The Clayton Cup is a trophy that was awarded by the Country Rugby League to the NSW country rugby league team with the best overall record for that season. To be eligible, the team must win the highest level of competition in its region. Usually the winner of the Clayton Cup goes through the season undefeated. In late 2019, the Country Rugby League was absorbed by the New South Wales Rugby League.

The Cup was donated by Reub Clayton, an early rugby league administrator in country NSW.[1] The cup was first awarded in 1937 to West Tamworth. Since then, the Tweed Heads Seagulls, Grafton Ghosts, North Tamworth Bears and Cobar Roosters have been the most successful clubs, each winning the trophy three times.

Winners

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Year Club Group P W L D For Agst Pct Coach Report
1937   West Tamworth 4 22 22 0 0 MG[2]
1938   Nimmitabel 19 (Original) George King DL[3]
1939   Wagga Magpies 13 21 17 2 1 314 60 83.96% Eric Weissel DA[4]
1940   Henty 13 13 12 0 1 234 72 76.47% Brian Bourke DA[5]
No cup awarded for 1941-1945 seasons due to World War II
1946   Port Kembla Illawarra 18 16 0 2 412 196 67.76% Harry Nolan RLN [6]
1947   Bombala 19 (Original)
1948   Cootamundra 9 30 27 3 0 469 252 65.05% Bob Hobbs CH[7]
1949   Tumut 9 24 15 7 2 225 225 50.00% Jim Jeffrey TAT[8]
1950   Bathurst Railway 10 19 16 3 0 284 109 72.26% W 'Snow' Garlick NA[9]
1951   North Tamworth Bears 4 16 15 1 0 Vic Williams NMH[10]
1952   Gundagai 9 44 35 9 0 1074 501 68.19% Nev. Hand DA[11]
1953   Young 9 25 21 4 0 777 230 77.16% Ian Johnston NA[12]
1954   Orange CYMS 10 18 16 2 0 300 119 71.60% Mick Newland LM[13]
1955   Young (2) 9 33 30 3 0 1056 297 78.05% Leo Trevena YTC[14]
1956   Maitland Newcastle RLN [15]
1957   Temora 9 25 19 4 2 455 183 71.32% Tom Kirk
1958   Coonamble 14 20 19 0 1 311 81 79.34% Ray Hyde RLN [16]
1959   Dubbo Macquarie 11 18 17 1 0 472 118 80.00% Leo Nosworthy
1960   Goulburn Workers 8 Phil Jackson CT[17]
1961   Ballina 1 John Gillard RLN [18]
1962   Warialda 5 18 17 1 0 511 165 75.59% Jim Payne
1963   Tweed Heads Seagulls 18
1964   Oberon 10 18 16 2 0 427 66 86.61% Rolf Trudgett
1965   Tullibigeal 17
1966   Picton Magpies 6 14 12 1 1 172 63 73.19% Billy Peel
1967   Casino RSM 1 18 18 0 0 480 126 79.21% Terry O'Brien RLN [19]
1968   Darlington Point 17 21 20 1 0 864 79 91.62% Bill Watson RLN [20]
1969   Tarcutta 13 14 12 2 0 362 84 81.17% A. Hills CT[21]
1970   Delegate 19 (Original) 14 14 0 0 388 118 76.68% Paul Clear BT[22]
1971   Cobar 15 16 13 1 2 521 218 70.50% Brian Lawrence
1972   Cobar (2) 15 17 16 1 0 567 239 70.35% Brian Lawrence RLN[23]
1973   Gunnedah 4 16 15 1 0 427 122 77.78% Roger Buttenshaw
1974   Queanbeyan United 8 17 17 0 0 499 116 81.14% Don Furner CT[24]
1975   Albury Blues 13 18 17 1 0 680 219 75.64% CT[25]
1976   Bombala (2) 16 22 21 1 0 653 179 78.49% B. Laurence CT[26]
