Sport | Rugby league |
---|---|
Formerly known as | Upper Hunter Football Association |
Instituted | 1920 |
Inaugural season | 1897 (Union), 1920 (League) |
Number of teams | 8 (6 in First Grade) |
Country | Australia |
Premiers | Scone Thoroughbreds (2019) |
Most titles | Scone Thoroughbreds (36 titles) |
Website | Group 21 |
Broadcast partner |
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Group 21 Rugby League is a local rugby league competition, run under the control of the Country Rugby League. It covers the Upper Hunter area of New South Wales, and has three divisions, first grade, reserves and Under 18s. For sponsorship reasons, it is known as the Bengalla Group 21 Competition.
The Scone Thoroughbreds have won the most titles, winning 36 titles, and are considered one of the most successful country rugby league teams.
In 2006, the Greta-Branxton Colts joined the competition.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia the 2020 season did not commence as originally scheduled and was cancelled in mid-June. [1] The 2021 season was also cancelled mid-season.
Eight clubs contest the competition, with six teams competing in First Grade, seven in Reserve Grade, five in Ladies League Tag and four in Under 18s as of 2023.
Club | Nickname | Home Ground | No. of Premierships | Premiership Years |
---|---|---|---|---|
First Grade Clubs | ||||
Aberdeen | Tigers | McKinnon Oval | 24 | 1897–1902, 1904, 1906, 1909, 1911, 1926–27, 1933–34, 1949, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991–93, 2001, 2010, 2017 |
Denman | Devils | Denman Oval | 11 | 1936, 1957, 1961–63, 1968, 1975, 1997, 2005, 2013, 2015 |
Greta-Branxton | Colts | Greta Central Oval | 2 | 2009, 2014 |
Muswellbrook | Rams | Olympic Park | 16 | 1910, 1913, 1925, 1928, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1953, 1956, 1959–60, 1967, 1983–84, 2002, 2004 |
Scone | Thoroughbreds | Scone Park | 36 | 1905, 1907–08, 1912, 1914, 1922, 1930–32, 1938, 1940, 1950–52, 1954–55, 1958, 1966, 1969–70, 1972, 1976, 1979, 1988, 1994–96, 1998–2000, 2003, 2006, 2016, 2018–19, 2022 |
Singleton | Greyhounds | Pirtek Park | 10 | 1947–48, 1971, 1973–74, 1990, 2007–08, 2011–12 |
Lower Grade Clubs | ||||
Merriwa | Magpies | Merriwa No.1 Oval | 2 | 1964–65 |
Murrurundi | Mavericks | Wilson Memorial Oval | 6 | 1903, 1914, 1920–21, 1923–24 |
Lower Grades
Season | Grand Final Information | Minor Premiers | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Venue | Report | Coach | ||
1920 | Murrurundi | 13–4 | Aberdeen | Scone | [2] | ||
1921 | Murrurundi | 10–5 | Scone | Aberdeen | [3] | ||
1922 | Scone | No Final | Quirindi | Quirindi | [4] | ||
1923 | Murrurundi | No Final | |||||
1924 | Murrurundi | No Final | [5] | ||||
1925 | Muswellbrook | 10–2 | Scone | Scone Park | [6] | ||
1926 | Aberdeen | 11–0 | Scone | [7] | |||
1927 | Aberdeen | 32–2 | Murrurundi | Aberdeen | |||
1928 | Muswellbrook | No Final | [8] | ||||
1929 | Quirindi | No Final | [9] | ||||
1930 | Scone | 15–9 | Muswellbrook | Aberdeen | SA [10] | Lewis Boyd | Scone |
1931 | Scone | 13–9 | Aberdeen | Aberdeen | [11] [12] | Lewis Boyd | Scone |
1932 | Scone | 16–8 | Aberdeen | Aberdeen | [13] | Lewis Boyd | Scone |
1933 | Aberdeen | 15–12 | Scone | Scone Park | [14] [15] | Jack Coote | Scone |
1934 | Aberdeen | 27–5 | Scone | Muswellbrook | [16] | R. Jeffree | Aberdeen |
