THE FINALS - 5th Grade v Centrals Spinners, 28th/29th March 1987
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | April 08, 2026
This Waratahs side, with its six players who would rise up into 1st grade within three seasons, is the lasting legacy of one man … Ian Campbell (#212). For many years, Ian worked with junior cricketers at Waratahs, teaching them the game, not just the bits and pieces that make it up but the Game. This season, like many, was about his players, not him. In a fifteen game season where eleven of his players batted ten times or more, he batted just seven times, usually low in the order and bowled only one over … yet, he was the man completely in charge of shaping these boys and now, to a man, they all sing his praises.
The semi-final had been a near 400 run romp against Wollomombi, with Simon Joyce (#512) and Martin Campbell (#490) making hundreds and everyone else enjoying batting time on the second day but Centrals were always going to be tough. Waratahs had won all three games against their Finals opponent but each time, by 10 or less.
The Final was no different, despite Waratahs seemingly winning comfortably outright by 9 wickets but for so long, this was a decidedly close game. Centrals batted first and were always under the pump from Waratahs five prong pace attack, surviving 46 overs but only making 72. Peter Murphy (#535-pictured) and Jeremy Roach (#521) had the best of the figures but the remaining bowled 21 overs for a miserly 32 runs. There was no escape.
Waratahs lost half of their side getting to the front, Ben Campbell (#489) and Gavin Finlayson (#516) playing attractively but it was the dogged Richard Blake (#508) that held the line and then played Waratahs to safety, adding a match deciding 41 with Murphy for the 8th wicket when Waratahs held only a slender lead. Hodgson bowled splendidly for Centrals.
Second time around, Centrals faired little better, Murphy and Daniel Ryan (#514) getting the spoils but all four bowlers crushing any resistance and Waratahs second innings, with 12th man replacement Mark Charter (#515) finally getting some action, was a brief but successful affair.
This was Waratahs only 5th grade Premiership, with its record breaking 8 batsmen making more than 200 runs. Joyce with 669 and the most runs ever in a 5th grade season, Finlayson 413 and Martin Campbell 403. Nine of their batsmen averaged more than 20. Murphy and Michael Handes (#518) took 74 wickets between them - Murphy at 7.3 - and leg spinner Charter, 28.
Waratahs v Centrals Spinners - 5th Grade Final, 28th/29th March 1987
