Group 21 Rugby League

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 39 titles, and are considered one of the most successful country rugby league teams.

In 2006, the Greta-Branxton Colts joined the competition.

Teams Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia the 2020 season did not commence as originally scheduled and was cancelled in mid-June. 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. ClubNicknameHome GroundNo. of PremiershipsPremiership YearsFirst Grade Clubs AberdeenTigersMcKinnon Oval241897–1902, 1904, 1906, 1909, 1911, 1926–27, 1933–34, 1949, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991–93, 2001, 2010, 2017 DenmanDevilsDenman Oval111936, 1957, 1961–63, 1968, 1975, 1997, 2005, 2013, 2015 Greta-BranxtonColtsGreta Central Oval22009, 2014 Muswellbrook RamsOlympic Park161910, 1913, 1925, 1928, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1953, 1956, 1959–60, 1967, 1983–84, 2002, 2004 Scone ThoroughbredsScone Park391905, 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, 2022–24, 2026 SingletonGreyhoundsPirtek Park111947–48, 1971, 1973–74, 1990, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2025Reserve Grade Clubs MerriwaMagpiesMerriwa No.1 Oval21964–65 MurrurundiMavericksWilson Memorial Oval61903, 1914, 1920–21, 1923–24 QuirindiGrasshoppersLongfield Oval51929, 1977–78, 1980–81

Former teams Muswellbrook Sharks (merged with the Rams) Bunnan Bears (1990s, merged with Scone) Werris Creek Magpies (1980s, 2 premierships, Group 4) Raymond Terrace Magpies (entered competition in 2009, returned to NHRL after) Branxton (1 premiership) Army (Singleton Army base, 1940s, 1 premiership, also 1952–53 in 2nd Grade) Sandy Hollow (1946) Singleton St Patrick's (mid 1940s) Caroona (1990s) Lower Grades Budgewoi Buff Point Bulldogs (2009, Under 18s only, returned to NHRL) Bendemeer (1997, 2nd Division) Willow Tree (late 1920s, 2nd Grade) Wybong (mid 1930s, 2nd Grade) Moonan Flat (mid 1930s, 2nd Grade) Jerry's Plains (late 1930s & 1948, 2nd Grade)

