North Shore Albions

The North Shore Albions were a rugby league club based on the North Shore of Auckland in Devonport before moving to Bayswater at a later time. They formed in 1909 and folded in the early 2000s due to a lack of playing numbers. At the start of the 1920 season they were renamed Devonport United when they amalgamated with the Sunnyside club.[2] It was proposed at the merger that they be known as North Shore Albions but Sunnyside objected and the name of Devonport United was chosen. In 1937, 17 years later at their annual general meeting they decided to revert to the name "North Shore Albions" as they had been commonly referred to as "shore" for many years.[3] Chairman H. Mann made the proposal and it was adopted by the club. Aside from Northcote and Birkenhead Ramblers they were the only club on the North Shore at that time. They closed their doors in 2005.[4] The only remaining club connected to them are the Northern Brothers who are based at Ngataringa Bay Sports Field. Their senior team is an amalgamation of East Coast Bays Barracudas and Glenfield Greyhounds but are based more in the North Shore Albions traditional area which includes the navy ground which has provided many players and teams over the years. The predominant colours are black and green which have been common colours of all the North Shore clubs over the decades.

North Shore Albions
Club information
Full nameNorth Shore Albions Rugby League Football Club
ColoursBlack and White
Founded1909[1]
Exited2005 (2005)
Former details
Ground(s)
  • Bayswater Park
  • Devonport Domain
CompetitionAuckland Rugby League
Records
Premierships1913, 1914, 1928, 1932, 1933, 1941
Runners-up1940
Minor premiership1941, 1946, 1955,
Stormont Shield1930, 1931, 1933, 1940, 1945, 1954,
Roope Rooster1915, 1931, 1945, 1954
Norton Cup1931, 1973, 1990, 1991

History
The Roope Rooster semi final on September 25, 1926 at Carlaw Park between North Shore (Devonport United at the time) and Marist. Devonport won 28 to 11.

They were formed in 1909 when the Auckland Rugby League competition was in its infancy, having its own first General Meeting that same season.

They were officially born on the evening of 23 July 1909 when a meeting was held at the Devonport Council Chambers. The following people were elected officers for the inaugural season: President – Dr. Guinness, Vice Presidents – Dr. Bennett, Captain Pilkington, Mr W. Swinnerton, Mr. A. Goldwater, and Mr. D. W. McLean, Committee – Mr. F. Gladding, Mr. P. Gerrard, Mr. Clark, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Wells, and Mr. Powell, with Mr. A. J. Powley the Secretary and Treasurer.[5]

They played in the first ever rugby league match between two Auckland club teams when they played City Rovers at Eagleton's Paddock in Epsom. North Shore put out a strong side and won the match by 44 points to 22.[6] Their team was made up of the following players: F. Neighbour, F. Gladding, Richard Wynyard, Gerrard, George Seagar, Frank Woodward, Griffin, B. Wells, Allen, C. Wells, Percival, Shaw, McReynolds, Marshall, Powell, William Wynyard, McDonald, and Stevens.

24 July, 1909 North Shore Albions 44–24 City Rovers Eagleton's Paddock, Epsom  
Try: B Wells 2, F Neighbour, Percival, Fred Gladding 2, George Seagar 3
Con: Frank Woodward 7		 [7] Try: Arthur Carlaw, William Tyler, C Linkhorn 2, Len Farrant, Smith
Con: Thomas Houghton, Len Farrant 2		 Referee: Matt Hooper

They also played one match on the Devonport Domain that year against a combined town team which they won by 26 points to 10.[8]

14 August, 1909 North Shore 26-10 Combined Town North Shore Cricket Ground  
3:00 Try: Unknown [9] Try: Unknown

They then finished the year with a match against Newton Rangers at Victoria Park on September 4.

4 September, 1909 Newton Rangers 17–16 North Shore Albions Victoria Park  
3:00 Try: Alf Chorley, William Mackrell 2
Con: D Bradburn 3
Pen: D Bradburn		 [10] Try: Jim Griffen, Williams 2, McReynolds
Con: S Marshall
Pen: F Neighbour

Titles
North Shore after winning the 1941 Rukutai Shield (awarded to the team leading after the first round).

They were particularly successful in their early years. They won the senior grade 6 times from 1913 to 1941, while they won the minor premiership (Rukutai Shield) 3 times from 1941 to 1955.[11] As Auckland grew and the North Shore gentrified North Shore struggled to remain the power house it once was and it dropped down the grades. Its last notable title was the Norton Cup which they won in 1990 and 1991.

