Seven clubs represented in Group 16 final

Cooma and Bombala will headline the matches for the first time in 33 years, says Group 16 chairman Allan Wilton. 

“The last time the Stallions and Bombala played each other in the grand final was in 1984,” Wilton said. 

“The Stallions won 12-9.”

For either club, the premiership will be the first in more than 20 years with the last for the Stallions in 1994 over the Bega Roosters, while the Blue Heelers also stole the crown from the Roosters in 1991. 

Wilton said the grand final will provide fans one of the most diverse Group trophy rounds in more than a decade with the Roosters, Eden Tigers and Moruya Sharks dominating the top honours over the last 10 years. 

“Seeing Cooma and Bombala in this year is generating a lot of fresh interest,” he said. 

“Cooma has gone through undefeated, including three defeats of the Blue Heelers, but the margin has not been more than eight points.”

Bombala’s Joe Bobbin was declared the Coach of the Year at the recent Group 16 annual awards, while Cooma boasts leading point-scorer Zac Smith and leading try-scorer Tim Knight. 

On the back of their success, the Stallions are also in the hunt for the coveted Clayton’s Cup, that was won by the Moruya Sharks last year. 

Wilton said if a Group 16 club could take it out for a second year running would be a real coup for the area. 

He is encouraging all rugby league fans to head along as it will be a phenomenal day of strong clashes. 

Reserve grade will be the minor premier Candelo-Bemboka Panthers taking on the Roosters in a local derby. 

The Roosters have been the only club to lower the flag of the Panthers after a near-undefeated year on the park. 

And there will be no love lost between these two sides in a physical contest. 

Meanwhile, earlier games will pit the undefeated Merimbula-Pambula 18s against the Bay Tigers.

The Bullpups will look to their hard working forwards to open up room for the flashy plays of fullback and Group 16 junior rep of the year Kyle Shepherdson. 

In league-tag the Moruya Sharkettes take on the Bombala High Heelers.

The league-tag is another close call where the two sides handed each other one loss apiece in the regular season and boast fast-structured attack.  

Matches run at the Bega Recreation Ground from 9.30am on Sunday.