CANBERRA REFEREES - HISTORY

HISTORY – CANBERRA REFEREES

With thanks to Peter Frazer

Beginnings

Rugby League originated in Sydney in 1908, and by 1919 it was being played in the Canberra region. Football during the 1920’s was mostly Challenge Cup football, where a benefactor donated a cup as the prize for a game between two teams, with the winner then obliged to defend the cup against all challengers. There is material which indicates that there were 67 different Challenge Cups circulating around the area in the early days.

For a while during the 1930s there was a Federal Capital Territory Rugby League competition operating around Canberra, but there are no indications that there was an organised referees body associated with that competition.

Th earliest indication of the existence of a referees association in the area comes from the first annual report of the Country Rugby League Referees Association, which started in 1938. This report lists Group 8 as one of the founding member Associations, with 7 registered members and Tom Greer as the Acting Secretary.

We have therefore taken 1938 as the year our Association was born.

The Changing Football Scene

It would be a major historical exercise in itself to trace the development of Rugby League in this area. For our purposes it is interesting to look at just a few snapshots and key historical developments.

The early emphasis on Challenge Cup football remained a strong feature through to the 1940’s and 1950’s, although the Group 8 premiership competition was also in place.

The Group 8 clubs in 1958 were Captains Flat, Crookwell, Canberra, Braidwood, Goulburn Workers, Goulburn United, Queanbeyan and Yass.

The Canberra and District Minor Rugby League (CDMRL) competition commenced in 1963.

The Molonglo Shield competition commenced in 1964 with Navy, RAAF, Michelago, Commonwealth Bank, Queanbeyan Waratahs and Canberra Rovers as its founding clubs.

A Country Rugby League boundaries dispute in the Riverina area saw Young, Harden and Wyangala Dam join the Group 8 competition, which became known as Zone 2, between 1967 and 1970

The Molonglo Shield competition was granted Country Rugby League Group status in 1974, and operated as Group 19. The clubs involved in the two Group competitions in 1974 were:

• Group 8-Queanbeyan Blues, Queanbeyan Roos, Goulburn Workers, Goulburn United, Yass, Crookwell, Canberra Tigers, East Canberra, Woden Valley
• Group 19-Belconnen United, West Canberra, North Canberra, Bateman’s Bay, Captains Flat, Lakes United, South Woden, South Canberra

Changes for the Referees AssociationGroup 8 changed its name to Canberra and District Rugby League in 1980; Group 19 was already calling itself the ACT Rugby League. In 1982 the Canberra Distric Rugby League was granted entry to the NSW Rugby League competition, as the Canberra Raiders; the ACTRL took over the responsibility for all senior grade football in the area; CDMRL retained responsibility for the junior grade competition.

The Referees Association has seen quite a few changes of structure, style and-name over the years. Presumably there has always been a body of referees who controlled football games in Group 8, but the way in which they were organised in the early days remains a mystery.

Kevin Gibb told a story about organising a meeting at the Collector Hotel around 1950 to get a resolution from the referees that they affiliate officially with Group 8. He and Jack McKie hired a car from Canberra for 5 quid, but only two other referees (one from Collector and one from Goulburn) turned up. To get a quorum he went into the bar and asked if anyone was interested in a discussion about Rugby League. Six ring-ins joined the meeting, nodded their agreement at the right time, and Kevin went off to a Group 8 meeting with his application for affiliation. Asked by the Group Secretary how many referees supported the motion, Kevin answered truthfully that the motion was passed unanimously by a meeting of 10 interested persons. Of course our affiliation was accepted.

One of the old books, records the activities in the late 1950’s of a Goulburn Referees Association which was affiliated with Group 8 Referees Association. It had seven members, its office-bearers in large, were also the office-bearers of the Group 8 Association, but the reason for its separate existence is not at all clear.

In the early part of the 1960’s the Canberra/Queanbeyan end of the Group took over from Goulburn as the base for the Association’s activities, as the number of members at the southern end started to grow fairly rapidly as Canberra grew.

In recognition of the growth of the CDMRL competition, the Association fostered the establishment of a separate CDMRL Referees Association in 1971. However this body faltered after 5 years and in 1976 the Association absorbed it back into the fold. From that year it has accepted responsibility for fielding referees for the CDMRL as well as all senior competitions in the area.

