THE FINALS - A-Res Grade v Hillgrove, 4th/11th April 1970
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | April 15, 2026
Unbeaten for two seasons, reigning Premiers and Minor Premiers, Waratahs went into this match as raging hot favourites to beat a Hillgrove side they had flogged the previous December. Greg Russell had two centuries and more than 700 runs for the season including innings in A Grade and Keith McIntyre and Brendan McGee both with over 400, had dominated opposition all season. John Russell, Col Marshall and Gary Holloway had taken consistent wickets as Waratahs keep their winning ways intact from the previous season.
They had a score to settle in this Final. In the previous FInal, also against Hillgrove, the match had reached a stalemate when the rain came with them needing 7 wickets and Hillgrove 99 runs and under the rules of the competition, they were forced to share the Premiership.
Waratahs batted first, McIntyre and McGee getting them off to their usual brisk start before McGee fell and then the experienced Bob Brennan soon after for a little wobble at 2-42. Much of the rest of the afternoon belonged to McIntyre and Russell, who took charge in the same way they had for two seasons now. The pair added 153 for the third wicket and were in complete control of the game at 2-195, with another huge total beckoning. It was Hillgrove 9th bowler, very much the part timer Charter, who changed the momentum of the game, removing both of them - McIntyre for his 4th score in the nineties without a century - just before last drinks for the day and then the wickets tumbled. McGregor, also rarely used, removed J McCann, Frith was run out and then Charter got three more quickly to leave Waratahs innings wasting away before John Russell swung lustily and Col Marshall played unusually straight, the pair adding 37 for the unbroken last wicket and a declaration. Light intervened before Hillgrove could face a ball.
On the second Saturday, Hillgrove started with a senseless run out in the first over but had recovered to be 2-51 before John Russell and another suicide runout saw their middle order lose 4-1 and effectively end the game. Morgan hit out but Russell and McCann spun Hillgrove into a web of hit or miss cricket which eventually saw Russell claim five and and Waratahs win the game by the length of two streets.
Despite sharing last season, it was still Waratahs second consecutive Premiership and still unbeaten in two seasons.
Waratahs v Hillgrove - A-Res Grade, 4th/11th April 1970
