THE FINALS - A-Res Grade v Ex-Services, 26th March, 2nd/16th April 1966
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | April 16, 2026
Waratahs, a side that had lost seven of its first eight games of the season and somehow beat the Minor Premiers University in the semis, were never a chance against Ex-Services. Despite being outgunned and facing an impossible run chase, they fought it out and made the match last into a third Saturday, which had to be scheduled after the season had finished, two weeks after the second Saturday because of the Armidale Show!
Waratahs bowlers were in the game briefly on the first day, having Ex-Services 3-71 until Dibley and Jim Melville added 54 for the 4th wicket, Dibley and Swilks 37 for the 6th and Dibley and Mowle the innings high, 122 for the 7th. Ex-Services even had the luxury of batting one man short and still making over 300, thanks of course to opener Dibley who was last man out with a splendid century. Waratahs, with the light diabolical, skipper Rebby McIntyre (#100) sent in two nightwatchmen, bowlers Col Marshall (#102) and John Russell (#89) and their appeal against the light was granted after one ball!
Melville removed Marshall in his still to be completed first over but Russell stood to the task with a mixture of wild swings and inside edges, while Keith McIntyre (#129) did the real batting, the pair adding 55 for the second wicket as a frustrated bowling attack soldiered on. Laurie McCann struck the blow which hurt Waratahs the most, when McIntyre misjudged a drive from the leggie and hit it straight to cover in the next over. Rebby McIntyre was playing his usual defensive role and refusing to let Ex-Services steamroll through him and he was supported by a very capable John McCann (#222) as they added 49.
Waratahs second blow came next ball when the dangerous youngster, Greg Russell (#131), who had been full of runs including two centuries since Christmas, was out first ball playing on to Godley. More than two hundred in arrears at 5-106, the game looked over but with McIntyre urging them on from one end, Max Schaefer (#203), Phil McCann (#202) and especially Keith Dawson (#146), who had added an unbeaten 74 with McIntyre for the 8th wicket, they batted the game through until bad light again stopped the Waratahs innings.
The third Saturday started with Ex-Services needing three wickets and Waratahs needing a miracle of 122 runs. Melville had the final say and it ended quickly, bowling Dawson after both batsmen had taken a single in his first over, taking the return to run out Rebby McIntyre as he searched for the strike at the end of Melville’s second and then bowling Dudley Butler with the first ball of his third. It had been such a heroic fight, with McIntyre’s stirring 62 leading the way and although Ex-Services won handsomely, the Waratahs boys made them earn it.
Waratahs v Ex-Services - A-Reserve Grade Final, 26th March/2nd/4th April 1966