At the beginning of the 1975 season the Association changed its name to the Group 8/19 Rugby League Referees Association and for quite a few years had the unique experience of carrying two votes to the Country Rugby League Referees Association, since we were servicing two fully-fledged CRL Group competitions.

We had our final name change at the end of 1979 in recognition of the new change of Group 8 to Canberra District Rugby League.

However the most significant development in our history is undoubtedly the move to a District Association affiliated with the NSW Rugby League Referees Association in 1982. Severing the ties with Country Rugby League Referees was quite a wrench initially, but we have since proven we can hold our own and make a real contribution in the ‘big league’ of the Sydney competition. Short of the Raiders getting the sack from the NRL competition, the future direction of this Association is now quite clearly established.

Did you know
England played Monaro at Manuka Oval on 24 May 1950. The referee was Lorne Lees from this Association, with touch judges Jack McKie and Arthur “Musso” Armstrong. The curtain-raisers were refereed by Arthur Nicholls and Jack McKie.

Tom Greer

Tom got his referees ticket in 1931 and came to Goulburn in 1934. On the occasion of his retirement in 1959 a local scribe noted that Tom never lost control of a game, and that he was always able to stop any rough stuff before it started with the admonition of “come off it son, someone might get hurt”.

Tom can certainly be described as our founding father. He was the initial Secretary and served in that role for an unknown period. He was President from 1954 – 1962 and served as Vice-President for many years. He was our first Life Member, but the year of that award is not clear from the records – it would have been prior to 1956. Along with Jack McKie he was awarded a 25 year meritorious service tie bar from the Country Rugby League Referees Association.

In later years Tom was a regular spectator at games in Goulburn and attended Association meetings from time to time. He was always eager for a chat and very ready to offer advice to anyone on how to achieve perfect scrum control. Tom died in 1986.

Did you know
The Association commenced the current practice of holding monthly meetings in 1971; prior to that they were much less regular (generally 2, sometimes 3 times a year) and because of small attendances, were frequently held in members’ homes.

Our Prominent Referees

The Association can proudly boast about the number of high calibre referees to have passed through our ranks. Among those to receive Country Rugby League representative or international centre appointments while members of the Association include Lorne Lees, Keith Lyons, Jack Jewell, Bruce Chapman, Noel Bissett and Keith Pickard. Bill Foran has achieved a number of such appointments since leaving this area.

Interestingly during a Great Britain tour of Australia during the 1980’s, three of our former members, who got their original grounding in this Association, refereed tour games, namely David Corey in Darwin, Bill Foran in Wagga, and Les McCosh in Rockhampton.

Locally Bruce Chapman refereed over 300 first grade games, mainly during the 1960’s. Noel Bissett notched up 275 first grade games, mostly in the 1970’s, while Jim Mahoney took the mantle of Mr Resilience during the 1980’s.

Since our entry into the NSWRL competition structure, a number of members have been graded (Noel Bissett, Keith Pickard, Col Law, Keith Gegg, Phil Stuart, Rod Cranston, Michael Harradine, David Adams, Peter Castle, Glynn Henderson.

The Most Common Gripe

Without a doubt the one issue most frequently discussed at Association meetings down through the years has been the operation of the referees appointment system. It has always been a hot issue, with the Association members rarely fully satisfied with the way their performances were assessed and appointments determined.

When we had a Appointments Boards made up of all club representatives; these were rarely respected. On the other hand, on occasions when the Appointments Board comprised all ex-referees, members tended to stretch the friendship by unduly harassing the Board members for advice and explanations of appointment decisions.

Things got so bad in 1978 that the Association passed a motion of no confidence in the all-club Appointments Board after they announced that they were interested only in making the appointments for 1st grade centres. We did not win the stand-up fight with Group 8 at the time, but the next year we had an all ex-referee Board, and for 1980 they accepted our proposal to appoint a Director of Referees.

Richard Morgan was the first Director of Referees and served in that role for 7 years. For the first three years he worked largely on his own, although nominally each club was supposed to have appointed a person to provide him with written reports on referees. From 1983 Richard was assisted by a few retired referees as an advisory panel, mainly Peter Frazer, Neville Norris and Jack McKie.

Dave Cook took on the Director’s task in 1987 and 1988, assisted mainly by Bob Lloyd, Jack McKie and Col Law.

