City Newton Dragons

(Redirected from City Rovers)

The City Newton Dragons are a defunct New Zealand rugby league club that was based at Victoria Park, Auckland.[1] The club was created in 1948 by a merger of two original clubs, the City Rovers and Newton Rangers. Both the Rovers and the Rangers participated in the inaugural Auckland Rugby League competition in 1910. In 2004, the club was absorbed by the Ponsonby Ponies, who play a match in the City Newton colours annually to keep the heritage of the club alive.

City Newton Dragons
Club information
Full nameCity Newton Dragons Rugby League Football Club
ColoursRed, White, and Black
Founded1948; 76 years ago (1948)
Exited2004; 20 years ago (2004)
Former details
Ground(s)
CompetitionAuckland Rugby League
Records
Minor premierships1957
Sharman Cup1966, 1969, 1984
Norton Cup1974
Lawson Cup1984

History edit

City Rovers edit

City Rovers
Club information
ColoursRed and Black
Founded1909
Exited1948
Former details
Ground(s)
  • Victoria Park
  • Carlaw Park
  • Auckland Domain
CompetitionAuckland Rugby League
Records
Premierships1910, 1911, 1916, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1944
Roope Rooster1916, 1921
Thacker Shield1921
Rukutai Shield1944
Stormont Shield1944
Phelan Shield1939
 
City v Athletic in the championship final of 1923 at Carlaw Park.
 
City Rovers v Maritime in the first ever game at Carlaw Park on June 25, 1921. City won 10-8 against Maritime Football Club.

The City Rovers were formed in the days following the formation of the Auckland Rugby League on 19 July 1909. In their first year City played against the Ponsonby Ponies, City included Ernie and Albert Asher, Jim Rukutai and Alex Stanaway.[2]

City won the Auckland Rugby League's first competition, being awarded the Myers Cup in 1910.[3] The Cup had been donated by Arthur Myers.[2]

City again won premierships in 1911, 1916, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1925 and 1944. In 1921 they completed a unique treble by also winning the Roope Rooster and Thacker Shield in the same year.

Newton Rangers edit

Newton Rangers
Club information
ColoursRed and White
Founded1909
Exited1948
Former details
CompetitionAuckland Rugby League
Records
Premierships1912, 1927
Roope Rooster1919, 1920, 1935
Stormont Shield1927
Phelan Shield1934

The Newtown Rangers were formed in the days following the formation of the Auckland Rugby League on 19 July 1909. They lost to Ponsonby United 6–16 on 21 August at Victoria Park.[2]

The club won premierships in 1912 and 1927 and they won the Roope Rooster in 1919, 1920 and 1935. In 1927 they won the Stormont Shield defeating Richmond 25-17 in the final.[4]

1948-2004 edit

The City Rovers and Newton Rangers clubs amalgamated to form City Newton in 1948.[5]

During the 1960s the Auckland Rugby League instituted a districts programme and Ellerslie, City Newton and Eastern Suburbs combined to form Eastern Districts. The combination won almost every trophy between 1960 and 1963 before the clubs regained their separate identities.

In 2001 City Newton competed in the Auckland Rugby League's second division, the Sharman Cup.[6]

The City Newton Sports Club Incorporated was struck off as an Incorporated Society on 17 June 2004.[7]

Notable players edit

The following players played for the New Zealand national rugby league team while with the club;[5]

City Rovers Kiwis edit

Players who played for New Zealand while playing for City Rovers. In brackets is the year that they first appeared for New Zealand while also playing for Newton.

Newton Rangers Kiwis edit

 
Lou Brown prior to departing for England, with Wilson Hall and Len Mason of the Maritime club.

Players who played for New Zealand while playing for Newton Rangers. In brackets is the year that they first appeared for New Zealand while also playing for Newton. Lou Brown (pictured) played for Newton in 1922-23 before transferring to City and then being selected for New Zealand in 1925.

City Newton Kiwis edit

Club Titles edit

City Rovers grade championships (1910-1944) edit

  • 1910 1st Grade (Myers Cup)
  • 1911 1st Grade (Myers Cup)
  • 1914 4th Grade
  • 1915 2nd Grade and 5th Grade
  • 1916 1st Grade (Myers Cup), 3rd Grade, 4th Grade and 6th Grade
  • 1917 3rd Grade and 4th Grade
  • 1918 6th Grade
  • 1919 4th Grade and 5th Grade
  • 1920 2nd Grade and 4th Grade
  • 1921 1st Grade (Monteith Shield) and 5th Grade
  • 1922 1st Grade (Monteith Shield), 2nd Grade and 6th Grade
  • 1923 1st Grade (Monteith Shield) and 2nd Grade
  • 1924 3rd Grade
  • 1925 1st Grade (Monteith Shield) and 3rd Grade
  • 1926 6th Grade
  • 1934 5th Grade
  • 1936 4th Grade
  • 1937 6th Grade
  • 1938 4th Grade
  • 1939 4th Grade
  • 1940 4th Grade
  • 1941 4th Grade
  • 1944 1st Grade (Fox Memorial Shield)

Other titles edit

  • 1916 Roope Rooster
  • 1918 Roope Rooster
  • 1921 Roope Rooster
  • 1924 Roope Rooster
  • 1939 Phelan Shield
  • 1942 Rukutai Shield (combined City-Otahuhu side)
  • 1944 Rukutai Shield
  • 1944 Stormont Shield

Newton Rangers grade championships (1910-1942) edit

  • 1912 First Grade (Myers Cup)
  • 1921 Second Grade
  • 1927 First Grade (Monteith Shield)
  • 1932 Fifth Grade
  • 1934 Fourth Grade
  • 1937 Schoolboys (Junior)
  • 1939 Schoolboys (Senior)
  • 1940 Schoolboys (Intermediate)

Other titles edit

  • 1919 Roope Rooster
  • 1920 Roope Rooster
  • 1927 Stormont Shield
  • 1928 Second grade knockout
  • 1934 Phelan Shield
  • 1935 Roope Rooster

Top point scorers (City Rovers and Newton Rangers) 1909-44 edit

City Rovers top point scorers (1909-1945) edit

The point scoring lists are compiled from matches played in the first grade championship, Roope Rooster, Phelan Shield and Stormont Shield matches which involved all first grade sides. It does not include additional one off type matches such as those against non-Auckland teams or charity matches.

