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Group 20 finals - who's still alive and who's celebrating Mad Monday

Back Country Bulletin

Krista Schade

07 September 2025, 9:14 AM

Group 20 finals - who's still alive and who's celebrating Mad Monday

The weather played havoc with the first week of the Group 20 finals series.

On Saturday, at Hay Park's number one oval, the sun beat down on a couple of hotly contested results, while wind and blustery winds in Griffith on Sunday caused numerous errors and backwards travelling kicks.


Five elimination finals were played at Hay on Saturday, in warm spring conditions.

The under 16s match came to a disappointing end when on field scuffles continued in the crowd, but it was Yenda who took the win, ending Narrandera's season.

An undermanned West Wyalong under 18s side was unable to match the man power of Yenda, bowing out of the season, as the Blueheelers progressed.

In an upset, Hay Magpies league tag side went down to Tullibigeal Lakes United Sharks, in a rare loss on their home ground.

The reserve grade final between Leeton and Yenda went into extra time - the scores were locked at 6-all at half-time and 16-all at the final siren.

At the end of the first five minutes of extra time the score remained unchanged, until Leeton's Charlie Watson scored his second try of the day, to steal the win.

In first grade Hay and Yanco fought out a punishing match, locking scores at 10-all at half-time. Both sides scored in the second half, with Hay pulling ahead and defending the narrow two-point lead until the final siren blew.

"It was a scrappy game," Hay coach Chris Stewart said. "We definitely didn't play our best, but we win ugly, which is pleasing."

The Hay win sends Yanco into their second Mad Monday, after the club celebrated early last week.

The weather turned for the games played at Exies Oval on Sunday.

TLU defeated Black & Whites in the under 16s, before Black & White under 18s played out a solid 36-point win over Waratahs.

West Wyalong accounted for Black & Whites in the league tag match, before the breeze picked up.

By the time the reserve grade game kicked off the blustery winds saw many bombing kicks blow backwards.

In the grinding match Darlington Point narrowly defeated Waratahs in challenging conditions, holding on to their four-point lead.

The challenges for first grade players continued - the wind dropped but the rain started, resulting in numerous handling errors by both sides.

Griffith Waratahs were able to handle the conditions best, leading Leeton 24-nil at half-time.

Fatigue set in for the home side waratahs in the second half, as Leeton's game improved, but it was too little, too late and they conceded the game by 12.


BCB Team of the Weekend:

Kudos to the under 18s side from West Wyalong who stood up and travelled to Hay Park with 12 players, knowing full well they would face a full strength Waratah Tigers outfit.

The young Malleemen side performed strongly in their match, and should be proud of the effort they put in.

It would have been easier to forfeit the game when injuries struck, but instead the dozen stood shoulder to shoulder and chose to play the final to the best of their ability.

With attitudes like that, the BCB team hopes to see them all on the paddock agon next season.



Results - Elimination finals held Saturday at Hay Park Oval

First grade: Hay 20 defeated Yanco 18

Reserve grade: Leeton 20 defeated Yenda 16 (extra time)

League tag: TLU 13 defeated Hay 6

Under 18s: Yenda 30 defeated West Wyalong 6

Under 16s: Yenda 24 defeated Narrandera 6


Results - Qualifying finals - Exies Oval, Griffith

First grade: Waratahs 30 defeated Leeton 18

Women's tackle: Waratahs 12 defeated Yanco 10

Reserve grade: DPC 16 defeated Waratahs 12

Under 18s: Black & Whites 54 defeated Waratahs 18

Under 16s: TLU 36 defeated Black & Whites 20


Who plays where next weekend:

Saturday September 13 minor semi finals at Yanco Sportsground

Under 16s: Black & Whites v Yenda

Under 18s: Waratahs v Yenda

League tag: Black & Whites v TLU

Reserve grade: Leeton v Waratahs

First grade: Hay v Leeton

Sunday September 14 major semi finals at Darlington Point Sportsground

Under 16s: TLU v Leeton

Under 18s: Black & Whites v Leeton

League tag: Leeton v West Wyalong

Reserve grade: Hay v DPC

Women's tackle: Hay v Waratahs

First grade: DPC v Waratahs




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