HOCKEY
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THIS season their sole representative in the Bathurst hockey finals comes in the form of the first grade women, but the Waratah Hockey Club still boasts a handy record when it comes to the men’s competitions.
One of their big moments came in the 1977 Bathurst Men’s Hockey Association first grade decider when the red and blacks snapped a run of four consecutive Souths Colts premierships.
Season 2013 marks the 85th anniversary of the Waratah Hockey Club, an outfit which is the oldest continuous running hockey club in Bathurst.
Players and officials, both past and present, will celebrate that milestone on November 2 at the Panorama City Hotel, but in the lead-up the Western Advocate will bring you some highlights of their sporting history.
1977
Souths Colts started 1977 as the hot favourites for the premiership given they had won the four previous titles.
Once more Souths won their way through to the grand final, picking up the minor premiership along the way, but this time Waratahs stopped them from extending their dominance.
It took extra-time to decide a winner, but it was Waratahs who emerged as 3-2 victors.
While the underdog Waratahs side made a good start to the grand final, a shot from left inner Ron Windus going over the crossbar inside the first 10 minutes, Colts soon settled.
Three minutes out from the half-time break the defending premiers found the mark, Wayne Morgan’s effort too good for Waratahs goalkeeper Keith Haddon.
Shortly after the resumption Colts pushed out to a 2-0 lead as centre half Dale Campbell made an impressive run, beating five defenders before crossing into the circle for Clinton Jones to score.
If Waratahs were to stop the Colts juggernaut they needed to be the next to score. They were.
It was Robbie Baillie who got his side back into the match and then with just minutes left on the clock, Windus scored to make it level at 2-all.
Neither side was able to find the mark in the time remaining, meaning extra-time was required to find a premier.
A fortnight earlier in the major semi-final Colts had beaten Waratahs in extra-time to be the first team through to the grand final, but this time the fortunes were reversed.
Windus left Colts goalkeeper Brian Judge with no chance of making a save as he scored his second of the day and handed Waratahs the premiership. He was amongst the best for the red and blacks while centre half Trevor Rich, Bruce and John Willott and Bruce Wilkinson impressed as well.