ON THIS DAY - 6th October
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | October 06, 2025
In 1973, with B grade playing their second season since being reinstated into the Waratahs fold, they romped home in a one day match against the Armidale Teachers College. After J PATERSON (#282) and D RIDLEY (#245) rolled the trainee teachers for just 52, they combined to add an unbroken opening partnership of 124 before declaring and wrapping up an innings win!
Waratahs v ATC - B grade, 6th October 1973
ATC 52 (J Paterson Snr 3-5, D Ridley 3-5) and 33 (N Wells 3-2, D Muddle 3-6); lost to Waratahs 0-124 (D Ridley 64x, J Paterson Snr 53x)
In 1979, A-Res grade made 195 against St Peters, of which PETER LANGSTON (#357) made 95, adding 99 with Tony Bennett (#355) before his skipper was the subject of an unwarned Mankad by St Peters new player, Allan Donges. Langston, livid at the inadherence to protocol, attempted to lift the next ball over long on and lost his middle stump! Donges was caught at slip by Langston off Ian Nalson (#281) for a duck in St Peters reply.
In 1984, a new look Waratahs 3rd grade side, fielding 8 players on debut (most of them 15 or younger) after the retirement of the Vets players, was mauled by Churches and dismissed for just 25, the lowest team score ever in that grade. As new player Doug Menzies (#481) said that night over an ale, "my first game and I'm part of a record!".
In 1990, the legend TONY BENNETT (#355) took 7-107, as 3rd grade spent the day in the field to Ex Services. AJ became only the second player to concede 100 runs twice. He had three wickets as Ex Services tottered at 5-63 and took his last in his 25th over of Waratahs 60.
Waratahs v Ex Serives - 3rd grade, 6th & 13th October 1990
In 4th grade, ROSS RIDLEY (#8 - pictured) made a return to Waratahs ranks, 33 years after his last game in the Royal Baggy Blue. He and James Hillard (#592) steadied the ship after an early collapse and gave Waratahs what proved to be a winning total. On the second week, son Chris Ridley (#576) took a Pfeiffer in the win.
Waratahs v Ex Services - 4th grade, 6th & 13th October 1990
In 1995, ANDREW WILLIS (#675) and DANIEL EVANS (#632) added 112 opening for 2nd grade against Norths. Skipper Willis went on to make 110 before being the first man out in a hat trick which led to a declaration. Norths lost both oipeners before stumps and were restricted to less than three an over on the second day as they crawled to a 79 runs loss.
Waratahs v Norths - 2nd grade, 7th & 14th October 1995
