The 1970s was arguably a golden period of rugby league in Group 10.
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The decade that was started with the then formidable Oberon Tigers claiming the first two titles of the decade, which was a string of three consecutive titles, while it ended with Bathurst Charlestons claiming their first and only first grade premiership.
Of the 13 teams that competed in Group 10 during the 1970s, all but two played at least one match in the finals, with six different teams winning the premiership.
Breaking down the decade that was, it's hard to settle who was the most successful team.
Across the course of 978 games in 10 years, Mudgee Dragons had the best win rate, winning 35 of their 44 games for a win rate of 79.55 per cent.
They won the minor premiership in 1978 and 1979, however, the club failed to win the premiership or even qualify for the grand final, being bowed out of the finals in straight sets in consecutive years.
The club had played in Group 14, before the Dragons made their debut in Group 10 in 1978.
Cowra Magpies won 127 of their 206 games in 10 seasons, for a win rate of 61.65 per cent, which made them the club with the most wins during the 1970s.
The Magpies played in five title-deciders during the 1970s and won two minor premierships, however, the club only managed the one premiership in 1978.
In terms of the premiership, the most successful clubs of the decade were Bathurst Railway and Oberon Tigers, who both won three grand finals, Railway winning in 1972, 1974 and 1976, while the Tigers won in 1970, 1971 and 1975.
That 1975 Group 10 premiership win for Oberon - a 17-4 win over Orange Ex-Services - remains the last grand final win for the Tigers and it was their last appearance in the big dance until 2017.
There were also a few teams that have come and gone.
Portland Colts left the competition at the end of 1974 after winning just 27 games in 91 matches from 1970 to 1974. However, the Colts did manage to qualify for the finals in 1971, falling one game short of the grand final.
Kandos played just one season in 1975, winning just one game and drawing another, while suffering 18 losses.
Two teams also endured a winless season: Orange CYMS in 1976 and Lithgow Shamrocks in 1979.
Shammies didn't qualify for the finals at all during the 1970s, but they would soon be on the rise, going on to win three Group 10 premierships in 1982, 1984 and 1985.
Bathurst Charlestons
- RESULTS: 191 played, 69 won, 9 drawn, 113 lost, 3491 points for, 4492 points against
- FINALS: 1977 (minor semi-final), 1979 (premiers)
- SEASONS: 1970-1979
- BIGGEST SCORE: 66-21 versus Portland (1973)
Bathurst Railway
- RESULTS: 201 played, 107 won, 12 drawn, 82 lost, 3507 points for, 3230 points against
- FINALS: 1972 (premiers), 1973 (preliminary), 1974 (premiers), 1976 (premiers), 1978 (minor semi)
- SEASONS: 1970-1979
- BIGGEST SCORE: 62-13 versus Charlestons (1972)
Bathurst St Patrick's
- RESULTS: 193 played, 112 won, 8 drawn, 73 lost, 3812 points for, 3072 points against
- FINALS: 1973 (premiers), 1974 (preliminary), 1976 (minor semi)
- SEASONS: 1970-1979
- BIGGEST SCORE: 65-34 versus Ex-Services (1971)
Blayney Bears
- RESULTS: 121 played, 62 won, 5 drawn, 54 lost, 2381 points for, 2085 points against
- FINALS: 1975 (preliminary), 1977 (premiers)
- SEASONS: 1974-1979
- BIGGEST SCORE: 64-6 versus CYMS (1976)
Cowra Magpies
- RESULTS: 206 played, 127 won, 9 drawn, 70 lost, 4290 points for, 2802 points against
- FINALS: 1970 (runners-up), 1971 (runners-up), 1972 (minor semi), 1974 (minor semi), 1975 (minor semi), 1977 (runners-up), 1978 (premiers), 1979 (runners-up)
- SEASONS: 1970-1979
- BIGGEST SCORE: 68-0 versus Railway (1971)
Kandos Waratahs
- RESULTS: 20 played, 1 won, 1 drawn, 18 lost, 190 points for, 841 points against
- FINALS: NA
- SEASONS: 1975
- BIGGEST SCORE: 25-12 versus CYMS (1975)
Lithgow Shamrocks
- RESULTS: 187 played, 45 won, 3 drawn, 139 lost, 2441 points for, 433NA
- 2 points against
- FINALS: N/A
- SEASONS: 1970-1979
- BIGGEST SCORE: 46-17 versus Kandos (1975)
Lithgow Workmen's Club
- RESULTS: 197 played, 118 won, 2 drawn, 77 lost, 3955 points for, 3029 points against
- FINALS: 1970 (preliminary), 1972 (runners-up), 1976 (runners-up), 1977 (preliminary), 1978 (runners-up)
- SEASONS: 1970-1979
- BIGGEST SCORE: 82-3 versus Kandos (1975)
Mudgee Dragons
- RESULTS: 44 played, 35 won, 1 drawn, 8 lost, 1158 points for, 545 points against
- FINALS: 1978 (preliminary), 1979 (preliminary)
- SEASONS: 1978-1979
- BIGGEST SCORE: 72-0 versus Charlestons (1978)
Oberon Tigers
- RESULTS: 196 played, 102 won, 6 drawn, 88 lost, 3459 points for, 2924 points against
- FINALS: 1970 (premiers), 1971 (premiers), 1975 (premiers), 1976 (preliminary)
- SEASONS: 1970-1979
- BIGGEST SCORE: 80-5 versus Kandos (1975)
Orange CYMS
- RESULTS: 191 played, 64 won, 8 drawn, 119 lost, 2842 points for, 4114 points against
- FINALS: 1970 (minor semi), 1973 (minor semi), 1979 (minor semi)
- SEASONS: 1970-1979
- BIGGEST SCORE: 54-32 against Charlestons (1973)
Orange Ex-Services
- RESULTS: 198 played, 113 won, 5 drawn, 80 lost, 3958 points for, 3170 points against
- FINALS: 1971 (minor semi), 1972 (preliminary), 1973 (runners-up), 1974 (runners-up), 1975 (runners-up)
- SEASONS: 1970-1979
- BIGGEST SCORE: 76-4 versus Portland (1972)
Portland Colts
- RESULTS: 93 played, 28 won, 3 drawn, 62 lost, 1296 points for, 2144 points against
- FINALS: 1971 (preliminary)
- SEASONS: 1970-1974
- BIGGEST SCORE: 43-8 versus Bathurst (1971)
The 1970s grand final results in summary:
- 1970: Oberon Tigers 7-6 Cowra Magpies
- 1971: Oberon Tigers 12-5 Cowra Magpies
- 1972: Bathurst Railway 14-5 Lithgow Workmen's Club
- 1973: Bathurst St Pat's 20-14 Orange Ex-Services
- 1974: Bathurst Railway 12-11 Orange Ex-Services
- 1975: Oberon Tigers 17-4 Orange Ex-Services
- 1976: Bathurst Railway 21-14 Lithgow Workmen's Club
- 1977: Blayney Bears 7-6 Cowra Magpies
- 1978: Cowra Magpies 12-9 Lithgow Workmen's Club
- 1979: Bathurst Charlestons 11-9 Cowra Magpies
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