ON THIS DAY - 16th March
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | March 16, 2024
In 1963, in the B grade semi v Tadcoop, GEOFF MARSHALL (#156) dominated the first day's play, taking 7-34 as Tadcoop collapsed for 52, Marshall bowling unchanged with his new ball partner Geoff McDonald. He then scored 58 in an opening partnership of 125 with MICK HALPIN (#170) as Waratahs took a strangle hold on the game.
In 1974, after Brian Joice dominated Easts on the first day with 9-46, BRIAN CONNOLLY (#226) took charge on the second with 104 retired as Waratahs breezed to a win and a place in the Final.
Waratahs v Easts - 1st grade, 9th & 16th March 1974
1980 came to a disappointing end, with all three sides losing their semi-finals. A grade lost v Easts at Lambert Park, despite posting a competitive 221 with good contributions from Frost, Muldoon, Sattler, Mair and Betts. Steve Reading struck before stumps but Easts batting line up proved too strong on a perfect batting strip.
Waratahs v Easts (Semi) - A grade, 15th & 16th March 1980
It was a similar story in A-Res grade, with Waratahs always on the back foot after Centrals blasted beyond 300 on the Saturday afternoon. Syd Philp batted for 52 overs for his 67 and Tony Bennett made an entertaining half century but Waratahs were never close.
Waratahs v Centrals (Semi) - A-Res grade, 15th & 16th March 1980
Centrals 326 (Ricky Porter 97, Tim Vaughan 72x); Waratahs 226 (Syd Philp 67, Tony Bennett 52. Paul Hickey 6-78)
B grade fought hard in the semi-final loss to Easts, Ian Campbell leading a resurgence after Waratahs were 5-98. Easts appeared to be cruising on the Sunday, despite being tied down by Peter Snell's leggies and then collapsed late in the innings when Mark O'Shea came on to bowl his wobbly medium pacers.
Waratahs v Easts (Semi) - 15th & 16th March 1980
Waratahs 201 (Ian Campbell 82, Greg Johnson 31, Peter Snell 23); Easts 8-208 (Doug Lobban 63. Peter Snell 4-58, Mark O’Shea 3-13)
In 1986, despite 1st & 2nds both winning their semi-finals, it was the courageous effort of the 5ths that took the spotlight. DANIEL RYAN (#514) made his first Waratahs hundred, with 108 as Waratahs chased Hillgrove's massive 354, adding 127 with MARTIN CAMPBELL (#490). SIMON JOYCE (#512) and ALLAN BRETTELL (#509) added a grade record 34 for the last wicket as Waratahs got within 20, late on the second day. Joyce and MICHAEL HANDES (#518) 7-79, had bowled 45 overs between them on the Saturday afternoon as Ward and Fayle smashed 154 for the 5th wicket. With Ryan providing the anchor at #3, Jeremy Roach, Martin and Ben Campbell and Joyce all made strong contributions as players from all the Waratahs grades watched the last nail biting hour. It remains one of Waratahs finest semi-final chases.
Waratahs v Hillgrove (Semi) - 5th grade, 15th & 16th March 1986
1st grade won handsomely v Hillgrove, MICHAEL CONNOLLY (#393) and JAMES CAMPBELL (382) adding 119 for the 1st wicket and number three, Tim Muldoon, also getting a half century. Geoff Wood's 27 overs of off spin were the only limiting factor in a big target set for Hillgrove. With Wood caught behind for a duck from Andrew McNeill - one of four catches to wicketkeeper JOHN WHITTALL (#499) - Hillgrove never recovered after being the early McNeill mauling and 4-7, despite a fine hand from teenagers Derek Jenkins. McNeill got the just rewards with 6-32, his best bowling figures for Waratahs.
Waratahs v Hillgrove (Semi) - 1st grade, 15th & 16th March 1986
2nd grade saw one of the finest individual batting performances of any Waratahs player in a finals match. GRAHAM JOHNSON (#207) made a dominant 127, more than 66% of the Waratahs total. Alec Finlayson and Greg Howarth were the only other batsmen to make double figures. The pace trio of Michael Muldoon, David Tilbury and Andrew Hutchinson then kept their foot on Churches throat, backed up by Adam Barwick in the field, with a brilliant catch and superb run out to end the innings. Waratahs batted out the Sunday, Johnson making another fine contribution as Muldoon played a free swinging innings, much of his ilk.
Waratahs v Churches (Semi) - 2nd grade, 15th & 16th March 1986
