# 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 36 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.
| 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 |
| Reserve Grade Clubs |||||
| Merriwa | Magpies | Merriwa No.1 Oval | 2 | 1964–65 |
| Murrurundi | Mavericks | Wilson Memorial Oval | 6 | 1903, 1914, 1920–21, 1923–24 |
| Quirindi | Grasshoppers | Longfield Oval | 5 | 1929, 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

| Season | Grand Final Information | Grand Final Information | Grand Final Information | Grand Final Information | Grand Final Information | Grand Final Information | Minor Premiers |
| Season | Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Venue | Report | Coach | Minor Premiers |
| 1920 | Murrurundi | 13–4 | Aberdeen | Scone | | | |
| 1921 | Murrurundi | 10–5 | Scone | Aberdeen | | | |
| 1922 | Scone | No Final | Quirindi | Quirindi | | | |
| 1923 | Murrurundi | No Final | | | | | |
| 1924 | Murrurundi | No Final | | | | | |
| 1925 | Muswellbrook | 10–2 | Scone | Scone Park | | | |
| 1926 | Aberdeen | 11–0 | Scone | | | | |
| 1927 | Aberdeen | 32–2 | Murrurundi | | | | Aberdeen |
| 1928 | Muswellbrook | No Final | | | | | |
| 1929 | Quirindi | No Final | | | | | |
| 1930 | Scone | 15–9 | Muswellbrook | Aberdeen | SA | Lewis Boyd | Scone |
| 1931 | Scone | 13–9 | Aberdeen | Aberdeen | | Lewis Boyd | Scone |
| 1932 | Scone | 16–8 | Aberdeen | Aberdeen | | Lewis Boyd | Scone |
| 1933 | Aberdeen | 15–12 | Scone | Scone Park | | Jack Coote | Scone |
| 1934 | Aberdeen | 27–5 | Scone | Muswellbrook | | R. Jeffree | Aberdeen |
| 1935 | Muswellbrook | 18–13 | Singleton | Hill Street Ground; Muswellbrook | | Norman Forbes | Muswellbrook |
| 1936 | Denman | 20–16 | Muswellbrook | Aberdeen | | George King | Denman |
| 1937 | Muswellbrook | 28–5 | Singleton | Muswellbrook | | Roger Brennan | Muswellbrook |
| 1938 | Scone | 25–3 | Singleton | Muswellbrook | | Roy Sneddon | Scone |
| 1939 | Muswellbrook | 11–2 | Aberdeen | | | | Muswellbrook |
| 1940 | Scone | 3–2 | Aberdeen | Town Park; Scone | | | Scone |
| 1944 | Branxton | 8–4 | St Pats Singleton | | | | |
| 1945 | Army I. | 17–10 | St Pats Singleton | St. Patrick's Ground | | Jack Chadd | Army I. |
| 1946 | St.Pats Singleton | 7–5 | Scone | St. Patrick's Ground | | William Geddes | St.Pats Singleton |
| 1947 | Singleton | 3–0 | Muswellbrook | | | Alan Reading | Muswellbrook |
| 1948 | Singleton | 8–8 | Aberdeen | | | William Geddes | Singleton |
| 1949 | Aberdeen | 28–2 | Singleton | Aberdeen | | W. Woodward | Aberdeen |
| 1950 | Scone | 30–0 | Muswellbrook | Scone | | Bruce Shepherd | Scone |
| 1951 | Scone | 10–4 | Muswellbrook | Aberdeen | | Bob Watson | Scone |
| 1952 | Scone | 10–2 | Singleton | Aberdeen | | Bob Watson | Scone |
| 1953 | Muswellbrook | 14–2 | Singleton | Aberdeen | | Nev. Hogan | Singleton |
| 1954 | Scone | 22–7 | Muswellbrook | Howe Park; Singleton | | 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 "Bandy" 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 | | 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 | | 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 | | 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 | | Barry Edwards | Scone |
| 2005 | Denman | 28–14 | Singleton | Denman Oval | | Scott Donnelly | Denman |
| 2006 | Scone | 26–6 | Singleton | Scone Park | | John Johnson | Singleton |
| 2007 | Singleton | 30–14 | Aberdeen | Singleton Showground | | Mark Newman | Singleton |
| 2008 | Singleton | 36–10 | Greta-Branxton | Resco Park; Singleton | | Mark Newman | Singleton |
| 2009 | Greta-Branxton | 22–16 | Singleton | Greta Oval | | Matt Lantry | Singleton |
| 2010 | Aberdeen | 26–24 | Denman | McKinnon Field; Aberdeen | | Mark Wilton | Scone |
| 2011 | Singleton | 26–4 | Scone | Scone Park | | Russell Richards | Singleton |
| 2012 | Singleton | 26–6 | Muswellbrook | Resco Park; Singleton | | Mark Newman | Denman |
| 2013 | Denman | 20–4 | Greta-Branxton | Denman Oval | | Dean Amos | Greta-Branxton |
| 2014 | Greta-Branxton | 18–16 | Denman | Greta Oval | | Ron Griffiths | Scone |
| 2015 | Denman | 24–20^ | Scone | Scone Park | | Paul Gallagher | Scone |
| 2016 | Scone | 16–14 | Muswellbrook | Olympic Park; Muswellbrook | | Daniel Ritter | Scone |
| 2017 | Aberdeen | 36–26 | Muswellbrook | | | Daniel Hoogerwerf and Shane Hasselmann | Muswellbrook |
| 2018 | Scone | 10–6 | Aberdeen | McKinnon Field; Aberdeen | | 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 | | Blake Johnston | Greta-Branxton |

## 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..
| Season | Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Venue | Report |
| 1897 | Aberdeen | | | | |
| 1898 | Aberdeen | 16–0 | Muswellbrook | Scone | MC |
| 1899 | Aberdeen | No Final | | | MC |
| 1900 | Aberdeen | 3–0 | Murrurundi | Muswellbrook | SA |
| 1901 | Aberdeen | | | | |
| 1902 | Aberdeen | 16–0 | Murrurundi | Scone | SA |
| 1903 | Murrurundi | 14–0 | Aberdeen | Scone | SA |
| 1904 | Aberdeen | No Final | | | SA |
| 1905 | Scone | | Murrurundi | | SA |
| 1906 | Aberdeen | No Final | | | SA |
| 1907 | Scone | No Final | | | SA |
| 1908 | Scone | 3–0 | Aberdeen | Muswellbrook Showground | SA |
| 1909 | Aberdeen | 6–0 | Muswellbrook | Aberdeen | SA |
| 1910 | Muswellbrook | | | | MC |
| 1911 | Aberdeen | | | | |
| 1912 | Scone | | | | SA |
| 1913 | Muswellbrook | | | | MC |
| 1914 | Scone | Forfeit | Muswellbrook | Muswellbrook | |
| 1919 | Murrurundi | 8–0 | Muswellbrook | Scone Park | MC |

## Title Tally

| Club | Premiership Tally | Premiership Tally | Premiership Tally | Years | Years |
| Club | 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 |

## Junior League

The following clubs field teams in Group 21 Junior Competitions:
* Aberdeen Tigers
* Denman Devils
* Merriwa Magpies
* Muswellbrook Rams
* Scone Thoroughbreds
* Singleton Greyhounds