Alan Clarke was a rugby league player who represented New Zealand in one test match against England in 1932 at lock. In the process he became the 227th player to represent New Zealand. He also played rugby league for the North Island and Auckland representative sides as well as the Newton Rangers, and Marist Old Boys clubs.
Playing career Newton Rangers debut Alan Clarke began being named in the Newton Rangers senior side in the Auckland Rugby League competition in June 1922 whilst still aged just 16, 4 months off his 17th birthday. His debut came in a round 6 match against Richmond Rovers on June 10 and it was said that he and Voysey “responded well” as Newton won 32 to 8. At this stage of his career he was playing regularly in the back line and it wasn't until he was more established that he began to play in the loose forwards. On June 17 in a match with City Rovers he played on the wing and “showed pace, and should have received more opportunities”. He was also said to have played well in the “rear guard” in a July 1 loss to Ponsonby United at Carlaw Park. Clarke scored his first try in senior grade on July 22 against the Fire Brigade side. It was said to be a “cheap try” after Newdick of Fire Brigade was blinded by the sun whilst trying to field a kick. Clarke, who was playing in the forwards, was following up and he gathered and scored. Clarke finished the 1922 season playing 9 matches for Newton whilst adding a conversion to the try he scored for 5 points in his debut season.
The 1923 season saw Clarke play 12 matches for Newton, scoring 2 tries and kicking a penalty in a Roope Rooster first round loss to Marist Old Boys, a team he was to eventually join. He had played in a variety of positions and even took up the fullback position in their round 11 match against Devonport United.
Auckland debut In 1924 Clarke played 8 matches for Newton and obviously impressed the selectors as he was named as a reserve for the Auckland B team in their match against Lower Waikato on August 20. He played 4 further matches for Newton and was then selected in a weakened Auckland side to play South Auckland (Waikato) on September 20. The final round of the Auckland first grade competition was being played and so players from Devonport, Marist, Richmond, and Athletic were all unavailable for selection. Unsurprisingly Auckland were easily defeated by 21 points to 5 at Steele Park in Hamilton.
The following season in 1925 Clarke played 12 games for Newton and scored 7 tries and kicked 5 goals. His first try of the season came in a match against Athletic where he combined with Victor Humby, Clarrie Polson, and Wally Somers. The New Zealand Herald listed him amongst the “prominent Auckland players… who have claims for selection”. From June 13 to July 18 he scored tries in 4 consecutive matches against Athletic, City, Richmond, and Marist respectively. The Herald commented following these matches that “it often takes some players several seasons to find their position in a team. This can well be applied to Clarke, of Newton. In the last two games Clarke has filled the position of wing-three quarter and in this place played a fine game against Richmond”.
North Island selection 1926 saw Clarke play 10 games for Newton and he scored 37 points from 9 tries, 3 conversions and 2 penalties. This placed him 9th on the season scoring list for 1st grade competitions. Following their round 5 match with Marist the New Zealand Herald stated that “Clarke was easily the best forward on the ground. He displayed plenty of pace in the open and his handling and passing were excellent. He should go very near representative honours this season”. The next week he scored 3 tries in a 26–10 win over Grafton Athletic and was said to again be the best forward on the field with “his speed and clever handling enabling him to take part in most of the attacking movements. The claims of the Newton forwards for a place in the trial games cannot be overlooked”. On June 19 Newton played City and after the game the Herald wrote of the claims of various players to a place in the Auckland representative side. It was said that selectors Fox, McClymont and Asher had "no easy task” and that “the form shown by many young players is very encouraging, and it will occasion no surprise to see many of those who usually gain places passed over in favour of younger men. This particularly applies to the forwards. Although only six are required, the claims of Clarke (Newton), A. Scott (Devonport), and Payne (Ponsonby) have already been discussed".
The Auckland selectors chose 20 players to go into training for the match against Waikato and Clarke was included amongst the forwards. It was said “Clarke, of Newton, has on many occasions shown himself to be a clever forward, and, given an opportunity, he will not fail to bring himself in line with the best six forwards playing the game. Following the squads Thursday night training Clarke was named to play in the second row along with Lou Hutt, with Bert Avery at lock. The match was played at Carlaw Park on June 26 and saw Auckland run out easy winners by 49 to 15. Clarke had obviously impressed the selectors as he was then picked in the North Island side, a team he was to go on to represent on 3 further occasions. He played in the second row and was “equal to any of the North Island forwards [and] was a great worker in the loose and never let up against the solid opposition. The Newton forward has yet to gain experience but he has youth and fitness in his favour and should he gain a place in the [New Zealand] touring team, it can be safely said that he would return a polished forward”. At this stage of his career Clarke was still only aged 20, and a few months shy of his 21st birthday. The North Island won the match against the South Island 31 to 22 before a crowd of 18,000. The stakes had been particularly high with the New Zealand selectors looking to choose 26 players to tour England, Wales, and France. He was picked to play lock for Auckland against a “Rest of New Zealand” side on July 7. The Auckland team omitted several of their leading players to give others a chance to impress and Clarke “in the Auckland vanguard” did just that as he along with Alf Townsend and Jim O’Brien “were the best”.
