Group 6 Rugby League - Memorable Facts/ Unique Stories

Memorable Facts/ Unique Stories

• Opposition players in the deep colds of Robertson would quite often resort to drinking nips of rum pre-game to keep warm.
• Robertson's field is in fact on the private farm of the Hindmarshes.
• A Group 6 representative team coached by Ray Corkery defeated the French touring team 2–0 at Orana Park, Campbelltown in 1975 after a power outage caused the floodlights to fail.
• The New South Wales Department of Corrective Services allowed Berrima Gaol ('The Colts') to field a team in the Second Division competition from 1975–1979. Captain- coached by Ingleburn Bulldogs junior Kevin Holland, this real life team of 'Longest Yarders' claimed the 1975 & 1977 (undefeated) Second Division premierships. In an irony, this team was the best conditioned of any Group 6 team at the time living a professional athlete's life of strength training, cardio conditioning, ball sessions and a rigid, non- alcohol diet (except after matches apparently!) all at the expense of HMG. Berrima defeated Moss Vale 15–13 in the 1975 2nd Division decider and Macquarie Fields 22–11 in the 1977 decider. The Gaol fielded a team in the 1st Division Reserve Grade competition of 1976, qualifying for the preliminary final of that competition before succumbing 18–11 to eventual premiers Ingleburn Bulldogs RLFC.
• Group 6 fielded a 3rd Division competition for the only time in 1981 with Cross Roads Hotel defeating Minto Cobras 28–8 in the Grand Final.
• Picton in 1966 and Mittagong in 1991 are the only Group 6 teams to have won the Clayton Cup, awarded for being Country Rugby League's team of the year. Both teams won their Premierships with undefeated records.
• Picton were on track for a consecutive undefeated season and Clayton Cup in 1967 until defeated by John Cole's Mittagong team in a massive Grand Final boilover.
• Picton were on the winning side though in the 1985 Grand Final when they defeated Moss Vale 16–8 at Kirkham Park, Camden. This was only two weeks after being decimated 42–8 in the major semi by Mossy.
• The Picton vs East Campbelltown Eagles trial match played on 29 March 2009 was the first time a senior match has occurred between the Campbelltown & Group 6 clubs since 1983. This was also the first time that the Picton club had played at Orana Park/ Campbelltown Stadium since their 1983 minor semi final loss to The Oaks Tigers, captain- coach Ronnie Kain's last match.
• Ron Kain is Group 6's most successful ever player, playing in 7 Grand Final winning teams (Campbelltown City 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75 & Picton 81)
• No club has won 4 consecutive grand finals in Group 6. The closest teams to this feat were Campbelltown City in 1972 & 1976 and Picton in 1988. All 3 teams were bundled out in the preliminary final of those respective seasons.
• Campbelltown City in 1975 remain the only club to win all 3 Grades- U/18s, Reserve Grade & First Grade in the same year.
• Particularly sweet for City supporters and officials that day was the 40–0 defeat of their local rivals Campbelltown Collegians in the Reserve Grade Grand Final.
• After being wooden spooners in 1979, Campbelltown City claimed the 1980 premiership with a dominant season in which they lost only two games. They remain the only Group 6 side to have gone from last to first in one season. City defeated Picton in the GF of that year 25–9.
• Present Australian Kangaroos and Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens captained the Campbelltown City Kangaroos to the 1st Grade premiership in 1983 with a 24–6 defeat of The Oaks Tigers, C'town City's last match in Group 6.