That is how Central West Rugby Union's chief executive officer Matt Tink described the decision to abandon its remaining competitions for the season due to the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown.

After consulting with every club involved, it was decided that the premierships in the Blowes Cup grades and Ferguson Cup would be awarded to the minor premiers of those respective competitions, while the New Holland Cup grades, North Cup and South West men's and women's titles have been awarded to the teams which won major semi-finals.

Tink said it was "a pretty hollow feeling" when the board made the announcement on Monday.

"It was a board decision, a number of various options were discussed at length and this is the decision we've reached," he said.

"It's probably not the most popular decision, but we feel that for the safety of our communities and our players, this was the right way to go.

"Various competitions were at various stages as well, to this point in time we have some groups of players who haven't played for four weeks."

The decision means that for the first time in their club's history, the Cowra Eagles are the Blowes Cup premiers. It is also the first piece of premiership silverware for their first XV since winning the 1990 South West Cup.

Orange Emus are the champions in second and third grade Blowes Cup and Orange City the winners of the colts title.

For the fifth consecutive season, the Bathurst Bulldogs women have been crowned premiers with the Jordan Bull coached outfit the Ferguson Cup victors having lost just once in 2021.

READ MORE: Cowra Eagles crowned 2021 premiers after COVID-19 forced finals cancellation

READ MORE: Central West Junior Rugby Union reveals its plan to try and complete season 2021

CSU misses its chance to win the New Holland Cup, with Parkes declared victors in first grade thanks to its major semi-final success. Second grade honours in that competition belong to Mudgee and Narromine wins the North Cup.

The Cootamundra men and Temora women are South West Cup champions.

"There were other options looked at, it was just felt that this was the way to go," Tink said of the way the premiers were decided.

"It was important that people did get rewarded and we share the disappointment with other clubs."

While Tink said it was one of the toughest decisions he's been involved with as a rugby union administrator, the likelihood of the regional lockdown extending beyond the current period due to end August 28 left few options.

Off the back of any lockdown period, the amount of time that players who then need to prepare would have made a return to play "very difficult."

"If lockdown was lifted on the 28^th, which we strongly doubt, we could be looking at six-seven weeks and then going by the return to play protocols from last season, people are only allowed to train in groups of five and that was non-contact training," Tink said.

"We had issues around crowds, barbecues, shared water bottles - all sorts of things. So you know, it's not the popular decision, but it's probably the courageous one.

"We did get play on last year, so we have a record of at least trying play, but at some point you've got to acknowledge the other things that are happening in the world."

Individual award winners for the various competitions will be announced in the coming days.

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