GROUP 4 doubled up at Saturday’s Greater Northern Rugby League Championships in Scone, winning the Jim Sharpe Cup for the senior men plus the Greater Northern Championship Shield for the ladies league tag.
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Both teams went through unbeaten, the women winning their games against Group 21 (14-4) and Group 19 (14-12) while the senior men beat Group 21 38-14 and then drew 26-all with Group 19 who were beaten 38-18 in the final game.
Group 19 had success in the Under 18s, winning a third successive Brazier Shield with a 26-22 win over Group 4 and 22-14 victory over Group 21.
The Hunter Valley Group 21 did have success too when its Under 16s won the John O’Halloran Shield after beating Group 4 14-6 and Group 19 36-6.
Greater Northern regional manager Scott Bone was delighted with a big day of championships which also doubled as selection trials for Greater Northern Tiger sides to contest Country Championships in Bathurst and Muswellbrook.
“It was a great day,”Bone said.
“The weather was good to us and the grounds in great shape.
“It is a great venue down there (at Scone Park) with the rugby ground just across the road.
“We were delighted with the help we received from the Scone Rugby Club.
“They let us use their clubhouse for a welfare session with the 16s.
“It was good to see the two clubs work in so well together down there.”
Bone said Group 4 had something of a flying start against a “flat” Group 21 side.
“Group 4 did play well to win 38-14.
“Matt Nean was outstanding and looked like he was getting better with every game.
“Scotty Blanch also had a big game as well as Trent Hilton.
“Against Group 19 they were down 10-nil too but were able to get back to 20-16 at half-time.
“The second half became a dour struggle but they were able to draw.”
That was enough to earn the Lachie Cameron-captained side a win under the good coaching of Gunnedah’s Wayne Griffiths.
Group 19 coach Darryl Rando now takes the Greater Northern Tiger reins for their opening Country Championship match against Western Rams at Bathurst’s Carrington Park on May 30.
Bone said their first training run would likely be at Werris Creek tomorrow week.
Peter Stevens will coach the GN Tiger Under 18s and he has set out training sessions at Jack Woolaston Oval for the next four Friday nights.
Garry Jones will coach the Under 16s who, like the 18s, will play their Country Championship opening round and semi-finals at Muswellbrook’s Olympic park on the June long weekend.
