ON a huge weekend for Merriwa, which included the Festival of the Fleeces, the town was given something extra to cheer about after the Magpies tasted success on Saturday.
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With sport around the region largely absent over the Queen's Birthday break, there was more focus on their women's league tag and reserve grade sides - and they both delivered with strong victories.
Registering results of 60-0 and 30-6 respectively, it was a positive way to celebrate a historic weekend for the Hunter Valley Group 21 club who honoured the 20-year anniversary of its "seconds" premiership.
To help commemorate it, the heritage jumpers from that match were presented to the women's side prior to their game.
Captain and coach of the trophy-lifting squad and current Group 21 president Simon Walmsley said it was a great spectacle for the Magpies.
"It was good, we kicked off at the RSL on Friday night for a few drinks," he said.
"Then we all met up at the ground [on Saturday]... and the girls had a pretty good win."
Taylah Blackadder won players' player in that triumph, while Walmsley also praised the performance of captain and coach Gaynor Blackadder and the speedy Mackenzie Blackadder.
The men's match was tougher, with the home side adding a few tries late on to blow out the margin.
The Magpies were only 12-6 up at the half-time, but strong showings from the likes of hooker Brady Hilton and lock Nick Mcloughlin helped them to outlast the opposition.
It was a proud victory in front of the title-winning onlookers, with 13 of the 19 champions from the 1999 squad making the effort to return for the weekend.
The reserves will be looking to add a cup of their own this season having won all six of their matches so far, while the tag team remains in the mix in fourth place.