By Tallon Smith

The Darlington Point-Coleambally Roosters have taken home the 2024 Group 20 First Grade Minor Premiership with a 30-26 win over the Griffith Black and Whites at Coleambally on Saturday.

The Roosters’ win, coupled with Yenda’s 30-18 loss to the Waratahs meant that the tricolours took home another piece of silverware as they chase their first title in five years when finals begin this coming weekend.

Roosters Coach Guy Thompson said that the Minor Premiership is a testament to the next man up mentality the squad has had during a tough season on the injury front.

“[It’s] pretty big considering the amount of injuries we’ve had during the year, that’s for sure,” he said.

“If you’d asked me five weeks ago where you think would finish on the ladder, I wouldn’t have said even in top three, just with the amount of injuries, especially season ending injuries.

“Credit goes to our Reggie boys who keep turning up week in, week out.

“We [also] had a couple of late season signings with a couple of boys from Ivanhoe and Wilcannia that have been playing and holding the fort while these boys were out, so all the credit goes to those guys, really.”

As for their opponents on Saturday, Thompson said that the Black and Whites brought their a-game, and are a genuine title threat within the competition in his opinion.

“Black and Whites look a danger side, I reckon they could knock anyone off at any point in time,” he said.

“They’re due to string a couple of wins together so coming into the semis, I think they’re going to be hard to beat if they can get their full strength team back on the paddock.”

The DPC club celebrated its 50 year anniversary on the weekend, with a function post-match at the Coleambally Club including speeches and live music from former player Peter Smith.

Thompson gave credit to the old boys in attendance for helping the team to overcome the adversity regarding injuries and missing personnel and lifting the team’s spirits on their charge to victory.

“I think without the big occasion the Old Boys Day and the 50th anniversary we wouldn’t have come home in the end.” 

In other results across the final weekend of regular season action, Waratahs scored an aforementioned 30-18 win over Yenda, Leeton comprehensively beat West Wyalong 34-6 and Hay held their nerve for a close win over Yanco-Wamoon in their Reserve Grade only clash.

Meanwhile, in Reserves DPC fell to the Black and Whites 16-14, which gave TLU a finals berth with the two points from their bye, while other results saw West Wyalong forfeit to Leeton and Waratahs defeat Yenda.

Finals begin for all grades this weekend, with First Grade seeing Leeton take on the Black and Whites in an Elimination clash on Saturday, while Yenda and Waratahs will again play in the Qualifying Final on Sunday.

As Minor Premiers, DPC will enjoy a bye through to the Major Semi Final where they will face the winner of Yenda and Waratahs for a spot in the Grand Final, to be held on September 15 in Griffith.