Did you know
Col Law refereed his first 1st grade match on 15 May 1977 at Bateman’s Bay. He also did the Reserve Grade, and ran both games with club touch judges, all because Neville Norris and Brent Anderson drove over the side of the Clyde Mountain on their way down to the game.

In Touch

The most enduring feature of the Association’s activities is undoubtedly the weekly newsletter ‘In Touch’.

In Touch grew out of difficulties the Association had in notifying referees’ weekly appointments. During the 1960’s appointments were usually notified in the papers, but this was not reliable enough because from time to time the Canberra Times refused to publish appointments unless as a paid public notice. Generally the Group was fairly reluctant to foot the bill. From 1967 the Association Secretary was sending out weekly appointments notices in stamped addressed envelopes provided by members themselves.

In Touch commenced in April 1972 with Jim Mahoney as editor. Others to handle that role have been Carl Boye, Les Murphy, Denis Musgrove and Dave Cook. The compilation of In Touch is now handled by a number of different members.

Although it started as a vehicle for notifying appointments, In Touch has never been just that. From the start it has been the platform for official Association announcements, as well as a forum for any member to have his say. Over the years some regular columnists have done their bit to generate lively debate, among them Terry Hardie, Argus and Son of Argus (Ted Duffy), Bazza McJolley, Mercury the Messenger and Big Bird (Greg Pfeiffer) to name just a few.

Women Referees

One area in which this Association has been a pioneer is the acceptance of women as active referees. Despite official policy from NSW and Country Rugby League that women were not permitted to referee, this Association encouraged interested women to sit for our local Group 8 referees ticket and to referee in CDMRL games. The first was Judy Norman in 1979. When the NSWRL finally reversed its policy in 1984 and allowed women to hold a State referees ticket, Innes McDougall from this Association was the first woman to pass the exam and get a ticket.

History of Rugby League

In its early years the main Group 8 competition played for the Massy Cup. Each week the team whose turn it was would challenge the holders of the cup, and the winner would get to keep it until the next challenge. In 1933 a second cup was introduced, the Carr Cup, and at the end of each season the holders of the two cups (usually) would play off for the Group 8 Championship. The competition wound up in 1940 because of the war, and was revived for one season in 1946 under this format. In 1947 Group 8 retired the two cups and introduced a round robin system. This was often called the Intertown competition in its early years.

The Federal Capital Territory and District Rugby League competition started in 1928 (although a round robin of matches were played in 1927 under its banner). It was a competition for teams from Canberra, who played for the Canberra Times Shield. It died out in 1937 due to a lack of interest; public attention was focused on the Massy and Carr Cups. The local competition was revived in 1946, as the A.C.T. District Rugby League.

In 1954, in an effort to arouse more interest in the rugby league code, both competitions were reorganised into a new competition of three zones. Zone 1 covered the Crookwell area, Zone 2 the Goulburn area, and Zone 3 the Canberra area. The experiment was not a success, and rugby league took a nose dive in popularity in the area from which it did not recover until the mid 1960s.

By 1965 the A.C.T. District Rugby League competition was again up and running, and was playing for the Molongolo Shield. From 1975 to 1979 the competition was given its own group number–Group 19. From 1980 it was refered to as the A.C.T. Rugby League.

Between 1967 and 1970, Group 8 merged with part of Group 9 to become Group 8/9 (also call Zone 2). This arrangement lasted until 1970, after which the teams from Group 9 returned thence and the Group 8 name was restored. I think this had something to do with the Riverina breakaway movement. At some stage prior to 1971 the A.C.T. District Rugby League grew large enough to spawn a second division. That competition continued under a number of names–second division, A reserves, B2, and others–until 1986 when it became the Canberra Cup.

After 1979 the Group 8 competition lost its Group number, becoming the Canberra and District competition.

In 1982 the Raiders joined the Sydney Premiership, and the local competition became their junior league. The Canberra and District competition was dissolved, and the A.C.T. District Rugby League and its second division became the major competition after the Sydney Premiership. The teams in all three extant competitions were reshuffled.

The second division was split into two divisions for 1994 with two grand finals. For 1995 there was only one division, but some of the teams were spun off into the George Tooke Shield.

