THE SEMIS - A Grade v Hillgrove 1981
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | March 24, 2026
During the season, three batsmen - Michael Connolly (#293), Graham Frost (#333) and Roger Sattler (#378) - had saved Waratahs skin and got totals that were enough during, but it was the work of three bowlers that got them to the semi-finals - Wes Davis (#386), Rene Mullen (#321) and Brian Mair (#307). Time and again, they resurected game situations that threatened to go against A Grade. Davis, in his first season with Waratahs, took 34 wickets, taking 5-47 on debut.
It was "Shakes" Mullen that tore Hillgrove apart. They took 48 overs to die, with opener Peter Schaefer batting almost all the way through the innings. Davis and Connolly did their part by applying excruitiating pressure on the batsmen, bowling 24 overs between them at the other end for just 30 runs.
Waratahs batting problems were exposed by Hillgrove's new ball men, Gillard and Hickey, who were only one wicket from giving Hillgrove a lead. At 9-93, It was Wes Davis who added twenty with Connolly as he carried his bat for a fine half century.
Hillgrove never lay down in any game and Schaefer and Peter Coolentianos went at five an over in order to get Waratahs back to the crease and it very nearly worked. Gillard and Hickey reduced Waratahs to 7-31, Sattler getting 18 of those. Four of the first five got ducks, first innings hero Connolly among them. It was left to Mair and Merv Philp (#268) to settle things, as the outright win was shelved in order to avoid the outright loss.
