away to OLs was lost 116 to 112 (Lou Zachariah 6/42 & Gavan Woodruff 3/58). A future OXCC player, Brian Smith, again featured by top scoring with 57 not out for the OLs. This loss brought the win/loss ratio to OXCC 5 and OLs 4.

1969/70
Captain: Greg Gibson.
Brian Lugar was unable to lead again this year due to a severely fractured leg suffered in a car accident in the off season.
The season commenced with 3 wins and 3 losses. Hopes for a place in the finals were denied by an outright loss to MCC “C”.

Averages/aggregates (if known):
Batting: Peter D. Howard (294 @ 32.66, excl. 79 not out v. OLs).
Other batting: Peter Rhoden: 279 @ 31.00 (excl. 41 runs v. OLs).
Bowling: Bill Carroll:18 @ 12.22 (excl, 1/22 v. OLs).
Most wickets: Lou Zachariah: 31 @ 18.32 (excl. OL’s game).

Highlights:
Peter Rhoden: 104 not out, with partnerships of 96 and 94 with Peter D. Howard (56) and P. Bruckner (30 not our) respectively v. Old Scotch 2s.
Peter D. Howard: (59 not out) v. Old Camberwell.
Greg Gibson (47 runs), Peter D. Howard (51) & Peter Rhoden (63) v. MCC “A”.
Gavan Woodruff (50 runs) & Peter Stanley (41 runs) v. Old Scotch.
Peter Rhoden: (40 runs out of the team score of 85 all out) v. MCC “C”.
Bill Carroll: 7/32 (12 overs) v. MCC “B”
Lou Zachariah: 6/29 (9.5 overs) v. OM No. 1.
Trevor Gowers: 6/37 (13 overs) v. University
Lou Zachariah: 5/66 (17 overs) v. Old Trinity.

Bowling partners :
Trevor Gowers (6/37) & Lou Zachariah (3/42) v. University.
Trevor Gowers (4/39) & Lou Zachariah (6/29) v. OM No. 1.
Bill Carroll (4/32) & Gavan Woodruff (3/41) v. Old Wesley.
Trevor Gowers (3/46), Bill Carroll (3/19) & Gavan Woodruff (3/14) v. Old Camberwell.
Lou Zachariah (5/66) & John Zachariah (3/54) v. Old Trinity.
Lou Zachariah (4/84) & John Zachariah (4/22) v. OM No. 2 & an unbeaten last wicket partnership to avoid outright defeat.

The Club defeated the OLs 185 (Peter D. Howard 79 not out & Peter Rhoden 41 runs) to 141 (Gavan Woodruff 3/33 & John Zachariah 3/9 including three wickets and a dropped catch in four balls). Brian Smith was again the star player for the opposition, snaring 4/76 and 53 runs.