THE SEMIS - 3rd Grade v Churches, Major Semi 1998
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | March 22, 2026
Waratahs had mixed season but still managed to finished second to the very strong Churches side and confront them in the Major Semi. They had met once in the season, back in early November, when Churches had handed them an outright hiding by 7 wickets, Waratahs making only 42 in their first innings with only 8 players.
The semi was a disaster. Churches batted first and spent the Saturday afternoon destroying Waratahs bowling. Opener Skinner smashed a century and just when Grant Harlow (#721) got a run on to reduce them to 7-190 after David Norman (#407) claimed the first three wickets, Allen came in 9th and added 122 with Skinner for the 8th wicket, taking the game out of range. To make matters much worse, Waratahs were 4-5 in the nine overs until stumps, Skinner again the culprit.
Things got even worse on the Sunday, with Magill and Skinner taking three more quick wickets to have the Waratahs innings in shreds at 7-7. The last four batted with determination, particularly David Dunlop (#757-pictured) who made 36 with red ink of their eventual 90. Skinner had the outstanding figures of 7-27 to go with his century.
A 246 run hiding to take into the Preliminary Final and the back door entry to the Grand Final set a huge task for the 3rds.
Waratahs v Churches - 3rd Grade Major Semi 1998
