The City Newton Dragons are a defunct New Zealand rugby league club that was based at Victoria Park, Auckland.Clubs/Teams for Rugby League nzsport.co.nz 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.
History City Rovers
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.
City won the Auckland Rugby League's first competition, being awarded the Myers Cup in 1910.Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1990 New Zealand Rugby League, 1990. p.72 The Cup had been donated by Arthur Myers.Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. .
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
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.
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.
1948-2004 The City Rovers and Newton Rangers clubs amalgamated to form City Newton in 1948.City Newton made up of City Rovers and Newton Rangers aucklandleague.co.nz
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.ARL results for Saturday 19 May rleague.com, 19 May 2001
The City Newton Sports Club Incorporated was struck off as an Incorporated Society on 17 June 2004.City Newton Sports Club Incorporated, number 230206 business.govt.nz
In 2014, the popular Auckland hip-hop trio Team Dynamite referenced the City Newton Dragons in the song, Very On.
Notable players
The following players played for the New Zealand national rugby league team while with the club;
City Rovers Kiwis 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.
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) Harry Tancred (1921) Maurice Wetherill (1924) Hec McDonald (1924) Lou Brown (1925) Ben Davidson (1926) Stan Clark (1930) Len Barchard (1930) Steve Watene (1930) Hawea Mataira (1939)
City Rovers other notable players
Bill Hadley (1934-36 All Black)
Newton Rangers Kiwis 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.
Thomas Houghton (1909) Arthur Francis (1911) George A. Gillett (1911) Billy Curran (1912) Billy Dervan (1912) George Cook (1913) Bill Cloke (1919) Wally Somers (1919) Bill Williams (1919) Craddock Dufty (1919) George Iles (1919) Nelson Bass (1919) Joe Bennett (1920) Clarrie Polson (1920) Trevor Hall (1928) Roy Hardgrave (1928) Allen Alfred (Ed) St George (1932) Ted Brimble (1932) Claude Dempsey (1936) Bill McNeight (1937)
City Newton Kiwis Ron O'Regan (1983) Dean Lonergan 1985
Club Titles City Rovers grade championships (1910-1944)
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
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)
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 1928 Second grade knockout 1934 Phelan Shield 1935 Roope Rooster
Top point scorers (City Rovers and Newton Rangers) 1909-44 City Rovers top point scorers (1909-1945) The point scoring lists are compiled from all official organised matches including championship, Roope Rooster, Phelan Shield, Stormont Shield, tour matches, exhibition matches, and charity games. Top point scorersNoPlayerStartEndGamesTriesConPenDGMPoints1Bill Davidson19151923895111132814572Ben Davidson1919193314783111602853Puti Tipene Watene1929193589157939002814Maurice Wetherill19161930127383710022125Lou Brown19241936616810002066Albert Silva1939194570162735001727=Warwick Clarke194019448433539201617=Alan Donovan1938194567213216101619Laurie Barchard1928193262253270015310Ernie Asher1910191867341250515111George Davidson1922192554401410015012Harry Hawkes191919268043910014913William McLaughlin1926193813145201014114George Perry192719337944011013615Jackie Rata19361939601215321013216Bill Turei1932193546311251012917Douglas Hutchison19351943881921102012118Selby Crewther1923192655143061011618Cyril Wiberg1934193873624213011419Albert Asher1910191753171781010320George Wade19261928312800008421Nelson Bass192419304912143207422J.P. (Chook) Mitchell191619261272310007123A Smith19391940341692007024Alf Townsend19211926792130006925George Paki19171925642110006526Jim Gould19391943632100006327Hawea Mataira193719441092000006028Jim Rukutai19101919621435005829Bob Clarke19161921561900005730Reginald Purdy192319343718100056
Newton Rangers top point scorers (1909-1945) 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 also includes additional one off type matches such as those against non-Auckland teams or charity matches. Top point scorersNoPlayerStartEndGamesTriesConPenDGMPoints1Craddock Dufty191919295556834302252Wilfred Brimble1935193997123524001543Claude Dempsey1930194016963926101504Clarrie Polson192019287220329011445Hugh Brady1934194465271112001276Ted Brimble193019401313932001277Roy Hardgrave19241941593840001228George Iles19161919433470001169=Alan Clarke19221928772986001159=Harry Miller Emus1940194225171814001159=Wally Somers1917192912835500011512Mortimer Stephens193319405737000011113Frederick Sissons1936193842629160010814Bert Little192619295334100010415Arnold Porteous1931193458151990010116Arthur Mansill191819294110259009817Joe Bennett191019165619109009518R Clark191319173219117009319Trevor Hall19271934802900008720Hill192919385212149008221Cyril Brimble192919302912128007622Len Farrant190919186612135107423S Anderson193919402511619007324Jack Ginders193619431092400007225Roy Niwa1941194539414180067
City Rovers Head to Head records (1909-1920) Head to head records by opponentOpponentStartFinishGamesWinsDrawsLossesForAgainstNorth Shore Albions19091920221138275202Newton Rangers19101920261916393221Ponsonby United191019203017211357288Eden Ramblers1911191342024941Manukau1912191332011510Otahuhu1914191776016921Grafton Athletic19141920161303282129Maritime1918192084047983Marist Old Boys1919192031021029Lower Waikato191619161100198Waterside Workers191719171100137Railway191719171100186Maritime XIII1919191910031319
References