1977   Belconnen United 19 (Canberra) 17 16 1 0 406 106 79.30% Bob Belford CT[27]
1978   Sawtell 2 20 20 0 0 461 152 75.20% Les Cleal CT[28]
1979   Scone 21 14 14 0 0 428 152 73.79% Les Cleal
1980   Narwan 19 16 16 0 0 563 Eric Kelly CT[29]
1981   Bellingen 2 18 18 0 0 504 97 83.86% R Taylor
1982   Warilla 7 20 18 1 1 552 171 76.35% Col O'Rourke
1983   Tweed Heads Seagulls (2) 18 16 15 1 0 432 119 78.40% John Harvey
1984   Bourke 15 15 15 0 0 606 166 78.50% Tony Bock
1985   Tumbarumba 13 16 16 0 0 770 111 87.40% Les Cleal
1986   Tumbarumba (2) 13 16 16 0 0 639 91 87.53% Les Cleal
1987   Lismore Marist Brothers 1 18 17 0 1 481 196 71.05% Denis Meaney
1988   Bega Roosters 16 16 16 0 0 630 138 82.03% Lloyd Martin
1989   Tweed Heads Seagulls (3) 18 17 16 1 0 558 155 78.26% John Harvey
1990   Singleton 21 23 22 0 1 855 263 76.48% Richard Jones
1991   Mittagong Lions 6 22 21 1 0 803 204 79.74% Graeme Andrews CT[30]
1992   Western Suburbs Newcastle 20 20 0 0 630 248 71.75% Neil Baker
1993   Rankins Springs 17 16 15 1 0 494 190 72.22% Stuart Vearing
1994   Forster Tuncurry Hawks 3 14 14 0 0 Dennis Tutty
1995   Forster Tuncurry Hawks (2) 3 19 19 0 0 Dennis Tutty
1996   Werris Creek 4 16 0 857 272 75.91% Ron Dellar
1997   Eden 16 17 17 0 0 Chris Brennan
1998   Cobar (3) 11 18 18 0 1 Scott Mieni
1999   Barellan 17
2000   Taree City 3 17 16 1 0 776 293 72.59% Terry McCartney
2001   Port Macquarie Sharks 2 20 19 0 1
2002   Barellan (2) 17 12 11 1 0 394 175 69.24% Clint Halden
2003   Narooma 16 14 14 0 0 David Boyle
2004   Temora (2) 9 19 19 0 0 964 218 81.56% Chris Brennan
2005   Umina Beach Central Coast 20 19 1 0 770 242 76.09% Nathan Johnson
2006   Hillston Bluebirds 17 12 12 0 0 450 148 75.25% Steve Parr TAN[31]
2007   Albion Park-Oak Flats 7 16 16 0 0 606 270 69.18% Jade Lucas & Shane Sainsbury
2008   The Entrance Tigers Central Coast 0 0 Gavin Westwood
2009   Yenda 20 18 16 2 0 Andrew Lavaka RLW[32]
2010   Grafton Ghosts Northern Rivers 18 18 0 0 807 206 79.66% Col Speed DM[33]
2011   Grafton Ghosts (2) Northern Rivers 18 16 1 1 566 237 70.49% Col Speed DE[34]
2012   East Campbelltown Eagles 6 18 18 0 0 Richard Barnes CA[35]
2013   Wauchope Blues 3 14 14 0 0 552 196 73.80% Robbie Trembath WG[36]
2014   North Tamworth Bears (2) 4 17 17 0 0 1061 263 80.14% Brad McManus NDL[37]
2015   Port Macquarie Sharks (2) 3 14 13 1 0 484 197 71.07% Matt Shipway
2016   Moruya Sharks 16 16 16 0 0 754 228 76.78% Tim Weyman TB[38]
2017   Grafton Ghosts (3) 2 18 18 0 0 852 158 84.36% Danny Wicks DE[39]
2018   Tweed Coast Raiders Northern Rivers 21 18 2 1 604 236 71.90% Brent Kite TDN[40]
2019   North Tamworth Bears (3) 4 14 14 0 0 700 164 81.02% Scott Blanch NDL[41]
No cup awarded for the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022   Scone Thoroughbreds (2) 21 14 14 0 0 750 148 80.27% Adam Clydsdale NSWRL[42]

