ON THIS DAY - 25th March
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | March 25, 2024
In 1973, A-Res grade won their Final against Hillgrove fairly effortlessly. After being unbeaten all season, they lived up to the raging hot favourite status with a convincing performance. Against a Hillgrove side that had young versions of Peter Schaefer and Gavin Morgan in the ranks, JOHN RUSSELL (#89), playing in his last game in the grade, gave a man of the man performance taking 10-69, including 6-33 in the first innings which broke Hillgrove wide open. Waratahs wobbled early but Schaefer and Barwick steadied the ship, as they had done all season and then Mathieson steered them well beyond worry. Lynch and Russel wore out Hillgrove second time around as the Final found no further twists.
Waratahs v Hillgrove (Final) - A-Res grade, 24th & 25th March 1973.
In 1984, 1st grade won an epic Final against Easts, after Frost and Johnson appeared to have given Waratahs the perfect start with a 52 run opening stand, 4th change Tony Marquardt charged through their quality batting line up. With Baillie exercising his strangler hold at the other end, Marquardt's sixfa put the game squarely in Easts hands. Reading then grabbed it back, removing the top three, including the always threatening Rick Porter for a globe. In a devasting nine over spell, the veteran knocked Easts down and when McNeill and Harrison did for Warren and Owen soon after, there was no way back for Easts. Harrison had stunning figures for a Final and Waratahs missed nothing in the field, with wicketkeeper CARL BRIDGE (#452) making three dismissals and Lawrence and McNeill catching braces. The sixty run victory was probably as a convincing a performance as Waratahs ever gave in a 1st grade Final, rivaled only by one three seasons later.
Waratahs v Easts (Final) - 1st grade, 24th & 25th March 1984
A youthful and highly competitive Centrals side had by far the better of Waratahs in the 2nd grade decider. Waratahs bowling was trademark tight on the Saturday and on into Sunday, Centrals needing plenty of overs for their eventual 249. This placed overs pressure on the experienced Waratahs side an although they started comfortably against the new ball, a change of bowlers proved disastrous, with Hopwood and Mowle carving through a batting lineup that couldn't reach double figures after #3. Kelleher batted with great responsibility but to no avail, unable to find anyone to stay with him.
Waratahs v Centrals (Final) - 2nd grade, 24th & 25th March 1984
In 1990, 1st grade won their semi-final v Hillgrove, despite shaky batting, on the back of an outstanding bowling performance of relentless pressure and superb fielding. Melville gave Hillgrove nothing, with a long opening spell which ripped out three experienced campaigners, with Murphy unrewarded but just as important as his foil. Connolly and Ryan kept the squeeze on Hillgrove. Their two an over innings finished dismally. Jackson and Weaver and despite Dymock and Daniel Ryan steadying things, it was the old hard head Bede Ryan who saw Waratahs home. Jackson's five were a come of age performance in 1st grade.
Waratahs v Hillgrove (Sem) - 1st grade, 24th & 25th March 1990
Waratahs lost both of their lower grade games v Easts. Despite the efforts of Jeremy Roach, whose 6-41 were his best figures for Waratahs and the veteran Hughes, Lockeridge steered Easts to a reasonable total. Waratahs middle order collapsed after Waratahs had been 1-41 and regardless of some heroics by the tail, they were never competitive in the chase.
Waratahs v Easts (Semi) - 2nd grade, 24th & 25th March 1990
Three times 3rds had Easts innings on toast but three times they recovered but with some experience heads, Waratahs batting really should have made a more spirited reply. Williams dominated them but Townsend had no less an impact. Losing five wickets before stumps, including a failed nightwatchman experiment, was a fatal dive they never looked like recovering from, despite Roger Roan guiding the tail.
