Batemans Bay Tigers

Batemans Bay Tigers

Club information
Full name	Batemans Bay Rugby League Football Club Inc.
Nickname(s)	The Tigers
Colours	Gold/Orange      Black      White
Founded	1897
Current details
Ground(s)	Mackay Park, Batemans Bay
CEO(s)	Bob Mitchell
Coach(s)	2015 Matt Cross
Competition	Group 16 Rugby League
Records
Premierships	5 (1979, 1986, 1988, 1992, 2002)
Runners-up	3 (1999, 2000, 2001)
Minor premiership	? (1993)

The Batemans Bay Tigers (or sometimes simplified to Bay Tigers) are an Australian rugby league football team based in Batemans Bay, a coastal town of the South Coast region. The club is a part of Country Rugby League and have competed in the South Coast first grade competition since 1978. Prior to this, they were a part of Group 16 Rugby League (Far South Coast).

History

Group 16

Like many other rugby league teams, the Tigers started out as a Rugby Union club before Rugby League came to the area. They have been a part of Group 16 Rugby League before switching to Group 19 (Molonglo Shield) in 1972 then on to Group 7 in 1978. Ex Sydney first grade player Matt Cross was appointed coach of the side for the 2015 season.

Group 7 (1978-2014 )

The Tigers were quickly successful in snatching their first premiership in this group in their second season. The Tigers would go on to win a further four titles, in the following years (1986, 1988, 1992, 2002). Reserve Grade Premierships were added in 1984,1986 and 1993. Their last premiership came off the back of three grand final losses to Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles (30-16 and 31-18 in 1999 and 2000 respectively) and to the Shellharbour Sharks in 2001. They beat the Milton/Ulladulla Bulldogs at their home ground in the grand final win in 2002.

Colours

The team's colours are Black and Gold; they were originally black and yellow which were the colours chosen by the then committee to honour Dr. Mackay who donated the land now known as Mackay Park to the town for recreational purposes. The black and Yellow were Duncan Forbes Mackays school colours. The club's emblem is now a Wests Tigers logo. For 35 years the logo was a caricature of a running tiger carrying the football, and before that (in Group 16) the logo was a tiger's head similar to the old Balmain Tigers )

Notable Juniors

• Ben Cross (2003-13 Melbourne Storm, Canberra, Newcastle, Leeds, Widnes & [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]NSW and Australia])
• Matt Cross (2005-10 Melbourne Storm, Penrith Panthers, Gold Coast & Manly)
• Rod Elliott ( Penrith Panthers 68,69,70,71 )

Honours

• Team of the Century
• Kevin Connell,

Team

• Group 16 Rugby League Premierships: First Grade 1939, 1948, 1953, ( 1967 under Captain Coach John Carberry who came to the Bay from The strong Port Kembla club. John also took the side to the 1968 Grand Final going down to Pambula 13/7)

Reserve grade Premiers 1967 under Captain Coach Peter Fitzgerald. Under 18's Premiers 1968 and 1969 under coach John Ladmore.

• Group 7 Rugby League Premierships: 5

1979, 1986, 1988, 1992, 2002 Reserve grade 1984,1986, 1993

• Group 7 Rugby League Runners-Up: 3

1999, 2000, 2001

• CRL Clayton Cup: None

External links

• Batemans Bay Tigers Homepage
• Country Rugby League Homepage
• Country Rugby League
• South Coast Rugby League Homepage
• Group 7 Rugby League