1967 Armidale District CA Finals
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | March 11, 2025
In 1966-67, Waratahs A grade had been strengthened by the addition of new players to town, Graham Johnson (pictured right) and Terry Betts and the eventual elevation to A grade of their star youngster Greg Russell. They had a mixed season, winning six of their nines games, including an outright against Public Service when they declared 69 behind and thanks to Bill Thompson, chased down the 142 needed to win in little over an hour. They squeaked through the semi final against University when #11 John Roberts stayed with a belligerent Thompson. Their batting had been brittle, with Thompson, Johnson and Alan Gray taking the load. It was their bowling which had kept them in the hunt, with Tom Cooke (pictured left) and Brian Roberts a potent new ball attack, backed by Peter Rigg and Terry Mackenzie, whose appearances were limited.
Their opponents, Ex Services, were the star side who dominated Armidale cricket from the mid 1960's for six or seven seasons. Their top seven - Wally Miller, Ray Blair, Errol Browning, Keith DSmith, Ian McLean, Jack Trestrail and Rene Mullen - were as good a batting line up as ever played in Armidale and four main bowlers - McLean, Mullen, Trestrail and Browning - had carved up opposition all season.
Tom Cooke won the toss and sent Ex Services in, cutting a swathe through them with Mackenzie and but for Browning's 73, the Servies 124 would have looked decidedly sicker. Cooke was dynamic, removing Miller in his first over and Smith and McLean in his 4th, all for ducks and having Ex Services on their knees at 4-13.
Waratahs, with the game at their mercy and only an hour left before stumps, lost Gray run out in the first over and then McLean removed the youngster Allan Smith in the third before Mullen went on the rampage, taking 4-9 before stumps, in one of the fieriest spells ever seen in a Final. At 6-31, Waratahs were done and it was only spirited batting McKenzie, Roberts and Rigg which kept them in the hunt. Browning finished it off with consecutive deliveries but Mullen's 5-34 was the match winner.
Final: Waratah v Ex Services, A grade - 4th & 11th March 1967
Waratahs A-Res grade side beat Hillgrove by 3 runs in the last round to qualify for the semis and then beat the Minor Premiers St Peters in the semi Final, in a game when neither side made it to three figures. Col Marshall was their mainstay with the new ball and Max Schaefer, Keith McIntyre and Greg Russell (before promotion to A grade) were the best batsman in a side whose batting form fell away after Christmas. University won the game on the first day, with Bowdler making an unbeaten century. Marshall made an early breakthrough but two big partnerships took the game away from them. Lucas toiled long and hard, bowling 30 overs. On the second day, opener McIntyre was 8th out for 55 of Waratahs poor showing of 85 in a massive loss.
Final: Waratahs v University, A-Res grade - 4th & 11th March 1967
