THE SEMIS - B Grade v St Peters, 2nd April 1960

Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | April 13, 2026

In the bowler friendly conditions for all sides in B Grade in the years of cement wickets with no covering, high scores were always at a premium, so batting averages tend to be way below par in comparison to bowling. John McIntyre (#99)with 411 @ 24.2 was by far Waratahs best in this season, with fellow allrounder Laurie Blake (#126-pictured) not far behind with 379 @ 19.

The bowlers had the starring figures, with Col Marshall (#102) emerging into the limelight he shone in the lower grades for his entire career, with 60 wickets @7.9 and then it was the three allrounders, Bob Brennan (#127) 45 @ 9.5, Blake with 35 @ 8 and McIntyre with 28 @ 11. John Russell (#89) had his first pronounced year with the ball taking 24 wickets.

B Grade only had four teams, so by the semis, teams knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Waratahs had beaten St Peters in four of their six encounters and won again here, this time without Marshall. Blake and Bruce McClenaghan (#74) shared a 98 run 6th wicket partnership which was the bulk of Waratahs second highest total of the season. 

Even though their spearhead was unavailable, Waratahs won as they pleased, with Brennan taking four of the first six wickets to fall as St Peters slumped to 6-27. Finlayson and Gentle added 35 for the 7th wicket in the only act of defiance the Saints mustered in the game.

Waratahs v St Peters - B Grade Semi-Final, 2nd April 1960