THE FINALS - 4th Grade v St Peters, 27th/28th March 1993
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | April 06, 2026
Waratahs had a remarkable season, not winning a game until after Christmas and then riding high from then on with narrow victories and a massive will to succeed. Opener and wicketkeeper Andrew Willis (#675) and Lachaln Bennett (#587) both made over 300 runs with some big scores at crucial times and Martin Lawrence (#666) and Tim Hadfield (#633-pictured) were the mainstays of the attack.
They beat Easts in the minor semi, thanks to a belligerent half century from Michael Roan (#611) and a pfeiffer from Lawrence, flogged second placed Wollomombi in the preliminary final - Lawrence another pfeiffer and Hadfield following suit - and had to play the Minor Premiers St Peters in the FInal … a team they had already beaten twice that season.
Daniel Evans (#632), Bennett, Tony Yeomans (#649), Roan and Dave Thomson (#679) all made runs in a very competitive 209, Peter Barnden and A Whittley both bowling long into a good team effort from Waratahs.
Bennett, with the new ball, stuck twice early and Lawrence made his usual successful start and at 3-17, St Peters were on the ropes. Hadfield was giving nothing away at the other end but it was Barnden again who was proving difficult. With the persevering Hadfield grabbing three wickets in the middle order after the Saints had recovered, it was still Waratahs’ match to lose at 6-105. With Lawrence attacking and Hadfield wheeling down maidens, it just seemed a matter of time until the batting cracked but it wasn’t to be. St Peters’ tail hung in and then started to pick off the inevitable loose ball and despite two late strikes causing last minute wobbles, they fell over the line by two wickets. It had been a thrilling final and all credit to Hadfield, who bowled 37 of the 42 overs bowled from his end - the most number of overs by a Waratahs player in a Final of any grade - and Lawrence who conceded just 38 from his 22 overs.
Waratahs v St Peters - 4th Grade Final, 27th/28th March 1993