Teams that have competed in the Canberra area are:

• Ainslie:ACTDRL 1947–53, Zone 3 1954 (reserves only).
• Australian National University: Group 19 2nd 1977–1979, ACTRL 2nd 1980–82.
• Bateman’s Bay “Tigers: ACTDRL 1972–73, Group 19 1974–77.
• Belconnen United “Panthers”: ACTDRL 1971–73, Group 19 1974–79, ACTRL 1980–84, ACTRL 2nd 1985, ACTRL 1986–93. Merged with Lakes United “Sharks” to become Belconnen United “Sharks” for 1988.
• Binalong: Group 8 1955, George Tooke Shield 2000-2001.
• Bogong “Warriors”: ACTRL 2nd 1989-2001 (Renamed Boomanulla Warriors).
• Bombala: Group 8 1948.
• Braidwood “Bears”: Group 8 1947–48, Group 8 1955–58, Group 8 1961–64, ACTDRL 1971–73, ACTRL 2nd 1992–94, George Took Shield 1995.
• Bredbo “Barbarians”: ACTRL 2nd 1995–96.
• Bungendore: ACTDRL 1952, Zone 3 1954 (reserves only), ACTDRL 1955–56…, ACTDRL 1971–72, ???, Group 19 2nd 1977–1979, ACTRL 2nd 1980–81, ???, ACTRL 2nd 1988–95.
• Burrinjuck: Zone 3 1954 (reserves only), Group 8 1955.
• Canberra Abattoirs: Group 19 2nd 1977–79, ACTRL 2nd 1981–82, ACTRL 2nd 1987-88.
• Canberra Brothers: ACTRL 2nd 1982–86.
• Canberra Bulls: ACTRL 2nd 1989–90.
• Canberra Camels: Group 19 2nd 1977–1979, ACTRL 2nd 1980–81, ACTRL 2nd 1983–86. Renamed Ambassador Camels for 1985.
• Canberra City: ACTRL 1996.
• Canberra College of Advanced Education: ACTRL 2nd 1980, ACTRL 2nd 1982.
• Canberra Comets: ACTRL 2nd 1982.
• Canberra Gallopers: Group 19 1978–79, ACTRL 1980–81, ACTRL 1988-92, Second Division. Renamed Gungahlin Gallopers for 1990.
• Canberra Giants: ACTRL 2nd 1988–89.
• Canberra Gladiators: ACTRL 2nd 1991–94.
• Canberra Tigers: Group 8 1971–79, ACTRL 1980–83.
• Canberra Workmen: Group 8 1947–51, Group 8 1953, Group 8 1955–66, Group 8/9 1967–70.
• Captain’s Flat “Redmen”: Group 8 1947–53, (ACTDRL 1952), Zone 3 1954, Group 8 1955–61, ACTDRL 1971–73, Group 19 1974–75 ,Group 19 1977–1979, ACTRL 2nd 1980–81, ACTRL 2nd 1991-96.
• Causeway Rovers: ACTDRL 1947–53, Zone 3 1954, ACTDRL 1955–56
• Crookwell “Green Devils”: Group 8 1953, Group 8 1955–61, Group 8 1965, Group 8/9 1970, Group 8 1971–79, CDRL 1980–81, ACTRL 1982–89, ACTRL 1991-93, ACTRL 2nd 1994, George Tooke Shield 1995.
• Dinsdale Knights: ACTRL 2nd 1991.
• East Canberra United: Group 8 1971–74, ???, Group 19 1978–79, ACTRL 1980–81, ACTRL 2nd 1982–88, ACTRL 1989-93, ACTRL 2nd 1994, George Tooke Shield 1995.
• Eastlake Hostel: ACTDRL 1948, ACTDRL 1949 (reserves only).
• East Queanbeyan: ACTDRL 1952.
• Fyshwick: ACTDRL 1948 (reserves only).
• Ginninderra “Bulls”: ACTRL 1994–96.
• Gordon “Blues”: ACTRL 2nd 1994–95.
• Goulburn City: ACTRL 1987.
• Goulburn Exchange: ACTRL 2nd 1994; George Tooke Shield 1995.
• Goulburn “Gladiators”: ACTRL 1991–96. Merged with Kenmore at the end of 1995 and changed name to Goulburn “Stockmen”.
• Goulburn United “Roosters”: Group 8 1947–53, Group 8 1955–66, Group 8/9 1967-70, Group 8 1971–79, CDRL 1980–81, ACTRL 1982–86.
• Goulburn Workers “Bulldogs”: Group 8 1958–66, Group 8/9 1967-70, Group 8 1971–79, CDRL 1980–81, ACTRL 1982–84.
• Grabben Gullen: Group 8 1963–64.
• Gungahlin Gallopers: First Division, ACTRL 2nd 1993.
