Waratahs Cricket Club of Armidale - The Tahs Inc

Waratahs Cricket Club of Armidale - The Tahs Inc The history of a proud club which grew men from boys through the simple act of trusting them with something very precious. www.thetahs.com.au

Playing from September 1950 to September 2007 and still sustaining as The Tahs Inc ... the legend continues. Go to the club website for heaps of information, stories and stats about the club's history.

ON THIS DAY ( #185) - 1st OctoberBILL THOMPSON ( #185) was always out of the blocks early, scoring the bulk of his runs ...
01/10/2026

ON THIS DAY ( #185) - 1st October
BILL THOMPSON ( #185) was always out of the blocks early, scoring the bulk of his runs in the first half of each season and particularly in the early rounds. After making 99 in the first round agianst Uralla, in this next game against Ex-Services Cricket Club Armidale, he made 113 or Waratahs 205. It wasn't enough, with the Services boys strolling past them on the second day thanks mainly to Keith Smith despite a pfeiffer by Peter Rigg.
WARATAHS v EX-SERVICES - A Grade, 1st & 8th October 1966
Waratahs 205 (Bill THompson 113, Alan Gray 31, Tom Cooke 26) lost to Ex-Services 314 (Keith Smith 125x, Rene Mullen 53, Ray Blair 43, Wally MIller 32. Peter Rigg 5-53)

ON THIS DAY - 30th SeptemberIn 1950, JOHN RIDLEY ( #7) held 3 catches in Railway's innings, all off different bowlers. H...
01/10/2026

ON THIS DAY - 30th September
In 1950, JOHN RIDLEY ( #7) held 3 catches in Railway's innings, all off different bowlers. He then top scored batting at three after Waratahs started with 4-19.
WARATAHS v RAILWAY - A-Res Grade, 30th September 1950
Railway 67 (Beau Richardson 3-15) lost to Waratahs 123 (John Ridley 29, J Hocking 23. F Bell 4-31)

In 1961, alrounder BOB BRENNAN ( #127) tore the guts out of Ex-Services Cricket Club Armidale second innings, with 4-31 including the hat trick. His opening bowling partner J BOUNDY ( #118), narrowly missed ten in the match with 4-44 and 5-23. McFayden carried his bat in Servies 2nd dig. Waratahs lost quick wickets in the chase but got there to record the outright.
WARATAHS v EX-SERVICES - A-Res Grade, 23rd & 30th September 1961
Ex-Services 95 (J Boundy 4-44, Jeff Walsh 3-9) and 73 (R McFayden 34x. J Boundy 5-23, B Brennan 4-31) lost to Waratahs 142 (Tony Morriss 26, Jeff Walsh 26, Laurie Blake 21, J Boundy 20. P Swilks 6-32) and 4-29 (P Swilks 3-14) outright.

In 1967, A Grade played an all day game against TAS at Backfield, winning on the first innings despite a good effort from the school boys chasing. BILL THOMPSON ( #185), BRUCE KELLAWAY ( #213) added 139 for the 3rd wicket and then Graham Johnson ( #207) and Ian Campbell ( #212) - in his debut innings for Waratahs, took the cane to the bowlers ... Bill Hutchinson raising a bowler's ton. Bloomfield, King and Field started well, with TAS 1-118 at one stage before Johnson and Terry Mackenzie ( #54) reined them in. The last 4 wickets fell for just 26, with Guiley bowling stump to stump.
Ian Campbell would go on to play for Waratahs for 23 season, scoring 3,704 runs at the very healthy average of 28. He batted in 7 century partnerships, five of them Grade and Club records. He also held 82 catches and played in four Premierships sides, three of them as Skipper. He was one of the most selfless of Waratahs cricketers and is renowned for his workmin developing juniors.
WARATAHS v TAS - A Grade, 30th September 1967
Waratahs 5-293 (Bill Thompson 110, Bruce Kellaway 64, Graham Johnson 54x, Ian Campbell 37) defetaed TAS 242 (R Bloofield 71, B Jacob 43x, W King 36, B Field 25, S Payne 20. Graham Johnson5-83, Terry Mackenzie 3-36)

ON THIS DAY - 29th SeptemberIn 1956, GEOFF WHITTON ( #85) carried his bat, making 56 not out as B Grade had a convincing...
29/09/2026

