THE SEMIS - 5th Grade v Ex Services 1989
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | March 22, 2026
Before the 1990’s, the finals series were played over two weekends, with both semis knockout games and the following week, the Final. The very young Waratahs side, with only two players over twenty and led by Bob Hughes, squeezed into the semis finishing fourth out of five. Their task was always impossible against the undefeated Minor Premiers, Ex Services, who batted first.
Waratahs put themselves in the game, with their bowlers breaking through the top order and having Ex Services 5-43. From there, the experienced Gary Northam and the young tyro, Mark Haydon, gradually changed the momentum until the steam was gone. They were helped by a string of dropped catches, any of which would have put Waratahs back in the game. Buoyed by the big partnership, the tail wagged like a dog with two bums as the bowling attack faded. Skipper Bob Hughes gave nothing away and the lion-hearted Simon Bennett bowled 32 of Ex Services 85 overs in a gutsy performance.
In chasing nearly three hundred, Waratahs were best served by Laurie Hagan, who finished a proliferqigate season well and the two discoveries of the season, John Taylor and Joe Beer but in the end, that old pro, Bruce Sewell, was just too good for them. The impressive thing about the match was, that faced with the impossible, these youngsters refused to simply submit.
Waratahs v Ex-Services - 5th Grade 1989
