ON THIS DAY - 5th March
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | March 05, 2026
In 1966, ALAN GRAY (#26) and BILL THOMPSON (#185) added 101 for the first wicket as A grade galloped away against Uralla. Thompson would go on to an unlucky 93. Allan Cox (#160) and D LIttle (#199) carried on the good work and Waratahs declared just shy of 300.
In 1983, GRAHAM FROST (#333) held 3 catches as 1sts fielded for most of the first day at Lambert Park against Hillgrove, including a Geoff Wood hundred - another modern day Tahs convert. Waratahs lost a wicket before stumps to have Hillgrove in the ascendancy in a game Waratahs had to win to quailfy for the semis. More on the game later.
In 1988, MICHAEL CONNOLLY (#293) and GRAHAM JOHNSON (#207) added 101 as 1st grade minced the Centrals attack for the 80 overs of the first day of the last match before the semis. All of the Waratahs batsmen made runs against a lack lustre attack. The pitch proved justy as true for Centrals on day two, falling just 5 runs short of Waratahs big total after batting all day and losing just 8 wickets. Long spells by Andrew McNeill (#419), Michael Connolly helped contain Centrals after openers David Marshall and R Sweeny had put on 105 for the first wicket. Marshall - these days a Tahs man - went on to another century against Waratahs. In the end, it was the tireless accuracy of Joe Harrison (#405) that held Centrals at bay.
Waratahs v Centrals - 1st grade, 5th & 12th March 1988
GLEN SCHAEFFER (#373) bowled a marathon 28 overs in Centrals pretty useful score, topping the bowlers hundred but bowling all but six overs from one end in the afternoon. Waratahs yop six all fired on the second week to chase down the substantial total.
Waratahs v Centrals - 2nd grade, 5th & 12th March 1988
5th grade got an awful hammering as Centrals ran up more than 400 on the first afternoon and had Waratahs one down. The only highlights were an Andrew Thwaites (#559 - pictured) pfeiffer, 4 cates by wicketkeeper SCOTT NICHOLSON (#548) and Tony Bennett (#355) just avoiding getting his third bowler's hundred! The scores on the second day are unknowm.
Waratahs v Centrals - 5th grade, 5th & 12th March 1988