• Gunning: Group 8 1958–60, ???, ACTRL 2nd 1987, ACTRL 2nd 1989–90, ACTRL 2nd 1993–96.
• Hall: ACTDRL 1946–47.
• Harden-Murrumburrah: from Group 9, Group 8/9 1967–70, to Group 9.
• Harman “Sailors”: ACTDRL 1971–73, ???, Group 19 1977–1979, ACTRL 2nd 1980–96.
  · Kambah: Group 19 1976–77.
• Kenmore: ACTRL 2nd 1994–95. Merged with “Goulburn Gladiators” in 1995 to become “Goulburn Stockmen”.
• Kippax “Cougars”: ACTRL 2nd 1989.
• Koorie United: ACTRL 1980, ACTRL 2nd 1983.
• Lakes United: ACTDRL 1973, Group 19 1974–79, 1980 (reserves only), ACTRL 2nd 1981–82, ACTRL 1983-84, ACTRL 2nd 1985. Merged with Belconnen United “Panthers” to become Belconnen United “Sharks” for 1988. In 1982, competed as two teams: Lakes United Blue and Lakes United Black.
• North Canberra: Group 8 1949–52.
• North Canberra “Bears/Jets”: ACTDRL 1971–73, Group 19 1974–77, Group 8 1978–79, CDRL 1980–1981, ACTRL 2nd 1982, ACTRL 2nd 1984–88.
• North City: ACTDRL 1946–53, Zone 3 1954. Also called North Canberra and Northern Suburbs.
• Northern Suburbs: ACTDRL …1956…
• Queanbeyan: ACTDRL 1946, ACTDRL 1948–49.
• Queanbeyan Kangaroos: Group 8/9 1968–70, Group 8 1971–79, CDRL 1980–81, ACTRL 1982–96.
• Queanbeyan RSL “Diggers”: ACTDRL 1952, ACTRL 2nd 1987–90, ACTRL 1991–92, ACTRL 2nd 1993–94, George Tooke Shield 1995. Renamed Jerrabomberra “Diggers” for 1992.
• Queanbeyan United “Blues”: Group 8 1947–53, Zone 3 1954, Group 8 1955–66, Group 8/9 1967-70, Group 8 1971–79, CDRL 1980–81, ACTRL 1982–96.
• R.A.A.F.: ACTDRL 1948.
• R.M.C. (College): ACTDRL 1949, ACTDRL 1955… Also called Duntroon.
• Sails “Pirates”: ACTRL 2nd 1995–96.
• South Canberra: ACTDRL 1971–73, Group 19 1974–76, ACTRL 2nd 1996.
• South City: ACTDRL 1946–53. Also called South Canberra and Southern Suburbs.
• St Christophers “Saints”: ACTDRL 1971–73, Group 19 1974–79. Renamed South Woden for 1973. Merged with Tuggeranong United to form Tuggeranong-South Woden after 1979.
• Teachers College: Group 19 2nd 1978.
• Tuggeranong United “Buffalos”: Group 19 1978–79, ACTRL 1980–96. Merged with South Woden to form Tuggeranong-South Woden for 1980. Renamed Valleys United for 1981. Renamed Tuggeranong Valley for 1985. Renamed Tuggeranong United for 1986.
• Valley Dragons: ACTRL 2nd 1990–93, ACTRL 1994–96.
• Valley Statesmen: Group 19 2nd 1977–1979, ACTRL 2nd 1980–96.
• West Canberra: ACTDRL 1971–73, Group 19 1974–77, Group 8 1978–79, CDRL 1980–81, ACTRL 1982–96.
• West Belconnen “Two Blues” from 1975. Took on the “Warriors” nick name in 1990. Also fielded a 2nd division team during 1988.
• West City: 1946–53, Zone 3 1954, ACTDRL 1955–56…
• Weston Creek: Group 19 1977 (reserves only), Group 19 1978–79, ACTRL 1980–81, ACTRL 2nd 1982–96.
• West Queanbeyan: ACTDRL 1952
• Woden Valley “Rams”: Molongolo Shield, Group 8 1971–79, CDRL 1980–81, ACTRL 1982–96.
• Wyangala Dam: from Group 9, Group 8 1967.
• Yass United “Magpies”: Group 8 1947–53, Zone 3 1954, Group 8 1955–66, Group 8/9 1967-70, Group 8 1971–79, CDRL 1980, ACTRL 1981–85, ACTRL 2nd 1986, ACTRL 1987 (reserves only), ACTRL 1988-89, ACTRL 2nd 1990–91, ACTRL 1992-94, George Tooke Shield 1995.
• Young: from Group 9, Group 8/9 1967–70, to Group 9.

