Cover Photo: Gunnedah Bulldogs Facebook
Tallon Smith
A dominant opening 51 minutes set up a drought-breaking win as Gunnedah defeated the Moree Boars 28-12 to take out its first Group 4 title since 1998 at Kitchener Park on Saturday.
The Bulldogs started fast with two tries in the opening 14 minutes of the game to Kurt Fisher and Cley Durrant to establish a 12-0 lead.
That grew to 18-0 heading into the sheds after Dylan Lake chipped and regathered the ball to score a remarkable solo try in the 38th minute.
Gunnedah then replicated its start to the first half in the second stanza, with Aidan Davis and Fisher each crossing within 11 minutes of the resumption to give the side a 28–0 lead.
Moree crossed twice in the final quarter of the match to add some respectability to the scoreboard, but in the end it was Gunnedah’s day, with the club ending a 28-year wait for a first grade title on its home turf.
Group 19: Uralla breaks 36-year drought with thrilling victory
An Alastair Connors field goal proved the difference as the Uralla Tigers ended a 36-year premiership drought against the Inverell Hawks at Woodville Oval on Saturday.
After both sides crossed for four tries, it was Connors’ boot which lifted the Tigers to their first title since 1990 on their home ground.
Group 21: Second half fightback sees Scone secure title
The Scone Thoroughbreds have extended their dominance as the most successful rugby league club in Australia with a record 38th title after coming from 10 points down to defeat Singleton 22-20 at Scone Park on Sunday.
After Daniel Ritter opened the scoring for the Thoroughbreds, the Greyhounds hit back with three tries to James Olds, Blake Layton and Blake Andrews to take a 16-6 lead into the sheds.
Scone replied on the other side of the break, with Blake Johnston the first to cross, before a left side shift saw Dan Smith level the scores at 16-all.
Singleton reclaimed the lead soon after to lead 20-16 with nine minutes remaining, but when Scone five-eighth Toby Brown charged towards the Greyhounds’ line and offloaded the ball to Charlie Smith, the Thoroughbreds found their matchwinner to seal a sixth title in the past seven completed seasons and end their opponents’ reign atop Group 21 after just one season.
Peter McDonald Premiership: Forbes completes fairytale with premiership win
After falling to Dubbo CYMS by a point last season, Forbes gained redemption in this year’s Peter McDonald Premiership decider with a 36-16 victory over Dubbo Macquarie on home soil at Spooner Oval on Sunday.
The Magpies ran in seven tries to three in the comprehensive display, with Jordan Hartwig crossing for a hat-trick and Chad Porter picking up a double, while Jack Hartwig and Brandon Paige also got their names on the scoresheet, with the latter opening the scoring.
A crowd of over 6000 people made its way through the gates for the clash, with Forbes contesting all four grades, defeating Mudgee in the reserves but falling to Orange CYMS and Bathurst Panthers in the league tag and under 18s respectively.
The Forbes first grade side’s victory honoured late Magpies hooker Hayden Bolam after his mid-season passing.
Group 16: Tathra downs Bega in epic golden point battle
Tathra has capped off its centenary season by claiming back-to-back titles for the first time since the club’s threepeat in 1951-52-53 with a 12-11 golden point victory over Bega in the grand final at the Bega Recreation Ground on Sunday.
After the Roosters struck early to take a 6-0 lead through Matt Wheatley, it took the Sea Eagles well into the second half to reply through Riley Shaw and level the game at 6-all.
The two sides then traded field goals to finish regular time locked at 7-all, upon which extra time followed.
Bega struck first through Rhys Djerke in overtime to take an 11-7 lead, only for Tathra to again reply through Zach Stevenson to level the game at 11-all.
That set up the moment which was to follow, with Tathra halfback Callum Bower-Scott kicking his second field goal of the match from 31 metres out to seal a remarkable win and maintain Tathra’s place on top of Group 16 for another year.
Tathra captain Tyran Stevenson said the side was aware of the magnitude of the triumph.
“We did touch on it leading up to it, about trying to create history and some memories with each other,” he said.
“The way it panned out was kind of surreal, and we had to defy the odds a couple of times there especially late, to get [ourselves] over the line.
“I think just speaking to people around the streets, people are still coming to terms with how it all ended up panning out, it’s been great for the town and the people as well.”
Group 2: Macksville flips script to down Woolgoolga
Macksville turned the tables on Woolgoolga after returning the favour for their qualifying final defeat with a 24-14 victory in the grand final at C.ex Coffs International Stadium on Sunday.
Despite a double to Gundagai product and Seahorses fullback Dane O’Hehir, the Sea Eagles proved too strong on the day, running out 10-point victors after scoring five tries to three.
The win breaks a 19-year premiership drought for Macksville, dating back to the side’s 2007 triumph over Orara Valley.
Newcastle: Souths end Maitland’s run in extra time thriller
Extra time was also required in the Newcastle Rugby League decider as South Newcastle ended Maitland’s four-year reign atop the competition with a heartstopping 18-16 victory at McDonald Jones Stadium.
After the two sides finished regulation time locked at 12-all, it was Ethan Fowles who put the Lions ahead 18-12 in the extra time period.
However, Maitland replied quickly, with a right side shit creating a chance for Gary Anderson to close the gap to two points.
That gave Brock Lamb the chance to level the game again, but his kick from the sideline sailed wide, leaving Souths with a nervous final 30 seconds to negotiate to claim their first title since 2018.
