THE FINALS - A Grade v Easts at Harris Park, 28th/29th March 1981
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | April 08, 2026
Waratahs had a successful season but dominated by three batsmen - Michael Connolly (#293), Graham Frost (#333) and Roger Sattler (#378), with very little support and by three bowlers - Wes Davis (#386), Rene Mullen (#321) and Brian Mair (#307). The batting regularly failed, only making 200 in their first innings three times out of ten, usually with Connolly or Frost with half of the side’s runs.
Of the bowlers, Davis was playing his first season for Waratahs and was the leading wicket taker with 31, after 5-47 on debut against Ex Services. Mullen was the veteran, having broken Waratahs hearts regularly for Ex Services in the 1960’s and 70’s, he bought all his guile and only a bit of his remaining fitness to the new ball with Davis. The majority of the rest were allrounders - Mair, Sattler, Merv Philp (#268) and the reluctant Connolly.
Both sides had wins in the two low scoring battles during the season but where Waratahs had survived a nail biter in the Semi-final with Hillgrove, mainly thanks to Mullen’s bowling and Connolly’s batting, Easts had crushed a Uralla side heavily dependant on Geoff Wood and Brian Barnden. The Porter’s starred in the win: Rick with a side saving 140 after Easts had slumped to 7-159 and declared 173 runs later and Michael with 4-5 off ten as Uralla only to 93 after being 5-15. Easts, the defending Premiers and the star studded side of the competition, were trying for a three-pete.
Easts, batting first, were given their usual solid start, Ray Eddie and Bruce Taylor making 52 before Connolly could be talked into bowling after Mullen broke down early in the afternoon, not to return. He cleaned both up in the slips and then Sattler got a lucky wicket, keeper Terry Betts (#205) missing the ball standing up and having it ricochet onto Rick Porter’s stumps and Mair trapped Mal McLean in front. At 4-97. The game was even. Easts skipper, Brian Warren, controversially given not out out to a catch by Betts first ball, was dropped twice at short mid wicket before he reached 10, all off Sattler.
Warren and Neil Baillie revived the innings with a 51 run partnership but Connolly eventually got both and Davis cleaned out the tail.
Waratahs should never have even got close. Their mainstay, Connolly, was gone in the first over and Sattler’s ill luck continued when he was adjudged caught behind to a ball from David See he needed a second bat to get near at a time when the momentum was just shifting. Peter Langston (#357), promoted to open for the first time after batting all season in the bottom half of the order and Graham Johnson (#207), left soon after, the latter a wicket wasted in a run out. Frost, looking untroubled and calm, added 41 with Mair which seemed to be turning the game again but two more wickets fell before the hundred was achieved. Mullen, hobbling and restricted with his injured calf, combined with the now fluent Frost who was dominating to again swing the game, adding 52.
The resistance to Baillie’s teasing off breaks and the now returned to the bowling crease Porter ended with Mullen hitting across the line and skying to McClenaghan and Frost finally misjudging the flight and returning a catch to the bowler. Frost’s innings, considered one of the best in a Waratahs Final, was of even more credit given his young age. Tony Bennett swung lustily but the final two batsmen found the combination of Baillie and Porter too much for them and Easts secured their third consecutive Premiership by 25 runs.
Waratahs v Easts - A Grade, 28th/29th March 1981