Group 8 Massy Cup
1930 Queanbeyan 4-0 Goulburn
1932 Cooma 12-7 Queanbeyan
1933 Crookwell 14-12 Queanbeyan
1934 Yass 14-2 Canberra
1935 Canberra 9-4 Queanbeyan
1936 Queanbeyan 5-3 Canberra
1937 Queanbeyan 7-7 Bombala * Queanbeyan retained the cup.
1938 Queanbeyan 16-3 Goulburn
1939 Yass 7-0 Canberra
1940 Queanbeyan 13-4 Yass
1941-45 No Competition
1946 Queanbeyan 29-4 Canberra

Group 8 Carr Cup
1933 Canberra 10-3 Goulburn
1934 Goulburn 8-2 Crookwell
1935 Goulburn 22-13 Queanbeyan
1936 Goulburn 36-7 Yass
1937 Goulburn 21-11 Bowral
1938 Canberra 15-0 Goulburn
1939 Canberra 19-2 Goulburn
1940 Queanbeyan 13-5 Canberra
1941-45 No Competition
1946 Captain’s Flat 16-8 Canberra

Group 8 Premiership
1932 Queanbeyan 13-0 Canberra
1933 Goulburn 7-2 Canberra
1935 Canberra 3-3 Goulburn (joint premiership)
1936 Goulburn 20-17 Queanbeyan
1937 Queanbeyan 29-7 Goulburn
1938 Queanbeyan 16-3 Goulburn
1939 Yass 14-11 Canberra
1941–46 No Competition
1947 Canberra 13-2 Queanbeyan
1948 Yass 13-9 Queanbeyan
1949 Goulburn 11-3 Queanbeyan
1950 Captain’s Flat 9-5 Goulburn
1951 Queanbeyan 15-10 Goulburn
1952 Captain’s Flat 9-2 Yass
1953 Captain’s Flat 17-4 Queanbeyan
Zone 3 Yass 29-2 North City
1955 Crookwell 18-13 Goulburn
1956 Yass 8-3 Captain’s Flat
1957 Captain’s Flat 27-8 Queanbeyan
1959 Yass 13-3 Crookwell
1960 Goulburn Workers 25-5 Yass
1961 Goulburn Workers 16-4 Yass
1962 Goulburn United 17-11 Goulburn Workers
1963 Goulburn United 17-2 Canberra Workmen
1964 Goulburn Workers 10-3 Queanbeyan United
1965 Queanbeyan United 17-7 Goulburn Workers
1966 Queanbeyan United 14-0 Goulburn Workers

Group 8/9 Premiership
1967 Queanbeyan United 14-6 Goulburn United
1968 Young 8-8 Queanbeyan United
1969 Queanbeyan Kangaroos 8-2 Queanbeyan United
1970 Queanbeyan Kangaroos 12-0 Queanbeyan United

Group 8 Premiership
1971 Queanbeyan Kangaroos 16-8 Queanbeyan United
1972 Goulburn Workers 12-10 Queanbeyan Kangaroos
1973 Canberra Tigers 17-8 Queanbeyan United
1974 Queanbeyan United 16-15 Canberra Tigers
1975 Queanbeyan United 18-17 Goulburn United
1976 Canberra Tigers 12-11 Queanbeyan United
1977 Goulburn United 34-16 Queanbeyan United
1978 Queanbeyan United 16-14 Queanbeyan Kangaroos
1979 Queanbeyan United 11-4 Queanbeyan Kangaroos
1980 Queanbeyan United 17-0 North Canberra
1981 Queanbeyan United 20-8 Queanbeyan Kangaroos

In 1982 the Canberra Raiders joined the Sydney Premiership, and the Group 8 Premiership was disolved. The teams were reshuffled into the lower grade competitions, which became the Raiders’ juniors.