1935 | Muswellbrook | 18–13 | Singleton | Hill Street Ground; Muswellbrook | [17] | Norman Forbes | Muswellbrook |
1936 | Denman | 20–16 | Muswellbrook | Aberdeen | [18] | George King | Denman |
1937 | Muswellbrook | 28–5 | Singleton | Muswellbrook | [19] | Roger Brennan | Muswellbrook |
1938 | Scone | 25–3 | Singleton | Muswellbrook | [20] | Roy Sneddon | Scone |
1939 | Muswellbrook | 11–2 | Aberdeen | [21] | Muswellbrook | ||
1940 | Scone | 3–2 | Aberdeen | Town Park; Scone | [22] | Scone | |
1944 | Branxton | 8–4 | St Pats Singleton | [23] | |||
1945 | Army I. | 17–10 | St Pats Singleton | St. Patrick's Ground | [24] | Jack Chadd | Army I. |
1946 | St.Pats Singleton | 7–5 | Scone | St. Patrick's Ground | [25] | William Geddes | St.Pats Singleton |
1947 | Singleton | 3–0 | Muswellbrook | [26] | Alan Reading | Muswellbrook | |
1948 | Singleton | 8–8 | Aberdeen | [27] | William Geddes | Singleton | |
1949 | Aberdeen | 28–2 | Singleton | Aberdeen | [28] | W. Woodward | Aberdeen |
1950 | Scone | 30–0 | Muswellbrook | Scone | [29] | Bruce Shepherd | Scone |
1951 | Scone | 10–4 | Muswellbrook | Aberdeen | [30] | Bob Watson | Scone |
1952 | Scone | 10–2 | Singleton | Aberdeen | [31] | Bob Watson | Scone |
1953 | Muswellbrook | 14–2 | Singleton | Aberdeen | [32] | Nev. Hogan | Singleton |
1954 | Scone | 22–7 | Muswellbrook | Howe Park; Singleton | [33] | Harry Melville | Scone |
1955 | Scone | 19–7 | Muswellbrook | Scone | |||
1956 | Muswellbrook | 7–5 | Denman | ||||
1957 | Denman | 13–6 | Muswellbrook | ||||
1958 | Scone | 13–3 | Singleton | ||||
1959 | Muswellbrook | 26–6 | Singleton | ||||
1960 | Muswellbrook | 13–5 | Merriwa | ||||
1961 | Denman | 7–2 | Merriwa | Merriwa | |||
1962 | Denman | 6–2 | Merriwa | ||||
1963 | Denman | 20–13 | Singleton | Olympic Park; Muswellbrook | |||
1964 | Merriwa | 8–5 | Denman | Olympic Park; Muswellbrook | |||
1965 | Merriwa | 23–7 | Denman | Olympic Park; Muswellbrook | |||
1966 | Scone | 12–5 | Merriwa | Scone Park | |||
1967 | Muswellbrook | 6–5 | Merriwa | Scone Park | |||
1968 | Denman | 5–2 | Scone | Olympic Park; Muswellbrook | |||
1969 | Scone | 14–2 | Singleton | Don Adams | |||
1970 | Scone | 19–3 | Singleton | ||||
1971 | Singleton | 29–11 | Denman | Pat Kelly | |||
1972 | Scone | 21–9 | Singleton | Olympic Park; Muswellbrook | |||
1973 | Singleton | 17–10 | Scone | ||||
1974 | Singleton | 22–17 | Scone | Pat Kelly | Muswellbrook | ||
1975 | Denman | 19–13 | Muswellbrook | Denman Sports Ground | J. McDonald | ||
1976 | Scone | 16–11 | Quirindi | Quirindi | Quirindi | ||
1977 | Quirindi | 13–6 | Singleton | ||||
1978 | Quirindi | 30–12 | Scone | Bill Monie | |||
1979 | Scone | 13–12 | Muswellbrook | Scone Park | Les Cleal | Scone | |
1980 | Quirindi | 29–10 | Singleton | Brian Purtell | |||
1981 | Quirindi | 18–11 | Muswellbrook | Olympic Park; Muswellbrook | Brian Purtell | ||
1982 | Werris Creek | 16–13 | Muswellbrook | Taylor Oval; Werris Creek | |||
1983 | Muswellbrook | 32–22 | Scone | Olympic Park; Muswellbrook | Arthur Earl | ||
1984 | Muswellbrook | 13–12 | Denman | Arthur Earl | |||
1985 | Aberdeen | 4–2 | Muswellbrook | Harrison Oval Aberdeen | [34] | Wayne Smith | |
1986 | Werris Creek | 24–15 | Aberdeen | Werris Creek | Mark Gallienne | ||
1987 | Aberdeen | 24–12 | Muswellbrook | Olympic Park; Muswellbrook | Chris Cumming | Muswellbrook | |
1988 | Scone | 13–12 | Singleton | Scone Park | Les Cleal | Singleton | |