Competition winners

First Grade Premiers SeasonGrand Final InformationMinor PremiersPremiersScoreRunners-upVenueReportCoach 1920 Murrurundi13–4 Aberdeen Scone 1921 Murrurundi10–5 Scone Aberdeen 1922 SconeNo Final Quirindi Quirindi 1923 MurrurundiNo Final 1924 MurrurundiNo Final 1925 Muswellbrook10–2 Scone Scone Park 1926 Aberdeen11–0 Scone 1927 Aberdeen32–2 Murrurundi Aberdeen 1928 MuswellbrookNo Final 1929 QuirindiNo Final 1930 Scone15–9 Muswellbrook Aberdeen SA Lewis Boyd Scone 1931 Scone13–9 Aberdeen Aberdeen Lewis Boyd Scone 1932 Scone16–8 Aberdeen Aberdeen Lewis Boyd Scone 1933 Aberdeen15–12 Scone Scone Park Jack Coote Scone 1934 Aberdeen27–5 Scone Muswellbrook R. Jeffree Aberdeen 1935 Muswellbrook18–13 Singleton Hill Street Ground; Muswellbrook Norman Forbes Muswellbrook 1936 Denman20–16 Muswellbrook Aberdeen George King Denman 1937 Muswellbrook28–5 Singleton Muswellbrook Roger Brennan Muswellbrook 1938 Scone25–3 Singleton Muswellbrook Roy Sneddon Scone 1939 Muswellbrook11–2 Aberdeen Muswellbrook 1940 Scone3–2 Aberdeen Town Park; Scone Scone 1944Branxton8–4St Pats Singleton 1945Army I.17–10St Pats Singleton St. Patrick's Ground Jack ChaddArmy I. 1946St.Pats Singleton7–5 Scone St. Patrick's Ground William GeddesSt.Pats Singleton 1947 Singleton3–0 Muswellbrook Alan Reading Muswellbrook 1948 Singleton8–8 Aberdeen William Geddes Singleton 1949 Aberdeen28–2 Singleton Aberdeen W. Woodward Aberdeen 1950 Scone30–0 Muswellbrook Scone Bruce Shepherd Scone 1951 Scone10–4 Muswellbrook Aberdeen Bob Watson Scone 1952 Scone10–2 Singleton Aberdeen Bob Watson Scone 1953 Muswellbrook14–2 Singleton Aberdeen Nev. Hogan Singleton 1954 Scone22–7 Muswellbrook Howe Park; Singleton Harry Melville Scone 1955 Scone19–7 Muswellbrook Scone 1956 Muswellbrook7–5 Denman 1957 Denman13–6 Muswellbrook 1958 Scone13–3 Singleton 1959 Muswellbrook26–6 Singleton 1960 Muswellbrook13–5 Merriwa 1961 Denman7–2 Merriwa Merriwa 1962 Denman6–2 Merriwa 1963 Denman20–13 Singleton Olympic Park; Muswellbrook 1964 Merriwa8–5 Denman Olympic Park; Muswellbrook 1965 Merriwa23–7 Denman Olympic Park; Muswellbrook 1966 Scone12–5 Merriwa Scone Park 1967 Muswellbrook6–5 Merriwa Scone Park 1968 Denman5–2 Scone Olympic Park; Muswellbrook 1969 Scone14–2 Singleton Don "Bandy" Adams 1970 Scone19–3 Singleton 1971 Singleton29–11 Denman Pat Kelly 1972 Scone21–9 Singleton Olympic Park; Muswellbrook 1973 Singleton17–10 Scone 1974 Singleton22–17 Scone Pat Kelly Muswellbrook 1975 Denman19–13 Muswellbrook Denman Sports Ground J. McDonald 1976 Scone16–11 Quirindi Quirindi Quirindi 1977 Quirindi13–6 Singleton 1978 Quirindi30–12 Scone Bill Monie 1979 Scone13–12 Muswellbrook Scone Park Les Cleal Scone 1980 Quirindi29–10 Singleton Brian Purtell 1981 Quirindi18–11 Muswellbrook Olympic Park; Muswellbrook Brian Purtell 1982 Werris Creek16–13 Muswellbrook Taylor Oval; Werris Creek 1983 Muswellbrook32–22 Scone Olympic Park; Muswellbrook Arthur Earl 1984 Muswellbrook13–12 Denman Arthur Earl 1985 Aberdeen4–2 Muswellbrook Harrison Oval Aberdeen Wayne Smith 1986 Werris Creek24–15 Aberdeen Werris Creek Mark Gallienne 1987 Aberdeen24–12 Muswellbrook Olympic Park; Muswellbrook Chris Cumming Muswellbrook 1988 Scone13–12 Singleton Scone Park Les Cleal Singleton 1989 Aberdeen21–20 Singleton Singleton Showground Chris Cumming 1990 Singleton22–16 Aberdeen Singleton Showground Richard Jones Singleton 1991 Aberdeen14–13 Muswellbrook Olympic Park; Muswellbrook Troy Logan 1992 Aberdeen22–12 Muswellbrook McKinnon Field; Aberdeen Troy Logan 1993 Aberdeen14–12 Muswellbrook McKinnon Field; Aberdeen Jason Hoogerwerf 1994 Scone30–18 Aberdeen McKinnon Field; Aberdeen Darryl Rando 1995 Scone20–8 Singleton Darryl Rando 1996 Scone27–14 Singleton Darryl Rando 1997 Denman34–16 Muswellbrook Denman Oval Ben Daniels 1998 Scone40–2 Denman Daryl Rando 1999 Scone36–10 Quirindi Darryl Rando 2000 Scone12–2 Aberdeen McKinnon Field; Aberdeen Karne Gleeson Scone 2001 Aberdeen38–26 Muswellbrook McKinnon Field; Aberdeen Mark Feeney 2002 Muswellbrook32–8 Scone Olympic Park; Muswellbrook Barry Edwards 2003 Scone46–10 Aberdeen Scone Park Scott Pennell Scone 2004 Muswellbrook34–22 Scone Olympic Park; Muswellbrook Barry Edwards Scone 2005 Denman28–14 Singleton Denman Oval Scott Donnelly Denman 2006 Scone26–6 Singleton Scone Park John Johnson Singleton 2007 Singleton30–14 Aberdeen Singleton Showground Mark Newman Singleton 2008 Singleton36–10 Greta-Branxton Resco Park; Singleton Mark Newman Singleton 2009 Greta-Branxton22–16 Singleton Greta Oval Matt Lantry Singleton 2010 Aberdeen26–24 Denman McKinnon Field; Aberdeen Mark Wilton Scone 2011 Singleton26–4 Scone Scone Park Russell Richards Singleton 2012 Singleton26–6 Muswellbrook Resco Park; Singleton Mark Newman Denman 2013 Denman20–4 Greta-Branxton Denman Oval Dean Amos Greta-Branxton 2014 Greta-Branxton18–16 Denman Greta Oval Ron Griffiths Scone 2015 Denman24–20 Scone Scone Park Paul Gallagher Scone 2016 Scone16–14 Muswellbrook Olympic Park; Muswellbrook Daniel Ritter Scone 2017 Aberdeen36–26 Muswellbrook Daniel Hoogerwerf and Shane Hasselmann Muswellbrook 2018 Scone10–6 Aberdeen McKinnon Field; Aberdeen Aaron Watts Aberdeen 2019 Scone40–6 Aberdeen Scone Park Aaron Watts Scone2020 and 2021 seasons cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic2022 Scone42–6 DenmanScone ParkAdam Clydsdale Scone2023 Scone30–28 Greta-BranxtonGreta OvalBlake Johnston Greta-Branxton2024 Scone18–10 Greta-Branxton2025 Singleton28–22 Greta-BranxtonPirtek Park; SingletonKerrod Holland Greta-Branxton2026 Scone22-20 SingletonScone ParkMitch Garbutt Singleton

