1970-1999
Four Premierships
The period from the late 1970s to the end of the 1990s brought four premierships to Templestowe Cricket Club, beginning with a memorable double in 1978/79 when the A1 and C2 sides both claimed their respective flags.
The A1 victory was particularly significant, earning Templestowe promotion to the association's top level. The club immediately showed it belonged there, reaching the Ray McIntosh Shield grand final in 1979/80 before going one better in 1984/85, defeating Forest Hill to secure Templestowe's first Shield premiership.
More than a decade later, the club celebrated again in 1997/98 with the A2 premiership. That grand final produced one of the outstanding individual performances in Templestowe's history, with wicketkeeper Nick Tsiotinas making an extraordinary unbeaten 221 against Kerrimuir United as Templestowe completed a 60-run victory.
1978/79 — A1 Premiers
Whitechurch leads Templestowe to the title
The 1978/79 season marked an important step forward for Templestowe, with the First XI claiming the A1 premiership and earning promotion to the association's top grade.
Templestowe met Box Hill Church of Christ in the grand final at Morton Park. Batting first, Templestowe compiled 209, with John Whitechurch producing the defining innings of the match.
Whitechurch made 85, while Neil Forbes contributed an important 52 and Ray Mitchell 24. Their efforts gave Templestowe a total that proved well beyond Box Hill Church of Christ.
With the ball, Greg Forbes led the way with 4/33, while Ken Stevens claimed 3/44. Neil Forbes added a wicket to his half-century as Box Hill Church of Christ were dismissed for 141, securing a 68-run victory.
The premiership ended a long wait for senior success and, importantly, propelled Templestowe into the Ray McIntosh Shield competition for the following season. It began a period in which the club established itself among the leading sides in the association and challenged for its highest honour.
Grand-final result
Templestowe 209 defeated Box Hill Church of Christ 141 by 68 runs
Date: 17, 24 & 31 March 1979
Venue: Morton Park #1 — East
The premiership team
Ed Smith · Neil Forbes · John Whitechurch · Brad Bond · John Olver · Ken Stevens · Ray Mitchell (wicketkeeper) · Greg Forbes · David Perrett · Jamie Olver · Fred Allen
1978/79 — C2 Premiers
A second flag completes a memorable season
Templestowe's A1 premiership was not the club's only success in 1978/79. The C2 side also reached the grand final, giving Templestowe two senior premierships in the same season.
Facing Blackburn South High School, Templestowe produced an outstanding bowling performance that proved decisive. Blackburn South were dismissed for just 54 in their first innings, leaving them with too much ground to recover.
Templestowe went on to secure the premiership by 48 runs, completing a memorable double for the club.
Fewer details of the C2 decider survive in the online records currently available. Unlike the A1 final, the historical PlayCricket competition record does not contain the grand-final scorecard, so the dates, venue and premiership XI remain to be recovered.
Nevertheless, the C2 victory forms an important part of the story of 1978/79 — a season in which success extended beyond the First XI and two Templestowe teams finished as premiers.
Grand-final result
Templestowe defeated Blackburn South High School by 48 runs
1984/85 — Ray McIntosh Shield Premiers
Templestowe finally claims the Shield
Six seasons after the A1 premiership earned promotion to the association's highest level, Templestowe achieved another landmark in 1984/85 — its first Ray McIntosh Shield premiership.
Templestowe entered the grand final against Forest Hill after a dramatic semi-final in which it successfully chased 259. Ed Smith led that pursuit with a century, scoring 105, while Greg Smith made 48, Rodney Bond 35 and Phil Walton an unbeaten 32.
The grand final was a very different contest. Templestowe's bowlers took control, dismissing Forest Hill for just 91. Two products of the club's junior ranks did most of the damage: Geoff Erskine claimed 5/29 from 14 overs and Rodney Bond 4/38 from 20, accounting for nine wickets between them.
The chase was completed comfortably. Ed Smith made 5 before captain John Olver contributed 32, while Greg Smith followed his 48 in the semi-final with an unbeaten 49. With Barry Dawson alongside him, Templestowe reached 2/97, including 11 extras, to secure an eight-wicket victory.
The triumph completed Templestowe's rise from A Grade to the association's highest level. Smith, who had returned to the club for the season, had previously captain-coached Templestowe to the 1978/79 A Grade premiership. Six seasons later he was part of the side that delivered the club's first Ray McIntosh Shield.
Grand-final result
Templestowe 2/97 defeated Forest Hill 91 by 8 wickets
Date: 16, 17 & 23 March 1985
Venue: Morton Park #1 — East
Captain: John Olver
The premiership team
Ed Smith · John Olver (captain) · Greg Smith · Barry Dawson · Rodney Bond · Robert Hale · Mark Selleck · Greg Forbes · Adrian Ross · Phil Walton · Geoff Erskine
1997/98 — A2 Premiers
Tsiotinas produces a grand-final masterpiece
Templestowe's 1997/98 A2 premiership featured one of the most extraordinary individual performances in the club's history.
Facing Kerrimuir United in the grand final, Templestowe amassed 323, with wicketkeeper Nick Tsiotinas producing an exceptional unbeaten 221.
Tsiotinas dominated the innings, scoring more than two-thirds of Templestowe's total. Con Simitsis provided the major support with 55 as Nick batted through the innings, remaining unbeaten when Templestowe was finally dismissed after 105.3 overs.
Kerrimuir United fought hard in reply, but Templestowe's bowlers ensured Tsiotinas's remarkable innings would result in a premiership.
Ben Dalla Riva led the attack with 5/80 from 34 overs, while captain Greg Forbes delivered an outstanding sustained spell, taking 3/73 from 33.5 overs. Russell Smith and Darren Hayman claimed a wicket each as Kerrimuir were eventually dismissed for 263.
Nick's contribution did not finish with his 221. Behind the stumps he completed four catches and a stumping, giving him five dismissals to accompany an innings that had already defined the match.
Templestowe had won by 60 runs.
The premiership belonged to the entire side, with Dalla Riva's five wickets and Forbes's marathon bowling effort particularly important in completing the victory. But Tsiotinas's unbeaten 221 remains the defining performance of the final and one of the outstanding innings in Templestowe Cricket Club history.
Grand-final result
Templestowe 323 defeated Kerrimuir United 263 by 60 runs
Date: 14, 15 & 21 March 1998
Venue: Not Recorded
Captain: Greg Forbes
The premiership team
Nick Tsiotinas (wicketkeeper) · Con Simitsis · Matthew Parsons · Russell Smith · Ben Dalla Riva · Jim Tsiotinas · George Lazaridis · Gary Brown · Greg Forbes (captain) · Darren Hayman · David Bolton