From the mid-1920s to the mid-1950s Rugby League was played in what became known as sub-group competitions.
Far South Coast / Northern Sub-Group
This competition began as the Far South Coast Rugby League in 1925, with Wyndham Oaks, Bega Waratahs, Bega Federals, Candelo, Pambula Buccaneers and Eden as the competing teams.[15]
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.[16]
A competition centred around Pambula was held in 1933. Four teams contested the 1936 season: Pambula, Eden, Wolumla and Burragate.[42]
The 1947 Imlay Rugby League competition included Bemboka, Candelo, Eden, Pambula, Tathra, Wolumla and Wyndham.[43] The Bega Rovers and Bega Wests switched from the Northern Sub-Group to the Imlay League in 1955.[44]
The four towns of Bibbenluke, Bombala, Cathcart and Delegate regularly played Rugby Union matches in the early decades of the 20th century.[60] The clubs trialed league rules in 1928 but returned to Union in 1929.[61] In 1932, however, Southern Monaro Rugby League was established as a sub-group of Group 16.[62] In 1935, the three first grade teams became two by the end of the season. Bombala fielded two teams (Blues and Blacks), and Nimmitabel joined to make a five team 1936 competition. From 1937, the clubs reverted to challenge cup matches.
A senior Rugby League competition under the enumeration Group 19 ran from the post-war years until 1970. Participating teams included Bibbenluke, Bombala, Delegate, Jindabyne and (usually) 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 periods – Public Service, Snowy and the intriguingly named Utah-Island Bend.
In 1971 the northern Group 19 clubs – Cooma Rovers, Adaminaby, Jindabyne, Cooma Citizens and Nimmitabel agreed to combine playing resources and field a team in the Group 16 competition, as the Alpine Wanderers. The three teams from southern Monaro also joined the combined competition, although they remained separate clubs.[68]
The enumeration Group 19 was later redeployed to the northern tablelands of New South Wales, with teams from Armidale, Glen Innes, Guyra, Narwan, Uralla and Walcha competing under that banner in the 1980s.
^"Grand Final to Cobargo". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 9 September 1946. p. 2.
^"Grand Final To Bega". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 23 September 1947. p. 11.
^"Bateman's Bay Win Grand Final". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 7 September 1948. p. 7.
^"Bay No Match For Dry River-Cobargo". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 27 September 1949. p. 7.
^"Photo Finish in Grand League Display". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 8 September 1950. p. 11.
^"Narooma Premiers For 1951 – Northern Group Final Tough Thrilling". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 14 September 1951. p. 7.
^"Narooma Wins One-Sided Grand Final". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 19 August 1952. p. 7.
^"Bay Wins With Goal After Bell – Dramatic Finale To Grand Final". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 25 August 1953. p. 7.
^"Premiership To Two Bega Teams". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 27 August 1954. p. 13.
^"Narooma Beats the Bay". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 20 September 1955.
^"Ricketts' Cup Interest". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 18 September 1956. p. 8.
^"Football". The Eden Magnet. Eden: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 32. 11 July 1936. p. 3.
^"Football Tables". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 5 August 1947. p. 2.
^"Imlay League Teams to Play-off". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 16 August 1955. p. 8.
^"Football". Bombala Times. Bombala: National Library of Australia. 29 July 1938. p. 1. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
^"Football". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 5 August 1940. p. 2.
^"Eden Are Premiers – Thrilling Imlay Final". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 2 September 1947. p. 11.
^"Candelo Southern Premiers". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 20 July 1948. p. 7.
^"Cocks Brilliant in Grand Final". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 30 August 1949. p. 7.
^"Solid Grand Final Won By Bemboka". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 5 September 1950. p. 7.
^"Tathra Wins Premiership – Grim Grand Final Played at High Pressure". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 11 September 1951. p. 7.
^"Tathra Kicks To Victory – Close Grand Final Won By Preo's Reliable Boot". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 26 August 1952. p. 7.
^"Third Imlay P'Ship To Tathra F.C.". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 11 September 1953. p. 7.
^"Eden's Premiership After Extra Time". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 21 September 1954. p. 7.
^"Glorious Try Caps Season By Bemboka". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 13 September 1955.
^"Rovers' Premiership Face of Solid West's Defence". Bega District News. Bega: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 357. 18 September 1956.