Cobar Rugby League’s 1971 and 1972 First Grade teams, who are possibly the most successful teams in the club’s history, will reunite this weekend.
According to Cobar author, John Collins, who wrote and compiled Cobar Rugby League Club’s history in The Crowing of the Roosters, “The 1971 grand final was the biggest day seen in Cobar Rugby league for many years, with three grades playing on their home ground.
“It hadn’t been done since 1955,” John wrote. He reports the Juniors won 17-8 over Walgett and Reserve Grade followed that up with a good 14-7 win, also against Walgett.
The Cobar First Grade side, which John reports had been depleted with injuries throughout the match, held on to overpower their Bourke opposition and win, 33-6.
Ray Hamilton was named the Man of the Match.
“Cobar’s stellar season and their win-loss record and points score meant they were the best team in the NSW Country Rugby League and therefore won the Clayton Cup—the first time for a club from Group 15,” John wrote.
Cobar’s success continued into the 1972 season where they won back-to-back premierships over Walgett when they beat them in the grand final, 29-12.
“In Cobar’s great season, they played 17 games, won 16 and lost one, scoring 567 points to 239.
“Their performance gave them the Clayton Cup for the second year in succession, becoming the first club to win it twice, as well as in succession,” according to John.
The Cobar club went on to win the Clayton Cup once again in 1998 and is one of only a couple of clubs in NSW who can lay claim to winning it three times.
There were plans for the 1971 and 1972 Cobar sides to have reunited last year however COVID restrictions meant the reunion had to be postponed until this year.
The Captain/Coach of the 1971 and 1972 teams, Brian Lawrence, along with quite a few of the team members from both years, will be in Cobar this weekend for a small get together.
