Bathurst Bulldogs returned to the Blowes Clothing Cup zenith this year but, by the numbers, Orange Emus' recent dominance rocketed them to the top of the standings when you consider the last decade as a whole, from 2010 to 2019.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bulldogs' title win brought another enthralling decade of Central West Rugby Union's top tier to a close the Bathurst side has been undoubtedly consistent through that period, but the greens reigned supreme after enjoying what can only be described as a recent dynasty.
In doing so, they were the best attacking and defensive side on several occasions, all that has combined to not just push them to the top of the 10-year ladder by a substantial margin, but also to the top in virtually every measurable statistic.
The greens finished 44 points clear of second-placed Bathurst Bulldogs by winning more games than any other side and losing fewer, claiming more bonus points as well and enjoying a points difference in completely different stratosphere to any other side.
But the deciding factor for the greens may not have been through those six years of dominance, but rather the years they weren't at the top of the standings but still stayed in touch anyway.
Bulldogs and Dubbo Kangaroos were the only two sides who didn't really drop off at any point, but even in the years Emus did they won enough games to make an impact in these stakes.
The best example was 2013, when the greens finished last but were just eight points adrift of the top five, they won five games that season and lost another seven by a converted try or less.
MORE IN RUGBY: Aisake will return to coach Bulldogs women in 2020
MORE IN RUGBY: Orange City hopes to lure back experienced heads
The greens' coach at the time, Andrew Logan, admitted his side deserved the wooden spoon but predicted they were on the verge of something special, the club is still in the midst of that something special now.
Bulldogs' 2019 premiership was enough to push them into second place on the 10-year ladder while Dubbo Kangaroos sealed third spot, incredibly, thanks to the sheer amount of bonus points they've claimed over the last decade.
Despite their woeful 2018 and 2019 seasons in which they've won just one game combined, Orange City still finished fourth on the 10-year ladder and were one of just three sides to win 100 games or more in that period, along with Emus and Bulldogs.
But the Kangaroos still pipped them by two points despite winning six less games. The Dubbo side claimed 26 more bonus points than the Lions, which pushed them into the top three. Forbes, the 2017 premiers, round out the hypothetical top five.
MORE IN RUGBY: McRobert takes over as Bathurst Bulldogs coach
MORE IN RUGBY: Whitfeld bags four tries in her World Sevens Series debut
Orange City's numbers were boosted by their back-to-back, undefeated titles in 2012 and 2013, while the Lions were consistently among the competition's best sides throughout the decade, until the last two seasons.
That finals frame isn't particularly surprising considering Emus, Bulldogs, Dubbo, Orange City and Forbes are five of the six sides that have played in the top tier for the entire decade, Cowra is the other and they finished sixth.
Sides like Narromine, CSU Bathust, Parkes, Mudgee and Dubbo Rhinos have all come and gone and are now playing in Central West's lower tiers, but during their time in the top tier they more than proved they can match it with the best.
Parkes, of course, claimed the 2011 premiership and Narromine featured in that grand final too, along with the previous year's. The Gorillas won the 2009 title too, which fell a year prior to the beginning of the last decade.
MORE IN RUGBY: McRobert takes over as Bathurst Bulldogs coach
MORE IN RUGBY: Reid is excited by what lies ahead for Bulldogs
BY THE NUMBERS: 2010-2019
1 | EMUS
- Premierships: 2015, 2016, 2018
- Played: 169
- Won: 119
- Lost: 46
- Drawn: 4
- Points difference: 2,947
- Bonus points: 120
- Points: 604
2 | BULLDOGS
- Premierships: 2010, 2019
- Played: 168
- Won: 111
- Lost: 54
- Drawn: 3
- Points difference: 2,349
- Bonus points: 112
- Points: 562
3 | DUBBO ROOS
- Premierships: 2014
- Played: 168
- Won: 97
- Lost: 66
- Drawn: 5
- Points difference: 1,650
- Bonus points: 112
- Points: 510
4 | ORANGE CITY
- Premierships: 2012, 2013
- Played: 168
- Won: 103
- Lost: 60
- Drawn: 5
- Points difference: 987
- Bonus points: 86
- Points: 508
5 | FORBES
- Premierships: 2017
- Played: 168
- Won: 81
- Lost: 85
- Drawn: 2
- Points difference: -220
- Bonus points: 89
- Points: 417
6 | COWRA
- Played: 168
- Won: 72
- Lost: 92
- Drawn: 4
- Points difference: -445
- Bonus points: 77
- Points: 373
7 | NARROMINE
- Played: 123
- Won: 56
- Lost: 65
- Drawn: 2
- Points difference: -316
- Bonus points: 56
- Points: 284
8 | PARKES
- Premierships: 2011
- Played: 139
- Won: 49
- Lost: 87
- Drawn: 3
- Points difference: -1,306
- Bonus points: 58
- Points: 260
9 | CSU BATHURST
- Played: 139
- Won: 45
- Lost: 91
- Drawn: 3
- Points difference: -1,555
- Bonus points: 50
- Points: 236
10 | MUDGEE
- Played: 68
- Won: 20
- Lost: 46
- Drawn: 2
- Points difference: -1,277
- Bonus points: 26
- Points: 110
11 | DUBBO RHINOS
- Played: 86
- Won: 11
- Lost: 74
- Drawn: 1
- Points difference: -2,892
- Bonus points: 20
- Points: 66