THE SEMIS - 2nd Grade v Hillgrove, Minor Semi 1996
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | March 21, 2026
Skipper and Club President, Andrew Willis (#675), was a man on a mission: the return of Waratahs to 1st Grade after their omission two seasons earlier. Playing with a team of young, enthusiastic triers, he had led them to the minor semi against a hard-edged and experienced Hillgrove side who had only just missed out on second place.
Winning the toss and batting, it was of course Willis who led from the front and scored an outstanding century, under all sorts of pressure. Wickets tumbled regularly until, at 5-110, he found Kingsley Chapman (#663) who would stand firm and the pair added 89. Grant Harlow (#721) took over the bulk of defiance for the final hundred which left them with the very defendable 299.
Hillgrove had a deep batting line up, including the veterans, Teege and Schaefer and several others more than capable of chasing down such a big score and when Brazier and Davidson were in control at 1-112, the battle was well and truly joined.
It was at that point that Matt Griffith (#717) mimicked for the bowling what Willis had done with the bat, by removing both and then scything through Hillgrove and taking seven wickets on the trot. Dan Evans (#632) finished Hillgrove off and 2nd won a grand victory against the odds.
Waratahs v Hillgrove - 2nd Grade 1996
