ON THIS DAY - 23rd December

Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | December 23, 2023

In 1961, another of those rare instances where two century partnerships occur in an innings but with no players in common, when A-Res grade made 8-253 in their second innings v Hillgrove. RAY REEVES (#143) and LAURIE BLAKE (#126) added 103 for the 1st wicket and where both out within an over of each other. Morriss went for a duck and then JEFF WALSH (#84) and KEITH McINTYRE (#129) then added 108 for the 4th wicket in what was batting practice on the second day.

Waratahs v Hillgrove - A-Res grade, 16th & 23rd December 1961

In 1989, MARK DYMOCK (#523) made his only 1st grade century, 101 not out v Ex Services, adding 181 for the 2nd wicket with STU McFARLAN (#606), who narrowly missed a third consecutive 1st grade hundred when he was caught by Peter Wayte from part timer Stuart Andrews for 94. For both batsmen, their pre-Christmas run was spectacular. McFarlan had begun with a duck v Ex Services but followed with 73 v Hillgrove, 144 not out v Uralla, 148 not out v Easts and the 94 v Ex Services ... 459 runs @ 229. Dymock's run was even more remarkable, becoming the only Waratahs player to make four hundreds in a season and all of them before Christmas as he worked his way from 3rds to 1sts, scoring tons along the way. His scores were: 101 not out v St Peters (3rds) and 118 not out v Hillgrove on consecutive Saturdays, then 39 v Ex Services (3rds), 18 v Ex Services (2nds), 107 not out v TAS (2nds), 0 v Easts (1sts) and 101 not out v Ex Services (1sts) ... 484 runs @ 161. Both dropped away after Christmas but still had impressive seasons, with McFarlan making 474 @ 95 and Dymock in the rarified air of the 600 club, with 613 runs @ 61. Waratahs were 1st grade Premiers, losing only once, in the first round to Ex Services, who they played in the Final.

Waratahs v Ex Services - 1st grade, 16th & 23rd December, 1989