ON THIS DAY - 24th March
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | March 24, 2024
FINALS
In 1974, there were shades of the three seasons earlier, when Waratahs batting won the premiership, in this A grade Final against Unicorns. On a perfect batting track, for once Waratahs didn't fail, with almost everyone making starts. Betts played one of his finest innings, skipper Allan Thompson, Allan Gray and Bruce Mathieson were all solid in the middle order and the tail chimed in. 270 was a good total to defend but on the Sunday, it proved not enough. On the back of a 156 run partnership by Wynn and Beer, Unicorns won by 6 wickets, Waratahs having to rely on two runouts to stay in the game. Their bowling lacking penetration and depth with departure of Cooke and Mackenzie pre-season.
Waratahs v Unicorns (Final) - A grade, 23rd & 24th March 1974
In 1991, 1sts lost the unlosable Final, entering the game with only one loss for the season as the reigning premiers and a season long dominance over their opponent TAS. It was a win orchestrated by the former Waratahs veteran Johnson, who left in the early season to captain and mentor the talented but in experienced TAS side. Waratahs bowled first, with Robertson, Ryan and Lough tying down TAS to less than two and half an over for the afternoon but fulfilling their skipper's desire that they bat all afternoon. The problem with the attack, with Michael Connolly, Phil Melville, Peter McClenaghan and the young tyros Jeremy Roach and Peter Murphy all leaving before the season started, was the lack of a spearhead, a breakthrough bowler. On the Sunday, the strong Waratahs batting lineup was blasted out by Aggs and Johnstone, three of the top seven getting ducks. In a season where they had topped 250 seven times and chased over 200 three times, it was an unconscionable failure.
Waratahs v TAS (Final) - 23rd & 24th March 1991
PRELIMINARY FINALS
In 1996, with no 1st grade, 2nds & 5ths had scrapped their way to the preliminary finals, battling all the way with typical Waratahs spirit. Unfortunately, there are no scorecards for their losses - 2nds losing to Uralla and 5ths to Norths - but it should be noted that Steven Davis took 7-36 for 5ths.
SEMI FINALS
In 1985, both top grades lost epic semis. In 1sts, Easts dominated the Saturday, with their top 3 in fine form. After Ray Eddie and Bruce Taylor posted 118, David Lawrence caused a middle order wobble but Rick Porter and Neil Baillie took over adding 125 for the fifth wicket and 300 was posted. On the Sunday, chasing a big target, Lawrence and Graham Frost started well but then 4 wickets fell cheaply. Roger Sattler joined Tim Muldoon in a stand which was putting Waratahs back in the game until Muldoon was unfortunately run out. With Baillie applying overs pressure, Sattler pushed the bowlers but with the youngster Jason Kelleher mostly just holding the line, the 73 run stand was effective but ate up overs. With the luxury of Greg Johnson batting at #8 and Christian Quaife to follow, the game was there to be won but Sattler's dismissal, after his best innings for Waratahs and in the midst of concern over the dwindling overs, was the last hurrah. Baillie's 7-71 sealed a man of the match performance where he excelled with bat and ball.
Waratahs v Easts (Semi) - 1st grade, 23rd & 24th March 1985
It was a similar story in 2nds, where Uralla made a big score on the Saturday. Scott Hammond, playing in his first major game at only 16, bowled well, especially in tandem with veteran Merv Philp but even though they kept taking wickets, Byron Whackett kept hitting boundaries over the fast Lambert Park outfield and Waratahs were chasing 286 on the Sunday. On a good wicket, Waratahs were still in the game but their early batting collapsed and when Alec Finlayson left at 5-71, after adding a quick 50 with Philp, the game looked beyond them. Peter Langston, promoted after a season in 3rds, added 78 with Philp and then 102 with Graham Patterson to swing the game back to Waratahs. Brian Barnden returned and removed Patterson and with the win within sight and Barnden threatening, Langston attacked at the other end, taking 16 from Peter Worthing's over before he launched a lofted off drive from the last ball, which tagged an overhanging branch and Steve Grills unfairly claimed the catch when it dropped into his hands. The umpired sent him on his way instead of signalling four and Barnden, with his back in searing pain, cleaned up the rest for a 7 run victory. Langston's 93 gave him the highest season aggregate - 635 runs - for any player not scoring a century.
Waratahs v Uralla (Semi) - 2nd grade, 23rd & 24th March 1985
