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THE SEMIS - 1st Grade v Ex-Services 1991

Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | March 21, 2026

Waratahs went into the match as hot favourites, having lost only one game during the season and regularly made lots of runs. THree of their batsmen had more than 300 for the season, with Stu MacFarlan (#606) over 400 @ 53. It was in the bowling where they had underperformed, with only the veteran Bede Ryan(#503) and leg spinner Mark Charter (#515) taking 5fas. Ex-Services had something to prove, having been runners up to Waratahs the previous season when rain ruined the Final.

Ex-Services batted first and made a slow start against the tight bowling from Waratahs first three bowlers but former 'Tahs player Greg Johnson was playing one of his best innings against his old club. Wickets kept coming at regular intervals in a very deep batting line up but the run out of Johnson was the decisive event of the innings.

221 shaped as a testing target against a quality Ex-Services attack, but openers Steve Hadfield (#524) and James Campbell (#382-pictured) made good progress and added 82 before they were parted. The Gun, McFarlan, was caught behind soon after at at 3-111, but Daniel Rya (#514) and Gary Clark (#285) steadied things again for Waratahs. Greg Johnson and Peter Wayte were introduced into the attack and created havoc and with the top seven all dismissed and 45 still to get, Ex-Services looked like causing an upset. Shamus Robertson (#629) then stepped up and clubbed a brisk 35 not out to add to his 4 wickets, adding 49 unbeaten with Troy Maguire (#628) and putting Waratahs into the Final.

Waratahs v Ex-Services - 1st Grade 1991


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Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs)

Founder
Waratahs CC of Armidale; The Tahs Inc
www.thetahs.com.au
Armidale, Australia
0438028917
The history of a proud club which grew men from boys through the simple act of trusting them with something very precious.

Favourite players: Life members: Alan Gray, Harry Deiderick, Graham Johnson, Ian Campbell, Syd Philp, Graham Patterson, Albert Hofkamp & Peter Langston.

Favourite grounds: Wicklow Oval (Rologas Fields), Harris Park, West Armidale Park (Lambert Park), The Armidale Sportsground

All-time cricket hero: Any bloke in the Royal Blue cap.

Favourite bat: The one that scored the most.

Most memorable moment in cricket:
1952-53 A grade Final, beating Easts 2 outright after our worst A/1st grade total in the sixty year history of the club. Beat the very strong Uralla in the last round to just scrape into the semis and then Easts 1 in the Semi. Played one player short on the first day after a mix up with team sheets and made 163 in the sunshine, Ross Ridley 59. Easts 0-57 at stumps after four dropped catches. Didn't play the second day for two weeks because of the Armidale Show and then after four days of heavy rain. Wicket now a sticky and impossible to bat on. Easts all out for 95, Don Paul 6-24. Batting a second time, Waratahs still one short and Ridley now out injured, all out for 21. Easts needing 90 don't make it to halfway, all out for 43, Don Paul 7-20. Waratahs win their first premiership in only their third season.

What’s the best cricket advice you’ve ever received:
Join the new Waratahs! The Tahs memberships available by contacting https://forms.gle/oY26v79kETLzYxqH7

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