From the mid-1920s to the mid-1950s Rugby League was played in what became know as sub-group competitions. Prior to 1925 Rugby Union was played between a number of towns in our area.

The competition began on the Far South Coast in 1925, with Wyndham Oaks, Bega Waratahs, Bega Federals, Candelo, Pambula Buccaneers and Eden as the Competition Teams. Other Teams including Cobargo, Quaama and Bermagui joined the competition shortly after 1925.  In 1937 the first grade competition was not held, with teams playing challenge cup matches instead, although a reserve grade competition was held.  Following the 1940 Grand Final, competition was suspended due to world War two. The competition resumed in 1946.

1925   Wyndam (No Finals Played)

1926   Bega Federals (No Finals Played)

1927   Pambula-Merimbula 4  d  Quaama 2

1928   Quaama 9  d  Bega 3

1929   Candelo 5  d  Pambula 3

1930   Candelo 7  d  Cobargo 5

1931   Bega 18  d  Candelo 0

1932   Candelo 14  d  Merimbula 4

1933   Candelo 3 d  Bega Rovers 3 (Candelo Minor Minor Premiers)

1934   Bega Rovers 13  d  Candelo 2

1935   Bega Rovers 5  d  Candelo 5 (Bega Rovers Minor Premiers)

1936   Bega Rovers 21  d  Cobargo 4

1937   Competition played as a Challenge Cup)

1938   Cobargo 9  d  Bermagui 5

No Results for 1939.

1940   Batemans Bay 18  d  Cobargo 5

1941 to 1945 No Competition – World War 2.

1946   Cobargo 17  d  Dry River 8

1947   Bega Rovers 14  d  Cobargo 10

1948   Batemans Bay 20  d  Cobargo 4

1949   Cobargo-Dry River 23  d Batemans Bay 7

1950   Cobargo-Dry River 5  d  Batemans Bay 4

1951   Narooma 9  d  Bega Rovers 6

1952   Narooma 19  d  Bega Rovers 0

1953   Batemans Bay 2  d  Bega Rovers 0

1954   Bega Rovers 13  d  Batemans Bay 6

1955   Narooma 10  d  Batemans Bay 0

A competition centred around Pambula was held in 1933. Teams included Pambula, Eden, Wolumla, Burragate.

1933   Wyndam 12  d  Pambula 2

1934   Wolumla 7  d  Pambula 7

1935   No results listed.

1936   Pambula 7  d  Eden 6

1937   Pambula Old Boys 7  d  Wyndham 0

1938   Merimbula 9  d  Pambula 6

1939   No results listed

1940   Wolumla d  Merimbula (No scores listed)

1941 – 1946  No Competition, World War 2.

1947   Eden 7  d  Bemboka 4

1948   Candelo 5  d  Bemboka 4

1949   Winner not recorded

1950   Bemboka 6  d  Wolumla 4

1951   Tathra  11  d  Eden 4

1952   Tathra 6  d  Eden 3

1953   Tathra 4  d  Eden 2

1954   Eden 14  d  Tathra 4

1955   Bemboka 10  d  Tathra 2

1966   Bega Rovers 12  d  Bega Wests 7

The four towns of Bibbenluke, Bombala, Cathcart and Delegate regularly played Rugby Union Matches in the early decades in the 1900’s.  The clubs trialed Rugby League in 1928 but returned to Rugby Union in 1929.  In 1932 however Southern Monaro Rugby League was established as a sub-group of Group 16.  In 1935 the three first grade teams became two by the end of the season.  Bombala fielded 2 Teams (Blues and Blacks) and Nimmitabel joined to make a five team 1936 Competition. From 1937 the Clubs reverted to challenge cup matches.

1932   Bombala 9  d  Bibbenluke 3

1933   Bombala 6  d  Bibbenluke 2

1934   Bombala 3  d  Bibbenluke 0

1935   Bombala 9  d  Bibbenluke 7

1936   Bombala Blacks 9  d  Bibbenluke 2

A Senior Rugby League Competition under the emuneration Group 19 ran from the post war years until 1970.  Participating teams included Bibbenluke, Bombala. Delegate, Jindabyne and Adaminaby.  In most seasons two or three Cooma teams participated – the Cooma Rovers and St Patricks, Cooma Blues or Cooma Citizens.  Employees engaged in the Snowy River Scheme fielded teams for short period – Public Service, Snowy and the intriguingly named Utah-Island Bend.

In 1971 the Group 19 Teams Bibbenluke, Delegate, Bombala, Nimmitabel and Cooma agreed to join Group 16.

The enumeration Group 19 was later redeployed to the Northern Tablelands of NSW Competition in 1980.

1950   Bombala 17  d  Cooma 14

1951   Cooma 13  d  Bombala 3

1952   Adaminaby 14  d  Bombala 8

1953   Snowy 8  d  Bombala 5

1954   Jindabyne 11  d  Snowy  10

1955   Cooma-Snowy 18  d  Bombala  11

1956   Cooma Rovers 9  d  Berridale 7

1957   Public Service 11  d  Berridale 7

1958   Cooma Rovers 8  d  St Patricks 7

1959   St Patricks 18  d  Cooma Rovers 10

1960   Cooma Rovers 9  d  Adaminaby 5

1961   Jindabyne 9  d  Cooma Rovers 5

1962   St Patricks 8  d  Cooma Rovers 3

1963   Bibbenluke 13  d  Bombala 12

1964   Utah-Island Bend 21  d  Bombala 14

1965   Jindabyne 32  d  Delegate 2

1966   Bombala 20  d  Jindabyne 9

1967   Bombala 14  d  Cooma Rovers 8

1968   Bombala 20  d  Cooma Rovers 0

1969   Delegate 20  d  Bombala 13

1970   Delegate 15  d  Bibbenluke 7