1989 | Aberdeen | 21–20 | Singleton | Singleton Showground | Chris Cumming | ||
1990 | Singleton | 22–16 | Aberdeen | Singleton Showground | Richard Jones | Singleton | |
1991 | Aberdeen | 14–13 | Singleton | Olympic Park; Muswellbrook | [35] | Troy Logan | |
1992 | Aberdeen | 22–12 | Muswellbrook | McKinnon Field; Aberdeen | Troy Logan | ||
1993 | Aberdeen | 14–12 | Muswellbrook | McKinnon Field; Aberdeen | Jason Hoogerwerf | ||
1994 | Scone | 30–18 | Aberdeen | McKinnon Field; Aberdeen | [36] | Darryl Rando | |
1995 | Scone | 20–8 | Singleton | Darryl Rando | |||
1996 | Scone | 27–14 | Singleton | Darryl Rando | |||
1997 | Denman | 34–16 | Muswellbrook | Denman Oval | Ben Daniels | ||
1998 | Scone | 40–2 | Denman | Daryl Rando | |||
1999 | Scone | 36–10 | Quirindi | Darryl Rando | |||
2000 | Scone | 12–2 | Aberdeen | McKinnon Field; Aberdeen | Karne Gleeson | Scone | |
2001 | Aberdeen | 38–26 | Muswellbrook | McKinnon Field; Aberdeen | Mark Feeney | ||
2002 | Muswellbrook | 32–8 | Scone | Olympic Park; Muswellbrook | Barry Edwards | ||
2003 | Scone | 46–10 | Aberdeen | Scone Park | Scott Pennell | Scone | |
2004 | Muswellbrook | 34–22 | Scone | Olympic Park; Muswellbrook | [37] | Barry Edwards | Scone |
2005 | Denman | 28–14 | Singleton | Denman Oval | [38] [39] | Scott Donnelly | Denman |
2006 | Scone | 26–6 | Singleton | Scone Park | John Johnson | Singleton | |
2007 | Singleton | 30–14 | Aberdeen | Singleton Showground | [40] | Mark Newman | Singleton |
2008 | Singleton | 36–10 | Greta-Branxton | Resco Park; Singleton | [41] | Mark Newman | Singleton |
2009 | Greta-Branxton | 22–16 | Singleton | Greta Oval | [42] | Matt Lantry | Singleton |
2010 | Aberdeen | 26–24 | Denman | McKinnon Field; Aberdeen | [43] | Mark Wilton | Scone |
2011 | Singleton | 26–4 | Scone | Scone Park | [44] | Russell Richards | Singleton |
2012 | Singleton | 26–6 | Muswellbrook | Resco Park; Singleton | [45] | Mark Newman | Denman |
2013 | Denman | 20–4 | Greta-Branxton | Denman Oval | [46] | Dean Amos | Greta-Branxton |
2014 | Greta-Branxton | 18–16 | Denman | Greta Oval | [47] | Ron Griffiths | Scone |
2015 | Denman | 24–20 ^ | Scone | Scone Park | [48] | Paul Gallagher | Scone |
2016 | Scone | 16–14 | Muswellbrook | Olympic Park; Muswellbrook | [49] [50] | Daniel Ritter | Scone |
2017 | Aberdeen | 36–26 | Muswellbrook | [51] [52] | Daniel Hoogerwerf and Shane Hasselmann | Muswellbrook | |
2018 | Scone | 10–6 | Aberdeen | McKinnon Field; Aberdeen | [53] [54] | Aaron Watts | Aberdeen |
2019 | Scone | 40–6 | Aberdeen | Scone Park | Aaron Watts | Scone | |
2020 and 2021 seasons cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||||||
2022 | Scone | 42–6 | Denman | Scone Park | Adam Clydsdale | Scone | |
2023 | Scone | 30–28 | Greta-Branxton | Greta Oval | [55] | Blake Johnston | Greta-Branxton |
A Rugby Union competition ran in the Upper Hunter from 1897 to 1914, and in 1919, as a direct predecessor to the Rugby League competition. Aberdeen, Muswellbrook, Scone and in some years Murrurundi participated. In the early stages Finals appear to be held only when the top two teams were equal on points at the conclusion of the round-robin matches. Union matches were played during the World War One, in the seasons 1915 to 1918, on an irregular and social basis. Singleton played in competitions centred in Maitland..
