By Peter Argent
THE Barrier Zone (effectively Broken Hill cricket) joined the South Australian Cricket Association Country Carnival in the summer of 1973-74, with Ian Fillery captaining the team to travel to Adelaide for the two-week carnival.
The participants for the Barrier team in the ’74 Harry Meyer Cup were Robert Barrett, Dennis Cetinich, James Daley, Geoffrey Delbridge, Alwyn Elstone, Dean Files, Fillery, Rodney Johnston, Donald Ogilvie, John Preston, Donald Price, Brian Reardon, Thomas Slattery and Peter Staker.
In the opening game, on Monday February 4, 1974, the Barrier boys went down to the Eyre Peninsula by 30 runs, after just making 80.
This was quickly turned around at the Teachers College “number 2” ground on day two.
Playing the Yorke Peninsula, the Barrier side bowled first and bundled out their opponents for a modest total of 69.
Dennis Centinch was the chief destroyer with 4-17, while John Preston sent down 5.5 overs, and secured the amazing figure of four wickets at a cost of one run.
In reply Barrier made 4/127, before sending Yorke Peninsula back in late in the day.
Their opponents finished at 3/57, when stumps were drawn.
“Firstly, in that initial trip we stayed at the Zinc Corporation camp at Taperoo and lived in tents,” future Australian Country Cricket Championships Hall of Famer, Rod Johnston said.
“I believe Barrier used those facilities for the first three years we were involved in the SACA Country champs.
“Dennis (Centinch) was swing bowler with good control, who could move it both ways, but was predominately an outswing bowler.
“He was from the South Broken Hill CC and took important wickets in that game.
“John Preston at that stage of his career was playing for Central, but did play in an A-grade flag at West.
“He got the ball to move into the right handers.
“We were certainly helped by the best of the pitch conditions that day.
“Geoff Delbridge opened the batting in that carnival, and I batted at number three.
“I reckon we put on 60 odd after the fall of the first wicket.”
Delbridge – a true all-rounder – top scored with 53, while his West Broken Hill teammate Johnston made an important 33 and the boys celebrated a maiden victory.
Ian Fillery, the South batsman and left arm orthodox spin bowler was skipper of the side in that first victory.
Barrier would finish fifth in their inaugural SACA Country Carnival – Harry Meyer Cup tournament, also winning their round five fixture against Lower North as well.
They were also highly competitive against Upper North in round three, losing by two wickets and also against Southern the following day, going down in that contest by 18 runs.
The Barrier side would go on to win four Harry Meyer Cups – 1978, 1982, 1986 and 1990.
They last competed as a single entity in 2003, and didn’t participate at all in the ’04 and ’05 carnival, before amalgamating with Murray District for the ’06 tournament.
In the 100th year of the Harry Meyer Cup, to be held in suburban Adelaide from February 3-6, 2025 with Broken Hill cricketing legend Paul Attard in charge as senior coach, the Murray Districts-Barrier side will be looking for a first title as a combined entity.
Attard was a member of the Murray Districts-Barrier team that competed in the 2016 Harry Meyer Cup Grand Final against the South East on Railways Oval (now refurbished as Karen Rolton Oval).
RESULTS
Round 1 – 4 February 1974
Barrier 80 (A Elstone 24, I Hartree 3/3, R Nagel 3/22, J Nagel 3/30) lost to Eyre Peninsula 110 (D Pedler 46, P Staker 4/28) at Glenunga North
Round 2 – 5 February 1974
Yorke Peninsula 69 (D Polkinghorne 28, J Preston 4/1, D Cetinich 4/17) and 3/57 lost to Barrier 4/127 (GA Delbridge 53, RC Johnston 33) at Teachers College No 2
Round 3 – 6 February 1974
Barrier 138 (I Fillery 26, T Grantham 8/70) lost to Upper North 8/148 (K Mitchell 36, I Fillery 3/27) at Torrens CAE
Round 4 – 7 February 1974
Southern 190 (P Gladigau 69, TW Calaby 40, P Staker 3/55, GA Delbridge 5/40) defeated Barrier 172 (I Fillery 34 [3s], B Nettle 5/43, TW Calaby 3/47) at Adelaide No 2
Round 5 – 11 February 1974
Lower-Mid North 7/169 (G Mitchell 32, J Mitchell 56) lost to Barrier 7/173 (I Fillery 57, D Price 40*, G Davis 3/51) at Bailey Reserve
Round 6 – 12 February 1974
South East 119 (G Ryan 32, P Staker 5/38, D Cetinich 3/25) defeated Barrier 87 (RC Johnston 33, Z Golebiowski 5/45, J Haddrick 3/11) at Teachers College No 2
Round 7 – 13 February 1974
Barrier 142 (D Price 45, LR Zimmermann 4/30) lost to Murray Districts 7/186 (GR Stirling 53, BG Elliott 31, R Wuttke 39) at Adelaide No 2
Harry Meyer Cup table (1973-74)
Pl WO WI D LI LO Pts
Murray Dist 7 0 7 0 0 0 42
Southern 7 0 5 0 2 0 30
South East 7 0 4 0 3 0 24
Southern 7 0 4 0 3 0 24
Upper North 7 0 3 0 4 0 18
Barrier 7 0 2 0 5 0 12
Yorke Pen 7 0 2 0 5 0 12
Lower- MN 7 0 1 0 6 0 6
