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Waratahs A grade 1954-55

Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | October 18, 2023

Left to right:

Front row - Ian Hodge(#23), Beau Richardson(#6), Don Paul(#37), Ross Ridley(#8), Bob Gustard(#52), Hugh Ferris(#32)

Back row - Laurie Cooper(#2), Milton Milligan(#34), Vic Snell(#9), Alan Gray(#26), Doug Johnstone(#47), Bert Hockley(#41)


The 1954-55 side contained 4 Originals.

Waratahs (36 points) led the first-past-the-post A grade competition coming into the last round. Uralla and Eats were both on 34. Easts would be receiving a forfeit from TAS, meaning in those days they would receive the maximum points which could be received in a round (8 for an outright), placing them on 42. Waratahs would have to beat Uralla and then win a playoff with Easts to win the Premiership. However, the second day was lost to rain after Waratahs collapsed on the first and was out for only 78, giving Easts (42) the Premiership, Uralla (40) finished second and Waratahs (38) 3rd. Uralla's #11 had the rather unusual name of Dr Batt ... apt or a ring-in?

Waratahs v Uralla - A grade, 26th March & 2nd April 1955


It was a fitting end to a season in which the competition lead changed after every round.

Waratahs troubles for the season were their batting and the rain. They failed to reach 100 on six occasions and five of their Saturdays were washed out as all of their games were played on turf. In all, three games were rain-affected draws. Don Paul was the standout, winning all of the batting and bowling trophies, with 256 runs @ 32 and 38 wickets @ 10.4. Bob Gustard (249), Alan Gray (232) and Milton Milligan (225) topped two hundred runs in a lack-lustre batting season, much of affected by wet wickets. Vic Snell (34) and Beau Richardson (22) qualified for the bowling and again, rain enhanced the bowling averages of each of the five main bowlers. Ross Ridley was outstanding behind the wickets with 22 dismissals, including 11 catches and 11 stumpings. Against Wests, he had 7 dismissals for the match, including 4 stumpings in the first innings off part timer H Forbes.

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Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs)

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Waratahs CC of Armidale; The Tahs Inc
www.thetahs.com.au
Armidale, Australia
The history of a proud club which grew men from boys through the simple act of trusting them with something very precious.

Favourite players: Life members: Alan Gray, Harry Deiderick, Graham Johnson, Ian Campbell, Syd Philp, Graham Patterson & Albert Hofkamp.

Favourite grounds: Wicklow Oval (Rologas Fields), Harris Park, West Armidale Park (Lambert Park), The Armidale Sportsground

All-time cricket hero: Any bloke in the Royal Blue cap.

Favourite bat: The one that scored the most.

Most memorable moment in cricket:
1952-53 A grade Final, beating Easts 2 outright after our worst A/1st grade total in the sixty year history of the club. Beat the very strong Uralla in the last round to just scrape into the semis and then Easts 1 in the Semi. Played one player short on the first day after a mix up with team sheets and made 163 in the sunshine, Ross Ridley 59. Easts 0-57 at stumps after four dropped catches. Didn't play the second day for two weeks because of the Armidale Show and then after four days of heavy rain. Wicket now a sticky and impossible to bat on. Easts all out for 95, Don Paul 6-24. Batting a second time, Waratahs still one short and Ridley now out injured, all out for 21. Easts needing 90 don't make it to halfway, all out for 43, Don Paul 7-20. Waratahs win their first premiership in only their third season.

What’s the best cricket advice you’ve ever received:
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