ON THIS DAY - 29th September
In 1956, GEOFF WHITTON ( #85) carried his bat, making 56 not out as B Grade had a convincing win over Acorns. As was often the case, Tony Morriss ( #78) made short work of Acorn's batting line up before the Waratahs innings provided one of internal contrast. They passed Acorns only one down and at one stage were 4-165 but then collapsed dramatically with the the bottom five in the order making only 7 between them, Bruce McClenaghan ( #74), Bill NIxon ( #79) and D Royal ( #80) all making ducks. The other innings of note came from JOHN DICKSON ( #66). His innings of 33 was his debut for Waratahs. In a further 22 innings in this his only season, he would score only 55 more runs, including a record 8 ducks for the season!
WARATAHS v ACORNS - B Grade, 29th September 1956
Acorns 84 (Tony Morriss 5-28) lost to Waratahs 204 (Geoff Whitton 56x, Jeff Walsh 39, John Dickson 33, Arty See 30. K McKay 6-65)

Also making his debut in this game was JOHN RUSSELL ( #89), who would play 18 seasons with Waratahs. Only six of over 800 players played more. John was a wild flogger as a batsman but is renowned for his "donkey drop" spin bowling which secured him 371 career wickets - only Brian Joice ( #218) and Tom Cooke ( #197) took more. He was the leading wicket taker in A-Res/2nd Grade with 257 and twice won Finals for that Grade in the late 60's and early 70's with his unique type of slow bowling. At the very end of his career, it was John who volunteered to be the captain of B Grade when it was revived in the middle 1970's to foster home grown junior talent.

In 1973, wicketkeeper CLIFF "HUNTER" SCHAEFER ( #246), in a rare A Grade appearance, made 4 dismisals against Wright College, including three off David Lynch ( #249) who bagged six. Notable among the Wright batsmen was Tony Bennett ( #355), who was stumped by Hunter.
WARATAHS v WRIGHT - A Grade. 29th September 1973
Wright 97 (Steve Griffith 33, W Knight 32. David Lynch 6-29) lost to Waratahs 3-109 (Brian Connolly 41, Ian Campbell 28x)

Lango’s 70th birthday do.From left: AJ McNeill ( #419), Roger Sattler ( #378), Terry Browne ( #884), Leanne Browne ( #89...
28/09/2026

Lango’s 70th birthday do.
From left: AJ McNeill ( #419), Roger Sattler ( #378), Terry Browne ( #884), Leanne Browne ( #890), Mike Porter ( #882), Cheryl Porter, Tina Campbell, James Campbell ( #382) and Graham Frost ( #333).
What could go wrong?

ON THIS DAY - 28th SeptemberIn 1957, ERIC SMITH ( #82-pictured) had a dream start to the season and earned a spot on the...
28/09/2026

ON THIS DAY - 28th September
In 1957, ERIC SMITH ( #82-pictured) had a dream start to the season and earned a spot on the "Best Performance In A Match" list. On the first day of the A Grade game v de la Salle College, he took 6-80 and then opened the batting and was 76 not out as Waratahs limped to 7-147 by stumps. Despite adding 98 for the first wicket with Alan Gray ( #26), things unravelled quickly after the introduction of introduction of Mark McCann's leg spin. Things deteriorated further and quickly on the second day after Smith was run out at the bowlers end after J French ( #69) drove a ball back at the bowler, deflecting from a desperate boot, onto the stumps. Vic Snell ( #9) grabbed the first three wickets to create some hope and Smith worked his was through the middle order for a match return of 10-136, but DLSC held on long enough to prevent Waratahs from turning the tables for the outright. It was one of three matches in which Smith took ten or more wickets for the game.
WARATAHS v DLSC - A Grade, 21st & 28th September, 1957
DLSC 210 (R Hough 45, P Black 26, Brother Brendan 25, A Quinn 23, Brother Leander 20. Eric Smith 6-80, Neil McDonald 3-44) and 172 (Brother Leander 59, G Jackson 29. Eric Smith 4-56, Vic Snell 3-49) defeated Waratahs 172 (Eric Smith 81, Alan Gray 48. Mark McCann 7-48) and 4-38.

In 1963, there were mixed fortunes. DICK RUSSELL ( #132) completed his best match for Waratahs, taking 4-28 in Churches improved second innings to finish with 12-57 for the match. B Grade won the match outright by 9 wickets. To cap off his performance, Russell was second top score in Waratahs first innings, with an unusual journey into double figures!
WARATAHS v CHURCHES - B Grade, 21st & 28th September 1963
Churches 71 (Dick Russell 8-29) and 147 (Dick Russell 4-28, Greg Russell 3-34) lost outright to Waratahs 187 (Stuart Stanley 75, Dick Russell 33) and 1-35.

