THE Monaro Colts have gone down to the Newcastle Rebels 20-4 in the grand final of the NSW Men's Country Championships played in Cessnock on Sunday.

The Colts edged Northern Rivers 12-8 in a tightly contested semi-final on their way to the final against Newcastle Rebels.

The Monaro Colts side set out to restore pride and prestige in their jersey in what was a massively improved campaign compared to 2023 when they suffered a big round one loss to the Riverina Bulls.

In the grand final, Newcastle were first to score through winger William Nieuwenhuise in the fourth minute, before fullback Cameron Anderson crashed over four minutes later.

The Colts hit back through winger Brandon Withers in the 19th minute, but Newcastle regained ascendancy just before half time through winger Honeti Tuha, the score 14-4.

On a hot day in the Hunter region, Sam Williams' Colts side stayed in the fight.

Very much still a chance with 25 mins to go, errors coming out of of defence and in hard to get attacking field position compounded a large amount of defensive work.

The Colts defended with their lives but the weight of possession was telling, the Rebels running in another try with five minutes remaining and putting the match beyond doubt.

Cooma's Sam Williams will now shift his attention to clinching back-to-back Canberra first grade p[premierships with the Queanbeyan Roos in 2024.