Sources

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Years Item Via
1937 to 1954 Various Newspapers Trove
1937 to 1973 Rugby League News Trove
1960 to 1991 Canberra Times Trove
1967–69, 1971–1996 Country Rugby League Annual Report State Library of NSW
2003 to 2014 Rugby League Week eResources at State Library of NSW
2010 to 2019 Various Newspaper Websites As referenced
2015 to 2019 Group Rugby League past seasons SportsTG websites - No longer available

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "THE "CLAYTON" CUP". The Rugby League News. 18 (10 (June 5, 1937)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-669264730. Retrieved 10 April 2020 – via Trove.
  2. ^ "Country Champions". Mudgee Guardian and Gulgong Advertiser. Mudgee: National Library of Australia. 25 October 1937. p. 7. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Rugby League". Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate. Dubbo: National Library of Australia. 24 November 1938. p. 2. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Football - Rugby League - Clayton Cup - Placed Teams' Records". The Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga). Wagga: National Library of Australia. 23 October 1939. p. 6. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Football - Clayton Cup - Awarded to Henty Club". The Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga). Wagga: National Library of Australia. 9 November 1940. p. 8. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  6. ^ "The Rugby League World". The Rugby League News. 45 (20 (June 27, 28, 1964)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-642048955. Retrieved 10 April 2020 – via Trove.
  7. ^ "Cootamundra Wins Clayton Football Cup". Cootamundra Herald. Cootamundra: National Library of Australia. 11 October 1948. p. 4. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Clayton Cup". Tumut and Adelong Times and Batlow District News. Tumut: National Library of Australia. 11 October 1949. p. 3. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Rugby League - Clayton Cup Award". The National Advocate. Bathurst: National Library of Australia. 4 October 1950. p. 3. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Clayton R.L Cup to North Tamworth". The National Advocate. Bathurst: National Library of Australia. 29 October 1951. p. 4. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  11. ^ "Gundagai best R.L. team in Country". The Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga). Wagga: National Library of Australia. 6 October 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  12. ^ "Conference of Groups". The National Advocate. Bathurst: National Library of Australia. 5 October 1953. p. 2. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Honor For Orange C.Y.M.S." Lithgow Mercury. Lithgow: National Library of Australia. 2 December 1954. p. 7. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  14. ^ "Sporting Round-Up". Yass Tribune-Courier. Yass: National Library of Australia. 13 October 1955. p. 8. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  15. ^ "The Rugby League World". The Rugby League News. 38 (1 (April 6, 1957)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-756087338. Retrieved 10 April 2020 – via Trove.
  16. ^ "The Rugby League World". The Rugby League News. 39 (31 (January 1959)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-632927215. Retrieved 10 April 2020 – via Trove.
  17. ^ "New Rule on Country Transfers". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 8 November 1960. p. 24. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  18. ^ "The Rugby League World". The Rugby League News. 42 (27 (November 1961)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-768444629. Retrieved 10 April 2020 – via Trove.
  19. ^ "The Rugby League World". The Rugby League News. 49 (14 (April 27, 28, 1968)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-652604148. Retrieved 10 April 2020 – via Trove.
  20. ^ "Darlington Point gets cup". The Rugby League News. 49 (41 (November 1968)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-642352398. Retrieved 10 April 2020 – via Trove.
  21. ^ "Clayton RL Cup won by Tarcutta". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 27 October 1969. p. 12. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  22. ^ "Delegate Tigers Climax a Great Year by Being Awarded the Coveted Clayton Cup". Bombala Times. Bombala: State Library of NSW - Microfilm RAV. 30 October 1970.
  23. ^ "Cobar Creates a Record". The Rugby League News. 53 (38 (October 1972)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-782503189. Retrieved 10 April 2020 – via Trove.
  24. ^ "Queanbeyan Blues win league cup". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 14 October 1974. p. 14. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  25. ^ "Inter-city series". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 30 December 1975. p. 12. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  26. ^ "Clayton Cup to Bombala". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 8 October 1976. p. 36. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  27. ^ "Panthers win Clayton Cup". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 17 October 1977. p. 16. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  28. ^ "CRL award to Sawtell". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 1 October 1978. p. 20. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  29. ^ "Sport in Brief". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 23 October 1980. p. 28. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  30. ^ "Warriors keen on Ram roast". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 13 September 1991. p. 33. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  31. ^ Stratton, Michael (27 October 2006). "No surprises as Hillston gets top nod". The Area News. p. 37.
  32. ^ Logue, Matt. "Yenda Splendour". Rugby League Week (7/10/2009). Sydney: Bauer Media Group: 60.
  33. ^ "Grafton Ghosts' grand final victory". Daily Mercury. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  34. ^ Nichols, Gary (19 October 2011). "Col speeds off to new coaching gig". The Daily Examiner. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  35. ^ Cunningham, Sean (18 September 2012). "Undefeated Eagles win Group 6 rugby league grand final". Camden Advertiser. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  36. ^ "Blues defeat Pirates in Group 3 grand final". Wauchope Gazette. 19 September 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  37. ^ Newling, Geoff (23 September 2014). "North Tamworth Bears kings of country". The Northern Daily Leader. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  38. ^ "Sharks to celebrate Clayton Cup win on Mar 3rd". the beagle. 28 February 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  39. ^ "Guts and Glory Ghosts prevail in willing derby grand final". The Daily Examiner. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  40. ^ Vivian, Steve (9 September 2018). "Raiders conquer Ballina in historic NRRRL grand final win". Tweed Daily News. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  41. ^ Bode, Mark (7 September 2019). "2019 Group 4 first grade grand final - North Tamworth Bears down Kooty Roosters 40-4". Northern Daily Leader. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  42. ^ "Thoroughbreds win Clayton Cup for first time in 43 years". 3 November 2022.
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