The first decade of the NWTCA/CNW competition (1951-52 to 1959-60).
Coastal cricket was a patchwork of competitions following the Second World War, with various local rosters in place. The Tattersall Shield was an end of season play-off in place from1946-47 and carried over to be the Premiership Shield for North West Tasmanian Cricket Association (the “NWTCA”) on its formation for the 1951/52 Season. F.B. Edwards was the NWTCA’s inaugural President and R.E. Pinkard it’s secretary.
Initial season clubs: Devonport, Latrobe, Penguin, South Burnie, Ulverstone, Yeoman.
During the decade: Sheffield & Wynyard (joined from 1952-53 onwards). From 1955-56 Latrobe and Penguin withdrew. Penguin rejoined in 1959-60, and Circular Head also joined. B Grade (2nd Grade) competition commenced in 1957-58.
State Players in the Decade: Athol Shephard (Y), Bernard Considine (W), Ray Stokes (SB)
The team of the 1st Decade contains six players who are in the NWTCA/CNW Hall of Fame*, headlined by one of Tasmania’s best-ever multi-sport champions in Ray Stokes and fast-bowling great Peter Lyons.
Games were played on uncovered wickets and runs were at a premium for many batsman.
1st NWTCA century was made in round 1 by H Matthews of Devonport (116) against Latrobe, with the next week, day 2 of the game, M Fawkner of Latrobe scored the second (107no).
The Team of the 1st Decade:
JACK JONES (Yeoman): 8 full season, 2278 runs @ 24.76; RAY STOKES* (South Burnie): 5 full seasons, 2046 runs @ 63.94; TREVOR SMITH (Devonport): 8 full seasons, 2370 runs @ 23.47; REX BATT (South Burnie/Ulverstone): 8 full seasons, 1786 runs @ 34.35; ATHOL SHEPHARD* (Yeoman): 9 full seasons, 3240 runs @ 37.24, 109 wickets @ 10.62; GARTH SANKEY* (Sheffield): 8 full seasons, 2197 runs @ 24.69, 144 wickets @ 10.85; PETER LYONS* (Devonport): 8 full seasons, 348 wickets @ 8.69; KEN BLOOMFIELD* (Yeoman): 9 full seasons, 300 wickets @ 9.35; JIM HORLER (Wynyard/Yeoman): 6 full seasons, 214 wickets @ 12.43; TOM ROCHER* (Wynyard): 6 full seasons, 183 wickets @ 10.40; JOE CRAWFORD (Devonport) - WK: 7 full seasons, 62 catches, 34 stumpings; MAX SHEPHARD (Yeoman): 9 full seasons, 1470 runs @ 15.81, 208 wickets @ 9.65.
* NWTCA / CNW Hall of Fame Members
