ON THIS DAY - 7th October
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | October 07, 2024
In 1961, DON FOSTER (#155) did the hat trick for B grade v TAS taking 6-5 and 3-1 as TAS made 26 and 7-16.
Waratahs v TAS - B grade, 7th & 14th October 1961
In 1978, one of the most impactful men to play for Waratahs and who would have an indelible influence on the club's 1980's success and now the dormancy of the Tahs.
ANDREW DAVIS (#354) played his first game in a B grade team captained for the day by Alan Gray, literally walking in the footsteps of greatness. He was tailor-made for the leadership roles he took during the 1980's - the everywhere man, smoothing out the creases with good humour and common sense and a fierce dedication to the game, let alone the club. Loyalty and honour are convenient buzz words to some but they are blood in the veins of Davo and he instilled that in the juniors he nurtured and old men he re-engaged in the business of Waratahs. Others, like Bennett, cut and slashed and tore down the pretence. Davo smoothed the rebuild, keeping the builders on track, right beside them, often pointing to their plumbers crack. His top score of 89, whilst an unfair reflection of his service, he would point out was just one of those lessons cricket taught him. He made 2,021 runs, took 46 catches and took 35 wickets - each one counted and priceless but included were a Pfeifer and a hat trick. A Whites Night immortal, was there ever a successful social function after 1980 that didn't include Father Abraham? It was fitting and indeed just, that he would be the first leader of the reconstructed Phoenix which rose from Waratahs ashes, The Tahs.
In 1989, there must have been something in the water or the air, because that day just went off. In 2nd grade, the half devil GRAHAM FROST (#333), made his highest club score, 174 not out v St Peters. In 3rd grade, JAMES CAMPBELL (#382) made 142 not out and 2nd wicket batting partner MARK DYMOCK (#523) 101 not out as they added a grade record 205 unbeaten against a hapless St Peters. For Dymock, it was a run of form like no other, which would see four hundreds before Christmas and a return to 1st grade, with a Premiership no less. In the same game, the unfulfilled number four, PETER LANGSTON (#357) held 3 catches in St Peters innings. NORMAN SCHWARZ (#569) did likewise in the 4ths win over YCW.
Waratahs v St Peters - 2nd grade, 7th October & 14th October 1989
Waratahs v St Peters - 3rd grade, 7th October
In 1995, ANDREW WILLIS (#675) and DANIEL EVANS (#632) were issuing a clarion call for Waratahs to be reconsidered for 1st grade, adding 112 for the 1st wicket for 2nds v Norths. Willis, then the club president, went on to score 110 in the first round win.
