Sport Rugby league Instituted 1947 Premiers Wyong (2016) | Formerly known as Group 12 Rugby League Number of teams 10 | |
Inaugural season 1967 (as Group 12 Rugby League),
1981 (as Central Coast Rugby League) | ||
The Central Coast Division of Country Rugby League is a rugby league competition based on the Central Coast of New South Wales between Sydney and Newcastle. It was founded in 1947 as a junior competition for the Newcastle club, Lakes United. In 1967, it was upgraded again to full membership of the Country Rugby League as Group 12. In 1981, it was renamed Central Coast Division. The division covers the entire region of the Central Coast from Woy Woy and Umina in the south up to Budgewoi and Gwandalan in the north.
Contents
Current teams
As of 2016 the current teams in the Central Coast competitions are:
Previous Teams
Current clubs Ourimbah, Wyong and later Woy Woy participated in the Central Coast Rugby League competitions that were held in 1915 and between 1919 and 1936. Teams from Gosford, Erina, Kincumber and Terrigal also competed, predecessors to the current clubs. The following teams were also involved: Matcham (1915), Yarramalong (1915, 1919-1921, 1924), Jilliby (1919-1921), Narara (1920, 1923), Dora Creek (1921, 1926-1928, 1931-1932), Gosford Light Horse (1925), Mooney (1926), Wyong Creek (1928), Tuggerah (1930-1932), Morisset (1932-1936), Nord’s Wharf (1932), Dooralong (1933-1934).
The following teams have participated in Central Coast First or 'A' Grade competitions since 1947: Morisset (1947-1948), Toronto (1954-1959), Rathmines (1955), South Lakes (1958). Wyong and Morisset combined in 1957 to field teams in A, B, C and D grades. Mount Penang competed in Under 18s from 1969 to 1975.
The Gosford Townies fielded grade teams from 1948 to 1999, and junior teams from the 1950s.
A Second Division competition ran from 1976 to 2005. Clubs that were promoted to First Division / Grade were Toukley, Northern Lakes (Munmorah), Berkeley Vale, Kincumber and Central Wyong (Grand Hotel). Junior club Budgewoi-Buff Point ran Second Division teams from 1978 to 2002 and in 2005.
The other teams that competed in Second Division were Davistown (1976), Milson Island (1976-1979), The Valley (1977-1978), Gwandalan (1977-1978), Doyalson-Wyee (1980-1983), Terrigal Hotel (1981-1985), Woy Woy Hotel (1982-1989), Northlakes (1984-1986), Mangrove Mountain (1988-1998), Tall Timbers Hotel (1989-2005), Peninsula Raiders (1990-2001), Terrigal Marlins (1996-1997), Wamberal Whales (2000-2005), Long Jetty Jets (2001-2005) and Bayview Dolphins (2003-2004).
Central Coast teams in other competitions
In 2003 four Central Coast teams (Erina, Ourimbah, The Entrance and Woy Woy) decided to field teams in the then Jim Beam Cup, the third highest ranked NSW Competition (below NRL and NSW Cup) featuring mainly Sydney-based competition teams. All teams remained in the Central Coast first grade competition with effectively reserve grade teams. After three seasons, all apart from The Entrance withdrew from the competition. The Entrance Tigers entered teams in the competition until 2007 and again, under different competition names, between 2010 and 2014. The Entrance Tigers won the Jim Beam Cup in 2003 and 2007 and the Ron Massey Cup in 2014.
Also in 2003, Wyong entered the Newcastle Rugby League Competition which was perceived to be a stronger league. Wyong remained part of the Central Coast junior competition and up until 2006, also fielded senior teams locally. Wyong were runner's up in the Newcastle Rugby League in 2007 and First Grade Premiers in 2009. This was Wyong's third stint in Newcastle rugby league competitions, having previously competed in Second Grade in 1912, 1913 and 1914; in Third Grade in 1945 and in a Southern Newcastle competition in 1946.
In 2013 Wyong left the Newcastle competition in a dispute over salary caps and instead entered a team in the NSW Cup, the second highest level of senior rugby league in NSW after the NRL. For two seasons, Wyong was the only team in that competition without a direct affiliation with an NRL club. At the same time Wyong returned to the Central Coast first grade competition after a six year absence. In 2015, Wyong affiliated with the Sydney Roosters.
The Berkeley Vale Panthers competed in the NSWRL Sydney Metropolitan Women's Rugby League competition in 2015 and 2016.
Team Numbers
Team numbers obtained and compiled from results published in the newspapers, Central Coast Express, Wyong Shire Advocate and Central Coast Express Advocate.
Senior Competitions
The highest grade of senior rugby league in the Central Coast Division is the Bendigo Bank First Grade competition. In 2016 twelve teams have entered the first grade competition; all twelve also field teams in the Reserve Grade competition. Ten teams are competing the 2016 'Open Age' competition, a league for senior players at a standard below the first/reserve grade competition. A Ladies League tag competition began in 2015 and in 2016 involves ten teams and is sponsored by White Lady Funerals.
2016 Grand Finals are scheduled to be held on Saturday, September 17, 2016 at Woy Woy Oval.
First grade results
See also a List of NSW Central Coast Rugby League First Grade Premiers and First Grade Grand Finals.
Second grade results
See also Reserve Grade Grand Finals