THE FINALS - 2nd Grade v Centrals, 24th/25th March 1984
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | April 04, 2026
Waratahs expected to win this match. They had lost only one game all season, had beaten Centrals in a badly rain affected first game and batted long for a high scoring draw in the second. They had the competition’s three best batsmen in Jack Trestrail (#303) 530 runs @ 40.8, (#399 - name withheld for Sorry Business) 395 @ 32.9 and Graham Johnson (#207) 312 @ 44.6. Wicketkeeper Jason Kelleher had a century and a mid twenties average and runs had come regularly from others. Late comer Mark Huggins had taken 19 wickets @ 11.7 and the usual suspects had grabbed wickets whenever they were needed.
Centrals, by comparison, were mostly young, fiery and lacking the experience Waratahs could boast in this part of the many past seasons.
It didn’t work out that way. Centrals batted for a long, long time, making 249 of 106 overs and keeping Waratahs in the field well into the Sunday. They had been 2-10 and then later, 6-114 but Paul Hickey constructed a stubborn half century and the tail wagged like an excited Kelpie. Johnson and particularly Tony Bennett, bowled only 12 tight overs between them which seems lop-sided, given the variety they offered in a long innings.
Perhaps worried by the timeframe, Waratahs blasted out of the gates, reaching 1-72 with Kelleher making a highly attractive 42 before becoming the first of John Hopwood’s five victims. Jim Dedes held 3 catches as the Royal Blues set in. Alan Mowle improbably took 4 wickets for nothing much in ten overs and Waratahs entire innings had lasted just 36 overs. The final margin was an embarrassing under-estimate of their opposition and a launching pad for Centrals who would secure a 1st grade Premiership two years later.
Waratahs v Centrals - 2nd Grade, 24th/25th March 1984