ON THIS DAY - 27th SeptemberIn 1958, defending only a moderate total which was propped up by Ron Marshall's ( #73) middl...
28/09/2026

ON THIS DAY - 27th September
In 1958, defending only a moderate total which was propped up by Ron Marshall's ( #73) middle order half century, B Grade lost the first innings points to de la Salle by 8 wickets. With the school batting on, TONY MORRIS ( #78) bowled all but three overs from one end and raised the dreaded bowling ton. JOHN McINTYRE ( #99-pictured) got cheap wickets at the end to grab a Pfeiffer and wicketkeeper GEOFF WHITTON ( #85) held three catches in the innings.
WARATAHS v DLSC - B Grade, 20th & 27th September 1958
Waratahs 142 (Ron Marshall 50, Bruce McClenaghan 21x. B Turvey 5-50) and 1-7, lost to DLSC 266 (P Dodds 66. John McIntyre 5-70, Tony Morriss 3-114)

In 1969, after GREG RUSSELL's ( #131) first day hundred, COL MARSHAL ( #102) bowled a 29 over spell to secure the win for A-Res Grade, taking 7-74, including an unusual hat trick ... the last three wickets to fall, just as University looked like they might hold out for a draw.
WARATAHS v UNIVERSITY - A-Res Grade, 20th & 27th September 1969
Waratahs 222 (Greg Russell 112, Bob Brennan 33, R Frith 29) defeated University 167 (Col Marshall 7-74, including the hat trick)

ON THIS DAY - 26th SeptemberIn 1964, ALAN GRAY ( #26) led A Grade to an outstanding victory over Easts Cricket Club Armi...
26/09/2026

ON THIS DAY - 26th September
In 1964, ALAN GRAY ( #26) led A Grade to an outstanding victory over Easts Cricket Club Armidale. Chasing 193, and opening the batting with newly promoted teenager Geoff Marshall ( #156), he was the rock of the innings, out only once Waratahs had secured the win.
EASTS v WARATAHS - A Grade, 19th & 26th September 1964
Easts 193 (Jim Reid 52, D Little 41, P Trott 36. Brian Roberts 4-27) lost to Waratahs 5-245 (Alan Gray 92, Eric Smith 49, John Failes 27x, Brian Roberts 24, Geoff Marshall 23) by 52 runs.

ON THIS DAY - 25th September* In 1954, DOUG JOHNSTONE ( #47) held three catches for A Grade as Wests, led by half centur...
25/09/2026

ON THIS DAY - 25th September
* In 1954, DOUG JOHNSTONE ( #47) held three catches for A Grade as Wests, led by half centuries from N Joubert and Wally Miller, as they made 210 after being 2-11. Laurie Cooper ( #2) took an early wicket before breaking down, which cost Waratahs dearly. Vic Snell ( #9) grabbed three wickets at the end, snuffing out the tail. The second day was dismal, as Waratahs batting collapsed giving the new club - originally part of Easts Cricket Club Armidale, victory by 150 runs.
WARATAHS v WESTS - A Grade, 25th September & 2nd October 1954
Wests 210 (N Joubert 66x, Wally Miller 54. Vic Snell 4-70) defeated Waratahs 60 (Beau Richardson 20)

* In 1965, A-Res Grade opener DICK CHISHOLM ( #141) scored 104, a maiden hundred and BRIAN BARRETT ( #117) made his highest ever score, as they added a grade record 6th wicket partnership of 136 on the second day and steered Waratahs to victory chasing down University's substantial first innings.
WARATAHS v UNIVERSITY - A-Res Grade, 18th & 25th September 1965
University 252 (R Walker 62. Col Marshall 3-62) lost to Waratahs 269 (Dick Chisholm 104, Brian Barrett 48)

* In 1976, a Waratahs legend, GRAHAM FROST ( #333) made 26 on debut for B Grade v Centrals. It was the first game of 18 seasons and 4,781 runs made across every grade in the Club but dominated by 2,974 runs in 1st Grade. Only three players have scored more hundreds and no one has made more 90's. Along with Tim Muldoon ( #296), he holds the record for the highest batting partnership of all time, 293 unbeaten for the second wicket, batting for all but two overs of the afternoon at Lambert Park for 1st Grade v Hillgrove. There were 8 century partnership in all, two with each of the Rogers: Sattler ( #378) and Roan ( #176). Frosty had great hands in the outfield, with 81 of his catches made there and a further 50 behind the stumps. Despite hating wicketkeeping, he's the only keeper in the Club's history to twice take five catches in an innings. We'd love to wax lyrical about his bowling too but even our imagination doesn't extend that far! A great clubman and a champion bloke. Onya Poucher!

Birthday shout out to Rick Porter ( #903), Easts legend and Tahs member. Forget Viv … this guy was the Master Blaster. A...
24/09/2026

Birthday shout out to Rick Porter ( #903), Easts legend and Tahs member. Forget Viv … this guy was the Master Blaster. A day with Rick back in the sheds was a day body and soul was left unbattered by those booming drives and murderous hooks. Many Waratahs finals hopes lay flayed about this bloke’s feet … despite the fact he was good mate! Happy birthday Big Yin!

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