Clarke was then selected in a New Zealand trial to be played as curtain raiser to the NZ Probables v Possibles match. He played in the A Team and scored a try in a 30–28 loss. He was subsequently named in the Auckland side to take on the New Zealand team prior to their departure for Europe but ultimately did not play in the game. Clarke then informed the selectors that he was also unavailable for selection for their match with Otago and it was stated in the Auckland Star that the reason was due to injury. He missed further matches for Newton against Richmond and Marist before eventually returning to play against Grafton on September 4. Clarke scored all 13 of Newton's points from 3 tries and 2 conversions in a 13 to 12 win. He scored another try and kicked 2 penalty goals in Newton's round 1 defeat in the Roope Rooster competition to Richmond. That was his final match of the season as he was named in the reserves for Auckland in their match with South Auckland but did not take the field.
The 1927 season saw Clarke open the season with a representative appearance for Auckland against the New Zealand side which had returned from their tour. He scored a try and kicked a conversion and a penalty in a 24–21 win before a crowd of 14,000 at Carlaw Park. He was in excellent form for Newton throughout the year being mentioned regularly by the press. Following a win over City on May 28 the Auckland Star said “much of Newton’s victory must be handed out to Clarke, who towered above his energetic pack as the best forward on the ground. He was the principal connecting link between the forwards and the rear guard, in addition to being up with everything that was going”. He was playing in the pack with Henry, Wally Somers, and Trevor Hall and they helped Newton to their 2nd ever first grade title with a 10 win, 1 draw, 2 loss record. Against Ponsonby United he was reported as “the most resourceful scrummager for Newton and the best forward on the ground”. Following the final round Newton had found themselves level with Ponsonby at the top of the table and so a playoff for the title was necessary. Newton won a match described as “one of the hardest contests for some years” by 6 points to 3 before 12,000 spectators at Carlaw Park. Clarke was said to have given “a brilliant display, being the best forward on the ground. He possessed rare pace and a nice swerve. With more experience, Clarke should develop into a great player”.
He was selected for Auckland ‘Southern Tour’ where they played matches with Canterbury, West Coast, Otago, and Wellington. On September 10 Clarke was part of the side who beat Canterbury 24–13 at Monica Park in Christchurch in front of 3,000. He also played in the 20–13 win over Otago at the Caledonian Ground in Dunedin where 2,000 watched. It is not known if he played in either of the other two fixtures as full lineups were not published in any of the nations newspapers.
Then on returning to Auckland, Clarke was selected for the North Island side to play their annual match with the South Island. The North Island won by 13 points to 8 with Clarke said to have played well though he “was inclined to be uncertain”. He then finished his season playing in the Stormont Shield ‘champion of champions’ match against Richmond. Newton won for the only time in their history 25 to 14 with Clarke scoring a try. The match was notable for the large number of injuries with 3 Newton players taken to Auckland Hospital with broken bones and Somers spraining his ankle.
The 1928 season saw Clarke play 14 matches for Newton scoring 3 tries and kicking 1 conversion. He was chosen by selectors Fox, Avery, and Asher to play in the second row for Auckland in their June 16 match against South Auckland. In pouring rain Clarke “shone” along with Alf Scott, Payne, and Lou Hutt who all did well “in the loose play”.
On July 11 Clarke played for the Auckland Possibles side in a trial match against the Probables. His side won 24 to 14. He was subsequently picked for Auckland for their clash against the visiting Canterbury team. Auckland trounced them 66 to 26 with Clarke converting a try. He then played in Auckland's surprise defeat to South Auckland 19 points to 17.
Clarke was chosen for the New Zealand Possibles team in a trial match against the Probables. The selectors were endeavouring to finalise the New Zealand side to play 3 tests against the touring England team. His side went down 27 to 24 but he scored a try and kicked a penalty with the Auckland Star saying there was “no denying the fact that… Clarke was the outstanding forward in the trial game”. His teammate Hall had also missed selection and the New Zealand Herald writer commented prior to the naming of the first test side that “the two outstanding forwards were Hall and Clarke, who played great games. The Newton pair made a big impression and their speed and fine handling were greatly admired. Both must have a chance in the final selection”.