THE FINALS - A Grade v Ex-Services 1975
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | March 25, 2026
Waratahs had a powerful season in 1974-75, sharing the One Day Premiership with Page and then, in an era when no semis were played because the One Day competition used up too many Saturdays, qualifying for the Final against their oftentimes nemesis, Ex-Services. Graham Johnson (#207) and skipper Allan Thompson (#238) had outstanding seasons with the bat but the rest were an ever-changing succession of hopefuls from the lower grade or older players whose best was behind them. John Donnelly (#231) had his best season with the ball and David Lynch (#249) had cemented his place in the A Grade the best way possible, with wickets. There was however, no Brian Joice (#218).
Waratahs were sent in on a trecherous wicket but at one stage were 3-123 and in charge until Ranald Braund broke through the 70 run partnership between Brian Connolly (#226) and Johnson. Lynch hit lustily for a while but the rest were cannon fodder for Rene Mullen and Braund. Through it all, Connolly was sheer class, maintaining a superb defence on a still wet wicket and but finding the boundary until last out. Those who saw the innings described it as masterclass in wet wicket batting.
186 should have been enough. After so many close calls in Finals against Ex-Services, Connolly looked to have delivered Waratahs best chance of success. Lynch and Donnelly went to work cutting out a batting line up the equal of the best from any era. At 6-77, when Merv Philp (#268) bowled Braund, the task looked hopeless for Ex-Services.
Enter Mullen, Waratahs bogey man in past seasons and away he went. He swished and swung, launching some huge hits over the boundary, while Reg Hurst continued to play the waiting game, smart enough to feed Mullen the strike. Waratahs started dropping catches and then their heads, because they had been here before.
Hurst and Mullen added 83 before Hurst fell when Terry Mackenzie was recalled (#54). New batsman Ray Rose was dropped twice and Mullen yet again before Ex-Services got there.
Once again, another Premiership was literally dropped.