Rugby Union 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..

SeasonPremiersScoreRunners-upVenueReportMinor Premier 1897 Aberdeen 1898 Aberdeen16–0 Muswellbrook Scone MC 1899 AberdeenNo Final MC 1900 Aberdeen3–0 Murrurundi Muswellbrook SA 1901 Aberdeen 1902 Aberdeen16–0 Murrurundi Scone SA 1903 Murrurundi14–0 Aberdeen Scone SA 1904 AberdeenNo Final SA 1905 Scone Murrurundi SA 1906 AberdeenNo Final SA 1907 SconeNo Final SA 1908 Scone3–0 Aberdeen Muswellbrook Showground SA 1909 Aberdeen6–0 Muswellbrook Aberdeen SA 1910 Muswellbrook MC 1911 Aberdeen 1912 Scone SA 1913 Muswellbrook MC 1914 SconeForfeit Muswellbrook Muswellbrook 1919 Murrurundi8–0 Muswellbrook Scone Park MC

Title Tally Club Premiership TallyYears League1920–2019, 2022– Union1897–1914, 1919 Totals UnionLeague First Grade Clubs Aberdeen Tigers 14 10 24 1897–1902, 1904, 1906, 1909, 19111926–27, 1933–34, 1949, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991–93, 2001, 2010, 2017 Denman Devils 11 0 11 None1936, 1957, 1961–63, 1968, 1975, 1997, 2005, 2013, 2015 Greta-Branxton Colts 2 0 2 None2009, 2014 Muswellbrook Rams 14 2 16 1910, 19131925, 1928, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1953, 1956, 1959–60, 1967, 1983–84, 2002, 2004 Scone Thoroughbreds 34 5 39 1905, 1907–08, 1912, 19141922, 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, 2022-24, 2026 Singleton Greyhounds 11 0 10 None1947–48, 1971, 1973–74, 1990, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2025 Lower Grade Clubs Murrurundi Mavericks 4 2 6 1903, 19141920–21, 1923–24 Merriwa Magpies 2 0 2 None1964–65

Junior League The following clubs field teams in Group 21 Junior Competitions:

Aberdeen Tigers Denman Devils Merriwa Magpies Muswellbrook Rams Scone Thoroughbreds Singleton Greyhounds

Group 21 Rugby League

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