Season | Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Venue | Report | Minor Premier |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1897 | Aberdeen | |||||
1898 | Aberdeen | 16–0 | Muswellbrook | Scone | MC [56] | |
1899 | Aberdeen | No Final | MC [57] | |||
1900 | Aberdeen | 3–0 | Murrurundi | Muswellbrook | SA [58] | |
1901 | Aberdeen | |||||
1902 | Aberdeen | 16–0 | Murrurundi | Scone | SA [59] | |
1903 | Murrurundi | 14–0 | Aberdeen | Scone | SA [60] | |
1904 | Aberdeen | No Final | SA [61] | |||
1905 | Scone | Murrurundi | SA [62] | |||
1906 | Aberdeen | No Final | SA [63] | |||
1907 | Scone | No Final | SA [64] | |||
1908 | Scone | 3–0 | Aberdeen | Muswellbrook Showground | SA [65] | |
1909 | Aberdeen | 6–0 | Muswellbrook | Aberdeen | SA [66] | |
1910 | Muswellbrook | MC [67] | ||||
1911 | Aberdeen | |||||
1912 | Scone | SA [68] | ||||
1913 | Muswellbrook | MC [69] | ||||
1914 | Scone | Forfeit | Muswellbrook | Muswellbrook | ||
1919 | Murrurundi | 8–0 | Muswellbrook | Scone Park | MC [70] |
Club | Premiership Tally | Years | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
League 1920–2019, 2022– | Union 1897–1914, 1919 | Totals | Union | League | |
First Grade Clubs | |||||
Aberdeen Tigers | 14 | 10 | 24 | 1897–1902, 1904, 1906, 1909, 1911 | 1926–27, 1933–34, 1949, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991–93, 2001, 2010, 2017 |
Denman Devils | 11 | 0 | 11 | None | 1936, 1957, 1961–63, 1968, 1975, 1997, 2005, 2013, 2015 |
Greta-Branxton Colts | 2 | 0 | 2 | None | 2009, 2014 |
Muswellbrook Rams | 14 | 2 | 16 | 1910, 1913 | 1925, 1928, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1953, 1956, 1959–60, 1967, 1983–84, 2002, 2004 |
Scone Thoroughbreds | 31 | 5 | 36 | 1905, 1907–08, 1912, 1914 | 1922, 1930–32, 1938, 1940, 1950–52, 1954–55, 1958, 1966, 1969–70, 1972, 1976, 1979, 1988, 1994–96, 1998–2000, 2003, 2006, 2016, 2018-19, 2022 |
Singleton Greyhounds | 10 | 0 | 10 | None | 1947–48, 1971, 1973–74, 1990, 2007–08, 2011–12 |
Lower Grade Clubs | |||||
Murrurundi Mavericks | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1903, 1914 | 1920–21, 1923–24 |
Merriwa Magpies | 2 | 0 | 2 | None | 1964–65 |
The following clubs field teams in Group 21 Junior Competitions:
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