Bert Tobin '28

Written on the 16 April 2018 by Old Collegians Association

Bert Tobin

Excerpt from 2003 Rostrevor Magazine

From the 1927 Annual: Interstate Colt Bert Tobin. Second in the South Australian Cricket Association Bowling Competition

Born in 1910, Bertrand Joseph Tobin first attended Rostrevor from CBC Wakefield St. in 1925. His father John James Tobin was a railway official and the family lived at Molesworth St. North Adelaide.

At the age of 15 Bert played in the 2nd XVIII coached by Br Mackey and was frequently in the best players. In that same year, 1925, he represented Rostrevor in the 1st XI in what was quite a strong team. He was 4th in the batting averages that year averaging 19.6 runs.

In 1926 he was part of a very successful lstXVIII losing only one game to SPC. The Annuals of the 1920s were very thorough with reports on 'Firsts' teams and each game was soundly analysed. In this year George Margitich kicked 108 goals in 11 games thus averaging over 9 goals a game.

Bert Tobin is frequently reported on in the best players and the goal kickers as a centre-half-forward.

As a 1st XI player he led the bowling averages with 15.5 with a total of 18 wickets from 10 games. During these years the 1st XI played an annual game against the Harlequins, captained by Karl Schneider, a prominent East Torrens player. The team itself was made up of several other prominent South Australian cricketers including Vic Richardson. Other members were, Chrome, Inster, Palmer, Lee, G. Harris, Hill, Sellick, Whitfield and A. Harris. Tobin top scored for Rostrevor against this well credentialed side.

From the 1927 Annual. Harlequins Cricket Club and Rostrevor 1st XI. (George Margitich 1st in the back row and Bert Tobin 4th in the back row).

The 1927 1st XVlll is arguably the best Rostrevor has produced. Margitich kicked 151 goals that year to average over 13 goals a game! Again, Ben Tobin featured prominently in match response as both a scorer (37 goals from 10 games) and best player. 

The 1st XI finished third in the Premiership and Bert Tobin won the bowling award. He was selected to play for the South Australian Colts in an Interstate match in Melbourne 'a unique honour for a school-boy reports the 1927 Annual. As an open bowler he had some impressive hauls: 5 / 24, 3/1 9, 5/31, 5/42, 5/ 57, 8/ 34.

In 1927 and 28 Bert Tobin is recorded as a boarder. In 1928 Bert captained the lst XI and averaged 58.5 runs and 30 wickets at 23.16. He again represented the State as a Colt. He topped the batting average but was second to Martin McCarthy in the bowling averages. (Martins son Gerry is the current Head of the Rostrevor Junior School and grandson Martin McCarthy Jnr is in Year 8).

Bert was Vice Captain of the 1st XVIII under John Habib as Captain. John and wife Roma currently reside in Tusmore. It is (through contact with John Habib that a little of Bert Tobin's life after Rostrevor can be pieced together.

From the 1930 Annual: Old SCholars Football Team 1930 at the Opening of the Main Oval.
Bert Tobin is centre, middle row, John Habib is 4th from left, front row.
Other recognisable faces in the shot are
:Trevor Reiken (Head Prefect 1926) 7th from left, back row. Stan Jaffer. (Head Prefect 1927) with ball.

John recalls Bert as a 'very fast bowler' but on occasions when wickets weren't falling he would mix-up his deliveries to bowl spin in an attempt to get wickets.John met with Bert only a few times after school. On one of those occasions Bert visited John's garment shop in Waymouth St. to get measured for a pair of trousers to wear to England.

Bert played for Rishton CC (London) in 1935 and 1936 as a professional (Rishton -18 inn, 1 n/o, 79 h/s, 460runs. 26.5 ave. 42 wickets at 16.1). The remainder of Bert's English cricket career is sketchy, but it is assumed that he played for other League Clubs in England. Bert married while in England. Years later John became aware that Bert had returned to Adelaide and he visited him at his business, a service station, on Henley Beach Rd. Br Bourke recalls Bert Tobin being a regular s pec ta tor at CBC / Rostrevor games at CBC after the war.

The 'baggy green' website informs that Bertrandt Joseph Tobin played for South Australia between 1930 and 1935. He played 26 matches in that period a right-hand batsman and a right Inn fast-medium bowler is known that Bert played for Australia 12th man in Adelaide during the Bodyline series. (The Ashes, 1932/33 3rd Test Australia v England, Adelaide Oval. Result; England won by 338 runs) The 1932 Annual reports that Bert Tobin is 'amongst the best amatuer golfers in South Australia and a member of the State Cricket team with many fine bowling feats this year'.

From the 1926 Annual: Bert Tobin

Bert Tobin died on 19th October 1969.

 

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