SEMI FINALS ON THIS DAY - 15th March
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | March 16, 2025
In 1958, despite the best efforts of JEFF WALSH (#84), B grade lost their semi v Police Boys. Walsh (6-35) and ably assisted by Tony Morriss and Arty See, restricted the strong Police Boys innings. After losing two early wickets, opener Geoff Whitton stood firm, and with first Walsh and then Crotty, staged a recovery. At 4-62 chasing 141, they were well in it but the departure of Whitton saw McDonnell rip through the tail.
Waratahs v Police Boys - B grade, 15th March 1958
In 1992, 1st grade won a low scoring semi v Hillgrove. Batting first, Steve Hadfield (#524 - pictured) and Stu MacFarlan (#606) had the only significant partnership in Waratahs disappointing innings, but Greg Lough (#627) took three wickets before stumps to have Hillgrove in strife at 4-33. On the Sunday, despite resistance from the Hillgrove veterans Peter Schaefer and Tony Butler, Derek Cameron (#647) and Daniel Ryan (#514) tore through Hillgrove before they could reach triple figures. Steve Hadfield got himself on to to the Best Match Performance list, following his first innings 63 with six catches behind the stumps, the most taken by any Waratahs player in an innings in any grade. Ask him about the game and the first thing he will tell you is that he dropped a 7th, denying Danny a Pfeiffer!
Waratahs v Hillgrove - 1st grade, 14th & 15th March 1992
3rd grade, unbeaten in the rounds and at unbackable odds, had a tough encounter with their only real rival for the season, Ex Services. Batting first, Waratahs made 288, with wicketkeeper CHRIS DUNCAN (#609) making his only Waratahs hundred, opening the innings. After lots of starts in the top order, the eventual total was thanks to a typically hard hitting innings from Mark Tanner (#573), adding 72 for the 6th wicket with Duncan. On the Sunday, Ex Services stayed in the game, building around a fine Robert Pollard hundred but the off spin of Roger Roan (#176) proved their undoing. For the only time for the season, skipper Bede Ryan's contribution was minimal.
Waratahs v Ex Services - 3rd grade, 14th & 15th March 1992
In 1998, Waratahs had to get to the Final the hard way, losing both 3rd and 4th grade semis. In 3rd grade, Waratahs were given a 236 run drubbing after Churches breezed past 300 in just 74 overs on the Saturday. Waratahs reply was at 7-5 by stumps, with Churches centurion A Skinner having five of them! David Dunlop (#757) and the tail at least held their head up on the Sunday morning but their task was impossible. Man of the match was an easy pick!!!
Waratahs v Churches - 3rd grade, 14th & 15th March 1998
4th grade also took a pummeling at the hands of Hillgrove. Chasing a moderate 237 scored at under three an over, they inexplicably had two mem absent on the Sunday but were well beaten anyway, Carl Hofkamp (#677) being the only batsmen to reach double figures in their 77.