Top point scorers
No Player Start End Games Tries Con Pen DG M Points
1 Bill Davidson 1915 1923 88 44 87 32 2 3 380
2 Alan Donovan 1940 1945 - 29 71 36 1 0 303
3 Puti Tipene Watene 1929 1935 77 11 74 41 0 0 263
4 Ben Davidson 1920 1932 148 71 8 1 6 0 243
5 Lou Brown 1924 1936 61 65 1 0 0 0 197
6 Maurice Wetherill 1918 1930 133 34 34 11 0 0 194
7 Warwick Clarke 1940 1944 - 2 33 40 1 0 154
8 Ernie Asher 1912 1917 72 3 41 25 0 5 151
9 Laurie Barchard 1927 1931 - 22 34 8 0 0 150
10= William McLaughlin 1926 1937 - 45 2 0 1 0 141
10= A Silva 1943 1945 - 11 28 26 0 0 141
12 George Davidson 1922 1925 56 36 12 1 0 0 134
13 Harry Hawkes 1921 1926 - 37 7 1 0 0 127
14 Jackie Rata 1936 1939 - 11 14 32 1 0 127
15 George Perry 1927 1932 - 40 0 0 1 0 122
16 Albert Asher 1910 1916 62 36 12 1 0 0 115
17 Cyril Wiberg 1934 1938 - 6 22 18 3 0 104
18 Sam Crewther 1923 1926 - 13 27 4 1 0 103
19 J Hutchinson 1937 1943 - 18 16 5 2 0 100
20 Bill Turei 1933 1935 - 24 8 3 0 0 94
21 George Wade 1926 1927 - 27 0 0 0 0 81
22 Nelson Bass 1924 1927 44 11 13 5 1 0 71
23 Alf Townsend 1921 1926 78 21 3 0 0 0 69
24 C Mitchell 1916 1926 - 22 1 0 0 0 68
25 Hawea Mataira 1937 1944 - 20 0 0 0 0 60

Newton Rangers top point scorers (1909-1945) edit

The point scoring lists are compiled from matches played in the first grade championship, Roope Rooster, Phelan Shield and Stormont Shield matches which involved all first grade sides. It does not include additional one off type matches such as those against non-Auckland teams or charity matches.

Top point scorers
No Player Start End Games Tries Con Pen DG M Points
1 Craddock Dufty 1919 1929 52 5 71 37 2 0 235
2 Clarrie Polson 1920 1926 83 22 33 9 0 1 152
3 Claude Dempsey 1930 1940 - 3 38 26 1 0 139
4 Ted Brimble 1930 1940 148 39 4 2 0 0 129
5 Wilfred Brimble 1935 1939 - 9 30 18 0 0 123
6 Roy Hardgrave 1924 1929 60 38 4 0 0 0 122
7 H Brady 1933 1944 - 25 10 10 0 0 115
8 Wally Somers 1917 1928 138 34 5 0 0 0 112
9 Alan Clarke 1922 1928 84 27 9 6 0 0 111
10 George Iles 1916 1919 43 33 4 0 0 0 107
11 Harry Miller Emus 1940 1942 - 14 16 14 0 0 102
12 Bert Little 1926 1929 - 33 1 0 0 0 101
13 C. or R. Clark/Clarke 1913 1919 - 21 11 6 0 1 99
14 Mortimer Stephens 1933 1940 - 33 0 0 0 0 99
15 Arthur Mansill 1918 1929 - 10 25 9 0 0 98
16 Frederick Sissons 1936 1938 - 5 24 17 0 0 97
17 Joe Bennett 1910 1916 56 19 10 9 0 0 95
18 Trevor Hall 1927 1934 80 27 0 0 0 0 81
19 S Anderson 1939 1940 - 2 16 16 0 0 70
20 Cyril Brimble 1929 1930 - 12 12 5 0 0 70
21 Hill 1929 1938 - 9 14 7 0 0 69
22 Roy Niwa 1941 1945 - 3 15 14 0 0 67
23 Arnold Porteous 1931 1934 - 13 4 8 0 0 63
24 C Potier 1915 1917 - 4 14 8 2 1 62
25 Joe Ginders 1936 1943 - 19 0 0 0 0 57

References edit

  1. ^ Clubs/Teams for Rugby League Archived 7 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine nzsport.co.nz
  2. ^ a b c Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4.
  3. ^ Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1990 New Zealand Rugby League, 1990. p.72
  4. ^ "Four Members of One Team/Newton League Players". New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19757. 3 October 1927. p. 8. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  5. ^ a b City Newton made up of City Rovers and Newton Rangers aucklandleague.co.nz
  6. ^ ARL results for Saturday 19 May Archived 2013-02-01 at archive.today rleague.com, 19 May 2001
  7. ^ City Newton Sports Club Incorporated, number 230206 business.govt.nz