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The 2 surviving clubs that first competed in Rugby League in 1911 are Enfield Federals and St Marys. These are 2 very different clubs, with St Marys having a huge number of teams and a licenced club, whereas the Federals now have just 3 teams aged 10 years and below and thus only play non-competitive football.
St Marys RUFC dates from the 1880's and when the Nepean JRU was formed in 1901 they won the first premiership. They repeated this in 1908 and when B Grade was established in 1909 they won both grades. In their final season in RU in 1910 they had no A Grade and the B Grade finished 4th. In August 1910, when the season had been finalised, the RUFC was dissolved and the St Marys was formed at met with the Secretary of the Western Suburbs JRL that month and a game against Parramatta Jnrs was arranged for the following week. St Marys lost 23-11 and the newspaper reports indicated that the St Marys players were unfamiliar with the rules. The entered B Grade of the Western Districts JRL in 1911 but lasted only one season and did not reappear until 1920, when they finished 10th of 12 teams in B Grade.
1921 also proved difficult for the club, finishing equal last in B Grade but 1922 was more fruitful, when they finished equal with Parramatta North in 4th position. On the basis of this improvement, the club was elevated to be the 11th team in A Grade in 1923 but failed to win a game. They had a year off in 1924 and return in 1925 to finish 5th in both B and C Grade. They then had a 4 year break before a return to B Grade in 1930. They missed a few more seasons in the 30's but in 1940 they minor premiers in B Grade but failed to win the premiership. The same situation applied in 1941 but now they made the finals in a 5 team A Grade. They won their premiership (C Grade) in 1944 and were A Grade premiers in 1945. They went on to win many more titles in the Parramatta JRL, Penrith JRL, Metropolitan Cup and later competitions.
Although having no evidence, St Marys claims to have been formed in 1908, despite the fact that prior to 1910 the only competitions were Balmain and South Sydney.
Enfield Federals first played rugby league in 1911 when they were A Grade premiers in the WSJRL. They repeated this title in 1912. It is uncertain whether they had an A Grade in 1913, if so, like Burwood Shamrocks they were directed to play in the Western Districts. They would have been severely weakened as 7 players moved to the Grade club and played 1st Grade over following seasons. The Federals had won the B Grade premiership of the WSJRU in 1909 and most of the players had played for Croydon Park Federals in 1908. The players were part of the first WSJRL in 1910 but had split into 2 clubs - Campsie Triers and Enfield Mercantile. They were B Grade premiers in 1915 and then 5 consecutive B Grade titles from 1926 to 1930. They also won C Grade in 1930 but by 1934 they had ceased to exist. They reappeared in A Grade in 1948 and finished 4th of 14 teams. They were near last the following season and disappeared again. The club restarted with teenage teams in the late 50's and many premierships followed.
Mascot first appears in B Grade in 1913 and may not have played again until 1919. Mascot states that the club commenced in 1910 but they were not playing 1910-1912 and in fact Mascot was not gazetted as a suburb until November 1911 and the former location North Botany was an Australian Rules area.
St Marys RUFC dates from the 1880's and when the Nepean JRU was formed in 1901 they won the first premiership. They repeated this in 1908 and when B Grade was established in 1909 they won both grades. In their final season in RU in 1910 they had no A Grade and the B Grade finished 4th. In August 1910, when the season had been finalised, the RUFC was dissolved and the St Marys was formed at met with the Secretary of the Western Suburbs JRL that month and a game against Parramatta Jnrs was arranged for the following week. St Marys lost 23-11 and the newspaper reports indicated that the St Marys players were unfamiliar with the rules. The entered B Grade of the Western Districts JRL in 1911 but lasted only one season and did not reappear until 1920, when they finished 10th of 12 teams in B Grade.
1921 also proved difficult for the club, finishing equal last in B Grade but 1922 was more fruitful, when they finished equal with Parramatta North in 4th position. On the basis of this improvement, the club was elevated to be the 11th team in A Grade in 1923 but failed to win a game. They had a year off in 1924 and return in 1925 to finish 5th in both B and C Grade. They then had a 4 year break before a return to B Grade in 1930. They missed a few more seasons in the 30's but in 1940 they minor premiers in B Grade but failed to win the premiership. The same situation applied in 1941 but now they made the finals in a 5 team A Grade. They won their premiership (C Grade) in 1944 and were A Grade premiers in 1945. They went on to win many more titles in the Parramatta JRL, Penrith JRL, Metropolitan Cup and later competitions.
Although having no evidence, St Marys claims to have been formed in 1908, despite the fact that prior to 1910 the only competitions were Balmain and South Sydney.
Enfield Federals first played rugby league in 1911 when they were A Grade premiers in the WSJRL. They repeated this title in 1912. It is uncertain whether they had an A Grade in 1913, if so, like Burwood Shamrocks they were directed to play in the Western Districts. They would have been severely weakened as 7 players moved to the Grade club and played 1st Grade over following seasons. The Federals had won the B Grade premiership of the WSJRU in 1909 and most of the players had played for Croydon Park Federals in 1908. The players were part of the first WSJRL in 1910 but had split into 2 clubs - Campsie Triers and Enfield Mercantile. They were B Grade premiers in 1915 and then 5 consecutive B Grade titles from 1926 to 1930. They also won C Grade in 1930 but by 1934 they had ceased to exist. They reappeared in A Grade in 1948 and finished 4th of 14 teams. They were near last the following season and disappeared again. The club restarted with teenage teams in the late 50's and many premierships followed.
Mascot first appears in B Grade in 1913 and may not have played again until 1919. Mascot states that the club commenced in 1910 but they were not playing 1910-1912 and in fact Mascot was not gazetted as a suburb until November 1911 and the former location North Botany was an Australian Rules area.
