By Tallon Smith

Cover Photo: Scone lift the shield after their triumph last season

The Scone Thoroughbreds have etched their name into Bush Footy folklore after winning a remarkable fifth straight Group 21 Premiership after an 18-10 victory over Greta-Branxton on Sunday afternoon.

After being staring down the barrel of defeat at 10-0 down after 42 minutes, the Thoroughbreds ran in three tries to one, with Jackson Smith, Adam Clydsdale and Brady Roser crossing the line in a 22 minute stretch from the 49th to the 71st minute to seal victory for Scone and complete the remarkable feat.

The title is Scone’s 37th First Grade premiership, which is a record for any rugby league club in Australia, and remains 13 clear of the next best active club, Port Kembla on 24 (though they haven’t fielded a First Grade team since 2017), while Gerringong sits in third place with 21 titles in Group 7.

With North Tamworth’s streak of eight titles in a row coming to an end after the Bears missed the finals in Group 4 this season, Scone’s run of five is now the best active streak in New South Wales and is on par with Yeppoon’s five in a row in the Rockhampton competition in Queensland.

Other premiership winners over the weekend include Ballina (Northern Rivers), Queanbeyan (Canberra Rugby League), Moree Boars (Group 4), Mudgee Dragons (Peter McDonald Premiership), and the Wests Devils (Illawarra Rugby League).

You can read about all these Premierships under the ‘Latest News’ tab on our website.

The weekend’s scoreboard containing all First Grade matches played across regional NSW is below.

Scoreboard

Region 1: East Coast

Group 1/18 (Northern Rivers)

Grand Final: Ballina 16 defeated Bilambil 10

Group 3

Elimination Semi Final: Wingham 28 defeated Wauchope 18

Preliminary Semi Final: Macleay Valley 16 defeated Old Bar 12

Hastings League

Preliminary Final: Beechwood 26 defeated South West Rocks 6

Region 2: Greater Northern

Group 4

Grand Final: Moree Boars 40 defeated Boggabri 18

Group 19

Preliminary Final: Inverell 44 defeated Armidale 30

Group 21

Grand Final: Scone 18 defeated Greta-Branxton 10

Region 3: Bidgee

Group 8 (Canberra)

Grand Final: Queanbeyan Roos 18 defeated Queanbeyan Blues 10

Group 9

Major Semi: Young 26 defeated Temora 16

Minor Semi: Kangaroos 28 defeated Gundagai 20

Group 20

Preliminary Final: Griffith Black & Whites 22 defeated Yenda 20

Region 4: Greater Western

Group 10/11 (PMP)

Grand Final: Mudgee 46 defeated Parkes 16

Region 5: Greater Southern

Group 6

Preliminary Final: The Oaks 28 defeated Oakdale 12

Group 7

Preliminary Final: Shellharbour Sharks 34 defeated Albion Park-Oak Flats 10

Illawarra Division

Grand Final: Wests 31 defeated Thirroul 20

Region 6: Newcastle/CC

Central Coast

Preliminary Final: Erina 24 drew Woy Woy 24 (Erina advance as Minor Premiers)

Newcastle Division

Qualifying Final: Centrals 26 defeated Souths 10

Elimination Final: The Entrance 16 defeated Cessnock 6