City Newton Dragons
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.
| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | City Newton Dragons Rugby League Football Club |
| Colours | Red, White, and Black |
| Founded | 1948 |
| Exited | 2004 |
| Former details | |
| Ground(s) | |
| Competition | Auckland Rugby League |
| Records | |
| Minor premiership | 1957 |
| Sharman Cup | 1966, 1969, 1984 |
| Norton Cup | 1974 |
| Lawson Cup | 1984 |
History
City Rovers
| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Colours | Red and Black |
| Founded | 1909 |
| Exited | 1948 |
| Former details | |
| Ground(s) |
|
| Competition | Auckland Rugby League |
| Records | |
| Premierships | 1910, 1911, 1916, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1944 |
| Roope Rooster | 1916, 1921 |
| Thacker Shield | 1921 |
| Rukutai Shield | 1944 |
| Stormont Shield | 1944 |
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
| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Colours | Red and White |
| Founded | 1909 |
| Exited | 1948 |
| Former details | |
| Competition | Auckland Rugby League |
| Records | |
| Premierships | 1912, 1927 |
| Roope Rooster | 1919, 1920, 1935 |
| Stormont Shield | 1927 |
| Phelan Shield | 1934 |
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
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
The following players played for the New Zealand national rugby league team while with the club;[5]
City Rovers Kiwis
- Albert Asher (1910)
- Ernie Asher (1910)
- Sid Kean (1911)
- Frank Morse (1911)
- Jim Rukutai (1911)
- Alex Stanaway (1911)
- Bob Mitchell (1912)
- Bill Davidson (1919)
- Bert Laing (1919)
- Ivan Stewart (1919)
- Tom Haddon (1919)
- George Paki (1921)
- Maurice Wetherill (1924)
- Hec McDonald (1924)
- Lou Brown (1925)
- Ben Davidson (1926)
- Hawea Mataira (1939)
Newton Rangers Kiwis
- Thomas Houghton (1909)
- Arthur Francis (1911)
- George A. Gillett (1911)
- Billy Curran (1912)
- Billy Dervan (1912)
- Bill Cloke (1919)
- Wally Somers (1919)
- Bill Williams (1919)
- Craddock Dufty (1919)
- George Iles (1919)
- Nelson Bass (1919)
- Clarrie Polson (1920)
City Newton Kiwis
- Ron O'Regan (1983)
- Dean Lonergan 1985
Club Titles
City Rovers grade championships (1910-1941)
- 1910 First Grade (Myers Cup)
- 1911 First Grade (Myers Cup)
- 1914 Fourth Grade
- 1915 Second Grade and Fifth Grade
- 1916 First Grade (Myers Cup), Third Grade, Fourth Grade and Sixth Grade
- 1917 Third Grade and Fourth Grade
- 1919 Fourth Grade and Fifth Grade
- 1920 Second Grade and Fourth Grade
- 1921 First Grade (Monteith Shield) and Fifth Grade
- 1922 First Grade (Monteith Shield), Second Grade and Sixth Grade
- 1923 First Grade (Monteith Shield) and Second Grade
- 1924 Third Grade
- 1925 First Grade (Monteith Shield) and Third Grade
- 1926 Sixth Grade
- 1934 Fifth Grade
- 1936 Fourth Grade
- 1937 Sixth Grade
- 1938 Fourth Grade
- 1939 Fourth Grade
- 1940 Fourth Grade
- 1941 Fourth Grade
Other titles
- 1916 Roope Rooster
- 1918 Roope Rooster
- 1921 Roope Rooster
- 1924 Roope Rooster
- 1939 Phelan Shield
Newton Rangers grade championships (1910-1941)
- 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
- 1919 Roope Rooster
- 1920 Roope Rooster
- 1927 Stormont Shield
- 1935 Roope Rooster
References
- Clubs/Teams for Rugby League Archived 7 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine nzsport.co.nz
- Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4.
- Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1990 New Zealand Rugby League, 1990. p.72
- "Four Members of One Team/Newton League Players". New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19757. 3 October 1927. p. 8. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- City Newton made up of City Rovers and Newton Rangers aucklandleague.co.nz
- ARL results for Saturday 19 May Archived 2013-02-01 at archive.today rleague.com, 19 May 2001
- City Newton Sports Club Incorporated, number 230206 business.govt.nz