Notable representatives

New Zealand representatives whilst with North Shore

Other New Zealand representatives

A list of players who played for North Shore who played for New Zealand prior to or after leaving North Shore.

Other notable players

North Shore Senior Team Records (1910-1942)

The season record for the most senior men’s team in the club.

Season Grade Name Played W D L PF PA PD Pts Position (Teams)
19101st Grade (Myers Cup) North Shore Albions811641119-7834th of 4
19111st Grade (Myers Cup) North Shore Albions730480688863rd of 5
19121st Grade (Myers Cup) North Shore Albions1051412911118142nd of 6
19131st Grade (Myers Cup) North Shore Albions7511805525111st of 6
19141st Grade (Myers Cup) North Shore Albions108111353897171st of 6
19151st Grade North Shore Albions94147683-794th of 6
19161st Grade North Shore Albions107121345777152nd of 6
19171st Grade North Shore Albions94058491-784th of 6
19181st Grade North Shore Albions3003230-2806th of 6 (withdrew after 3 games)
19191st Grade (Myers Cup) North Shore Albions104159594195th of 8
19201st Grade (Myers Cup) Devonport United1242698151-53105th of 7
19211st Grade (Monteith Shield) Devonport United710661132-7126th of 7
19221st Grade (Monteith Shield) Devonport United1471622319429154th of 8
19231st Grade (Monteith Shield) Devonport United12606135141-6124th of 7
19241st Grade (Monteith Shield) Devonport United16111427219181232nd of 9 (lost 20-17 v Marist in a playoff)
19251st Grade (Monteith Shield) Devonport United12507174207-33104th of 7
19261st Grade (Monteith Shield) Devonport United1150622314974104th of 7
19271st Grade (Monteith Shield) Devonport United1270520711493143rd of 7
19281st Grade (Monteith Shield) Devonport United1290322414918181st of 7
19291st Grade (Monteith Shield) Devonport United151113236113123232nd of 8
19301st Grade (Monteith Shield) Devonport United1380515112823163rd of 8
19311st Grade (Fox Memorial) Devonport United1210021789286202nd of 7
19321st Grade (Fox Memorial) Devonport United1072113010426161st of 6
19331st Grade (Fox Memorial) Devonport United1071214212913151st of 6
19341st Grade (Fox Memorial) Devonport United13517100130-30114th of 6
19351st Grade (Fox Memorial) Devonport United12525150154-4123rd of 7
19361st Grade (Fox Memorial) Devonport United1464418415034163rd of 8
19371st Grade (Fox Memorial) North Shore Albions14419148220-7296th of 8
19381st Grade (Fox Memorial) North Shore Albions15609202221-19127th of 9
19391st Grade (Fox Memorial) North Shore Albions16101519615343212nd of 9
19401st Grade (Fox Memorial) North Shore Albions161105263161102222nd of 9
19411st Grade (Fox Memorial) North Shore Albions161312304138166271st of 9
19421st Grade (Fox Memorial) Marist-North Shore154011126237-11186th of 6
1910-42 TOTAL3822032515449834304622434

References
  1. "The Northern Union Game/Auckland Rugby Football League". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. XLVI, no. 14117. 20 July 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 13 November 2019 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  2. "Two Clubs Amalgamate". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17436. 5 March 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 10 August 2019 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  3. "Devonport United/North Shore Albions". Auckland Star. Vol. LXVIII, no. 65. 5 March 1920. p. 23. Retrieved 25 March 2020 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  4. "New Acquisitions" (PDF). Devonport Historical and Museum Society Newsletter. Vol. 6, no. 2. 1 October 2005. p. 2. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  5. "Northern Union Football". Auckland Star. Vol. XL, no. 174. 23 July 1909. p. 3. Retrieved 13 November 2019 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  6. "Northern Union Game/First League Match/Some Heavy Scoring". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. XLVI, no. 14122. 26 July 1909. p. 7. Retrieved 1 October 2019 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  7. "City v North Shore/Win for the Shore". Auckland Star. Vol. XL, no. 176. 26 July 1909. p. 7. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  8. "The Northern Union Game/North Shore V Combined Town". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. XLVI, no. 14140. 16 August 1909. p. 7. Retrieved 1 October 2019 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  9. "The Northern Union Game". New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14140. 16 August 1909. p. 7. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  10. "Northern Union Game". Auckland Star. Vol. XL, no. 212. 6 September 1909. p. 7. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  11. "The 'Knockout' Competition/Champions Beaten by Newton/City Defeat Ponsonby". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. L, no. 15335. 23 June 1913. p. 9. Retrieved 12 August 2019 – via National Library of New Zealand.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.