ON THIS DAY - 22nd September
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | September 22, 2024
In 1951, ALAN GRAY (#26) made his debut for Waratahs in A grade v University, making 30 batting in the middle order of a 54 run victory. He would go on to be the most capped player in the club's history, playing for an unbelievable 31 seasons and being Waratahs highest career run scorer with 8,675 runs (7,541 of them in A grade). He would also hold the record for the most catches, with 177, more even than the most prolific of the club's wicketkeepers. He captained the 1971-72 premiership side, bringing the club back to the winners circle in A grade for the first time in 19 years. He also won premierships in A grade (1974-75) and A-Reserve grade (1980-81); the latter opening the batting for the resurgent Vets side. Father Gray scored three career centuries: 104 A grade v Churches 1957; 111 v A grade v Churches 1969: & 108x A-Res grade 1980. He batted in 14 century partnerships, equal most with Graham Johnson, the highest being the grade record 217 for the 3rd wicket with Eric Smith for A grade v Churches in 1957. He also shares the A grade 1st wicket partnership record with Allan Cox, 164 v Public Service in 1963 and four times made 400 or more runs in an A grade season. It goes beyond saying he is one of Waratahs legends and was named in the best Waratahs side of all time in 2010.
Waratahs v University - A grade, 22 & 29 September 1951
In 1956, Waratahs made its debut in B grade, adding a second team to the club for the first time. Although they struggled in the early seasons, it was to be the breeding ground for many players who would rise to A grade and have great success. This season saw the first games for JEFF WALSH (#84 - 532 runs@28 & 27 wickets@12.3), Geoff Whitten, TONY MORRISS (#78 - 59 wickets@10.6) and John Russell and several other long term players for the club. The veteran HUGH FERRIS (#32 - 561@26.7 & 23 wickets@7.5) captained a side that did well to finish middle of the table. B grade would go on to win 6 premierships (1959, 1962 and then as 4th grade in 1981, 1994, 1997 & 1998) but it was at its best when it was developing juniors to continue to feed into the higher grades. Syd Philp (#269 - 2,706 runs) and Graham Patterson (#346 - 2,335 runs) were two of its legendary captains and leading run scorers but a host of great players passed through its ranks. Morriss was the leading career wicket taker (179) but in 1961, a 16 year old called DON FOSTER (#155) took 123 wickets for the season! B/4th grade had several spells in the club but each time it found a new crop of leading players who graduated to the top team and some, like MICHAEL CONNOLLY (#293) grew from a batting average of 3.6 in his first season, to be a star allrounder not only in A/1st grade but a NSW Country team member and 1st grade player at Australia's strongest club, St George.
