Jim Beam Cup

The Metropolitan League (1974 - 1976)

The Second Division was reorganised in 1974 and renamed the Metropolitan League. It was dominated by the Ryde-Eastwood club. In the absence of Wentworthville, who competed in the Illawarra Rugby League competition, Ryde-Eastwood won all three Metropolitan League titles. The Metropolitan League was dismantled in 1976 and with it the idea of a second tier competition.

Teams

Since its establishment in 2003 the competition has both expanded and contracted in terms of numbers of side competing. Aside from the original expansion of the Sydney-based competition into the Central Coast, the Jim Beam Cup has continued to expand throughout Sydney, moving away from its Western Sydney base in 2005 with the inclusion of two Northern Sydney sides: the Asquith Magpies and Belrose Eagles.

2007

In 2007, 12 clubs competed for the Jim Beam Cup. New clubs Shellharbour, Chester Hill, Seven Hills and Mount Pritchard competed for the first time. Newtown Jets dropped out of the competition to concentrate on their club's 2007 NSWRL Premier League campaign.

* Asquith Magpies
* Belrose Eagles
* Cabramatta Two-Blues
* Chester Hill Rhinos
* Erina Eagles
* Mt Pritchard Mounties
* Seven Hills Demons
* Shellharbour City Marlins
* Sydney Bulls
* The Entrance Tigers
* Wentworthville Magpies
* Windsor Wolves

In terms of geographical spread four clubs were based in the Parramatta District (Wentworthville, Seven Hills, Cabramatta and Mount Pritchard), two on the Central Coast of NSW (Erina and The Entrance) and Canterbury-Bankstown (Chester Hill and Sydney Bulls) and one each in Penrith (Windsor Wolves), Manly-Warringah (Belrose), Illawarra (Shellharbour) and North Sydney (Asquith).

2008

In 2008, for the first time, an interstate team entered the competition, a Western Australia Rugby League representative side known as the WA Reds, with a view to developing the game in the state in order to secure a future NRL franchise in 2011 - 2012 [cite news |first=Brent |last= Read| title= WA eyes return as Sydney clubs battle |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23736889-5012431,00.html |work= The Australian |publisher= News Limited |date= 2008-05-22 |accessdate=2008-05-22 ] . Also joining the competition for 2008 will be the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks and the Campbelltown Eagles. Seven Hills Demons has also announced they will no longer field a team in the Jim Beam Cup in Season. 2008. [ [http://www.warugbyleague.com.au/content/wateam1/] WA Wins Bid for National Team: The Journey to the NRL Begins, "WA Rugby League", Retrieved on 15 December 2006] The Entrance Tigers, who have just claimed the 2007 Title have unfortunately pulled of the Jim Beam Cup due to the restrictions placed on gambling and smoking in clubs and pubs [ [http://leagueheaven.b1.jcink.com/index.php?act=ST&f=4&t=1015|The Entrance Withdraw from the 2008 Jim Beam Cup] ] . The Asquith Magpies have also withdrawn from the competition.
* Belrose Eagles
* Cabramatta Two-Blues
* Campbelltown Eagles
* Chester Hill Rhinos
* Southern Sharks
* Erina Eagles
* Mt Pritchard Mounties
* Shellharbour City Marlins
* Sydney Bulls
* WA Reds
* Wentworthville Magpies
* Windsor Wolves

Former Jim Beam Cup Teams

* Ryde-Eastwood Hawks (Now Balmain - Ryde Eastwood Tigers in the New South Wales Cup)
* Souths Juniors (Withdrew From the Competition)
* St Mary’s Cougars (formed now defunct joint-venture with Penrith Panthers, playing in the NSWRL Premier League)
* Guildford Owls
* Ourimbah Magpies (withdrew from the competition in Round 12 of the 2005 season)
* Seven Hills Demons (withdraw after the end of the 2007 Season)
* Woy Woy Roosters (withdrew at end of 2005 season)
* Newtown Jets (withdrew after the 2006 season)
* The Entrance Tigers (withdrew after the 2007 Season)
* Asquith Magpies (withdrew after the 2007 Season)

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.sydneybulls.com.au Sydney Bulls Official Site]
* [http://www.twobluesrugbyleague.com.au Cabramatta Two-Blues Official Site]
* [http://www.erinarlfc.com.au Erina Eagles Official Site]
* [http://www.belroseeagles.com Belrose Eagles Official Site]
* [http://www.nswrl.com.au New South Wales Rugby League]
* [http://www.blacktowncitysoccer.com.au/index.php Seven Hills Demons Official Site]
* [http://www.mounties.com.au/ Mount Pritchard Official Site]
* [http://www.windsorwolves.com.au/ Windsor Wolves Official Site]
* [http://www.concreteboots.com/marlins.htm Shellharbour City Marlins Unofficial Site]