ON THIS DAY - 31st October
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | October 31, 2025
In 1953, BOB HOWE (#36 - picture back row first on the left) had his best match figures (11-100) in a four innings match which swung this way and that for a grade against v dela Salle College. Waratahs made 154, with handy contributions from Alan Gray (#26), Howe and Beau Richardson (#6). Fred Skillicorn (#31) and Howe dominated the schoolboys who got to within 23 of Waratahs. Batting on the second day, Waratahs had lots of starts, with Howe again prominent with the bat. Set 165 to win, Howe picked up another six wickets to secure the win for Waratahs.
Waratahs v DLSC - A grade, 24th & 31st October 1953
In 1964, BRIAN ROBERTS (#114) and TERRY MACKENZIE (#54) complete a three week spell of bowling unchanged through three consecutive innings in A grade. Against Public Service they bowled unchanged through two innings (Mackenzie 7-80 and Roberts 11-80) and then on the first day against Uralla, they both took Pfeiffers as Uralla crumbled for 75. The sequence was only broken in Uralla's second innings when Geoff Marshall bowled three overs at first change after Mackenzie took a spell. Roberts also held 3 catches in Uralla's first innings.
Waratahs v Uralla - A grade, 31st October & 7th November 1964
P Newsome made his highest score for Waratahs, making 90 or B grade's 182 against TAS.
In 1970, GRAHAM JOHNSON (#207) and BRIAN CONNOLLY (#226) added 107 for the 4th wicket as A grade ran up quick runs against Bundarra on the first day before declaring after tea. Bundarra, 7-71 at stumps, never recovered and had lost outright twenty minutes before tea on the second day in a very one-sided affair. Waratahs victory by an innings and 104 runs was the third biggest victory in A/1st grade history.
Waratahs v Bundarra - A grade, 31st October & 7th November 1970
In 1981, 2nd let Ex Services off the hook on the first day after having them 5-60, only for them to make 207. GRAHAM PATTERSON (#246) held 4 catches behind the stumps. At 1-0 before stumps, a poor start got worse in the second over on day two. Starting their partnership at 2-10, Patto and VICTOR CREW (#399) put the game back in Waratahs grasp, adding 110 for the 3rd wicket. Those two old Ex Services champions Bruce Sewell and Frank Tanner then combined not to break the partnership but run through a non-existent batting line up which was hampered by being one short.
Waratahs v Ex Services - 2nd grade, 24th & 31st October 1981
In 1998, wicketkeeper DAVID DUNLOP (#757) held 3 catches for 4th grade v Hillgrove
