THE FINALS - A Grade v Ex Services 1967
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | March 22, 2026
A grade entered the Final against Ex Services full of confidence, with a 7-3 win/loss record. A high scoring loss against Ex Services also had them believing they could match it with the star-studded Services side in the bowling department but their was no doubting the quality of perhaps the best batting line up Armidale has seen.
Imagine then, Waratahs half an hour after tea on the first day, with Ex Services heavy hitters, a side that had six times past 300 during the season, all out for 124. Tom Cooke (#197) had done the damage with 7-49 and only Errol Browning, batting at three, holding the side together with 73 until being out 8th.
Waratahs began their innings at 5:00pm and when bad light stopped play 40 minutes later, the Premiership was lost. After Alan Gray (#26) was disaterously run out in Rene Mullen's first over, Ian McLean removed Allan Smith (#124) in his. Waratahs 2-9 but only to get worse as Rene Mullen removed Bill Thompson (#185), Graham Johnson (#207), Greg Russell (#131) and then bowled night watchman Cooke, removing all three stumps and Waratahs went to the Caledonian at 6-31.
On the second day, John Roberts (#115) and Terry Mackenzie (#54) and Peter Rigg (#201) at least made Ex Services work but Mullen finished with five and Ex Services won by 28, batting the afternoon quietly away despite losing 5 wickets.
Waratahs v Ex-Services - A Grade Final 1967