Federal Capital Territory and District Rugby League
1928 Acton Rovers
1929 South City 13-2 Hall
1930 West City 6-5 Hall
1931 North City 7-0 South City
1932 West City 11-0 North City
1933 South City 7-5 Hall
1934 South City 9-8 Molongolo
1935 South City 8-7 Molongolo

A.C.T. District Rugby League
1946 North City 11-11 West City (North City won replay 15-5)
1947 North City 6-3 Causeway Rovers
1948 North City Causeway Rovers
1949 North City 8-0 Causeway Rovers
1950 North City 10-9 Causeway Rovers
1951 Causeway Rovers 10-9 North City
1952 Captain’s Flat 11-10 Causeway Rovers
1953 North City 21-2 Causeway Rovers
1954 Zone format
1957 Northern Suburbs versus Yass
1968 Captain’s Flat 4-3 Bungendore
1969 Woden Valley 30-4 ANU-Harman
1970 Captain’s Flat 12-7 Woden Valley
1971 Captain’s Flat 25-8 St Christophers
1972 North Canberra 39-16 Captain’s Flat
1973 West Canberra 25-6 Belconnen United

Group 19 Second Division
1977 Canberra Camels 7-5 Captain’s Flat
1978 Captain’s Flat 16-3 Canberra Camels
1979 Captain’s Flat 21-7 Australian National University

A.C.T. Rugby League Second Division
1980 Canberra Camels 15-10 Captain’s Flat
1981 Captain’s Flat 15-5 Canberra Camels
1982 Lakes United Blue 18-5 North Canberra
1983 Weston Creek 18-6 Harman
1984 Harman 28-8 North Canberra
1985 Ambassador Camels 38-6 North Canberra

Canberra Cup
1986 Yass United 13-6 Ambassador Camels
1987 Gunning 10-6 Valley Statesmen
1988 Valley Statesmen 7-2 Queanbeyan RSL
1989 Queanbeyan RSL 35-2 Canberra Giants
1990 Yass United 26-18 Bungendore
1991 Bogong 34-16 Valley Dragons
1992 Valley Dragons 24-20 Valley Statesmen
1993 Jerrabomberra 28-8 Bogong
1994 Crookwell 20-12 Jerrabomberra
1995 Sails 6-4 Bungendore
1996 Harman 14-12 Sails
1998 Bungendore 30-6 Goulburn

Molongolo Shield
1974 North Canberra 12-9 Batemans Bay
1975 Belconnen United 17-11 South Woden
1976 Belconnen United 22-5 West Belconnen
1977 Belconnen United 24-14 West Belconnen * Belconnen United also won the Clayton Cup.
1978 Belconnen United 22-13 Lakes United
1979 Belconnen United 20-18 Canberra Gallopers
1980 Canberra Gallopers 30-16 East Canberra
1981 Belconnen United 13-2 Yass United
1982 Goulburn Workers 14-5 Goulburn United
1983 Queanbeyan Kangaroos 16-10 Queanbeyan United
1984 Goulburn Workers 10-8 Queanbeyan Kangaroos
1985 Queanbeyan Kangaroos 11-0 West Belconnen
1986 West Belconnen 17-0 Woden Valley
1987 Queanbeyan United 6-4 Queanbeyan Kangaroos
1988 Woden Valley 23-18 West Belconnen
1989 West Belconnen 26-4 Woden Valley
1990 West Belconnen 21-13 Woden Valley
1991 West Belconnen 14-4 Woden Valley
1992 Queanbeyan United 9-6 West Belconnen
1993 West Belconnen 30-20 Queanbeyan United+
1994 Queanbeyan United 17-16 West Belconnen
1995 West Belconnen 26-14 Queanbeyan Kangaroos
1996 Woden Valley 14-10 West Belconnen
1997 West Belconnen 26-8 Goulburn

George Tooke Shield

1995 Yass United 15-4 Jerrabomberra
1996 Goulburn Exchange 16-6 Crookwell
2002 Cooma Crookwell