NORTH TAMWORTH BEARS RESURGENCE AS A FORCE IN COUNTRY FOOTBALL RECEIVED FURTHER ENDORSEMENT WHEN THEY WON A NAIL BITER OVER ARCH RIVALS WEST TAMWORTH LIONS IN THE 2008 GROUP 4 GRAND FINAL AT JACK WOOLASTON OVAL,THE BEARS HOMEGROUND,8 POINTS TO 6.
IN A FAR FROM FAVOURABLE DAY,WITH WIND AND RAIN SPOILING THE PARTY,THE BEARS PREVAILED IN ONE OF THE TOUGHEST AND MOST CLOSELY CONTESTED GRAND FINALS IN THE GROUPS HISTORY.
NORTH TAMWORTH HAVE PLAYED IN 7 OF THE LAST 9 GRAND FINALS,WINNING 4 AND LOSING THREE WITH TWO OF THOSE LOSSES,2000 AND 2001,AGAINST WEST BUT NOW GO 3 TO 2 UP OVER THE LIONS WITH G.F. WINS IN THEIR CROSS TOWN TITLE CLASHES.
THE PLUM ,THIS YEAR,FOR THE MATT PARSONS COACHED BEARS,WAS THE EQUALLING OF AN ALMOST 40 YEAR OLD GROUP 4 RECORD.
NO CLUB HAS WON 4 COSECUTIVE GRAND FINALS SINCE THE FORMER WEST TAMWORTH ROBINS SUCCESSFUL 1966 TO "69 RUN...WITH THE 2008 TITLE ACHIEVED THE BEARS HAVE MATCHED THAT RECORD,THEIR 4 CONSECUTIVE TITLES COMING IN 2005,06,07 AND 08.
THE CLUBS RESERVE GRADE SIDE HAVE ALSO RECORDED RECENT SUCCESS ,PLAYING IN THE LAST 4 GRAND FINALS AND TAKING THE TITLE IN 06 AND 07 BUT THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN DEFENDING THEIR PREMIERSHIP GOING DOWN TO WEST IN ANOTHER CLOSE FOUGHT ARM WRESTLE 14 TO 8.
THE JUNIOR TITLE WENT TO NARRABRI (U/18),THEIR FIRST FOR 25 YEARS,OVER GUNNEDAH,WHO HAVE WON THE LAST 4 IN A ROW AND IN THE U/16s FARRER EASILY ACCOUNTED FOR GUNNEDAH,36 TO 16. |
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