Mount Albert Lions
 | |
| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Mount Albert Rugby League |
| Founded | 1928 [1] |
| Current details | |
| Ground | |
| Coach | Trent Wallace |
| Competition | Auckland Rugby League |
| Records | |
| Premierships | 1939, 1947, 1950, 1951, 1968, 1969, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012 |
| Minor premierships | 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1970, 1981, 1983, 1992, 2006, 2012 |
| Bartercard Cup | 2002, 2004, 2005 |
| National Club Champions | 1984, 1986 |
| Stormont Shield | 1939, 1947, 1948, 1964, 1969, 1970, 1981, 1985, 1987, 1993 |
| Sharman Cup | 1980 |
The Mount Albert Lions are a rugby league club based in Mount Albert, New Zealand that plays in the Auckland Rugby League. The Lions’ home ground is at Fowlds Park. Their patron is Helen Clark, a former Prime Minister of New Zealand. In 2008 and 2009 the Lions won the Fox Memorial.
As of 2025 the team is coached by Trent Wallace.
History
The club was founded in 1928, after a meeting was held in April of that year.[2] They fielded teams in the 3rd and 4th grades. In the early 1930s the club moved to its current location at Fowlds Park in Morningside. In their initial seasons they had trained on Springleigh Avenue at what is now Phyllis Street Reserve. Up until 1934 the club had played in mauve colours but in April of that year they applied to the junior management committee to change their club colours to blue and gold.[3] They gained senior status from the Auckland Rugby League in 1935.
The club has won the Fox Memorial trophy fifteen times; in 1939, 1947, 1950, 1951, 1968, 1969, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2009. In 1984 the Lions won the National Club Competition and in 2002, 2004 and 2005 they won the Bartercard Cup.
2000s
In 2006 the Lions defended the Roope Rooster Challenge trophy in all eleven of their games and went on to win the Fox Memorial. In early 2007 they lost the trophy to the Te Atatu Roosters. In 2025 they won the Roope Rooster from Ponsonby Ponies at Victoria Park before losing it weeks later to Otahuhu Leopards.
Notable players
New Zealanders
- Des Herring (1938)
- Clarry McNeil (1938)
- Bob Banham (1939)
- Bunty Afoa
- Bert Leatherbarrow (1939)
- Arthur McInnarney (1939)
- Moses Leota
- Ray Cranch (1951)
- Don Hammond (1959)
- Ray Wilson (1969)
- Richard Bolton (1972)
- John Ackland (1983)
- Shane Cooper (1985)
Australians
Other NZ representatives
Players who represented New Zealand before or after playing for Mt Albert.
Auckland Representatives (1935-1945)
- Des Herring (1935-1939)
- Robert Morrissey (1936)
- Clarrie Petersen (1936)
- Joseph Gunning (1937-1939)
- Bert Leatherbarrow (1937)
- William McCallum (1937)
- Clarry McNeil (1938)
- Richard Shadbolt (1938-1945)
- Walter Cameron (1939)
- Bruce Donaldson (1939)
- Bill Walker (1939)
- Jack Tristram (1941)
- Les Clement (1944-1945)
- Ivan Sumich (1944)
- Bob Borich (1945)
- Alan Wiles (1945)
- Selwyn Thomassen (1945)
Bartercard Cup
Between 2000 and 2005 the Lions competed in the national Bartercard Cup competition. Under the guidance of Brian McClennan they were the most successful club in the competition's history, being champions three times and twice winning the minor premiership. However the club had a slow start to the competition, not making the playoffs in the first two years. Their place in the Bartercard Cup was taken over by the Auckland Lions, an entity which represented Mount Albert as well as other neighbouring clubs. In 2007 the Auckland Lions also competed in the NSWRL Premier League but they were replaced in 2008 by the Auckland Vulcans.
| Season | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Position (Teams) | Finals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 22 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 593 | 584 | 9 | 25 | Sixth (Twelve) | N/A |
| 2001 | 21 | 8 | 0 | 13 | 414 | 630 | -216 | 18* | Tenth (Twelve) | N/A |
| 2002 | 16 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 620 | 270 | 350 | 30 | Minor Premiers (Twelve) | Champions |
| 2003 | 16 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 530 | 328 | 202 | 26 | Second (Twelve) | Defeated in Preliminary Final |
| 2004 | 16 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 522 | 378 | 144 | 24 | Third (Twelve) | Champions |
| 2005 | 16 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 570 | 326 | 244 | 24 | Minor Premiers (Twelve) | Champions |
*Two points for a Bye as the Ngongotaha Chiefs withdrew from the competition
Mount Albert Senior Team Records (1928-1944) & (2022-26)
The season record for the most senior men’s team in the club.
| Season | Grade | Name | Play | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Finishing position & notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | 3rd Grade | Mount Albert United | 15 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 148 | 31 | 117 | 23 | 2nd of 14 |
| 1929 | 2nd Grade | Mount Albert United | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 141 | 37 | +104 | 20 | 2nd of 7 |
| 1930 | B Grade | Mount Albert United | 11 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 82 | 101 | -19 | 2 | 3rd of 7 |
| 1931 | 2nd Grade | Mount Albert United | 15 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 128 | 26 | 102 | 22 | 2nd of 8 |
| 1932 | 2nd Grade | Mount Albert United | 16 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 96 | 52 | 44 | 17 | 4th of 9, lost Ko final 15-18 to Māngere United |
| 1933 | 2nd Grade | Mount Albert United | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 56 | 105 | -49 | 9 | 5th of 7 |
| 1934 | 2nd Grade | Mount Albert United | 14 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 81 | 96 | -15 | 13 | 3rd of 6, lost semi final of KO competition 5-13 to Papakura |
| 1935 | 1st Grade (Fox) | Mount Albert United | 13 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 184 | 148 | 36 | 19 | 2nd of 7 (lost Phelan Shield final 8-11 v Ponsonby) |
| 1936 | 1st Grade (Fox) | Mount Albert United | 13 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 155 | 149 | 6 | 15 | 4th of 8 |
| 1937 | 1st Grade (Fox) | Mount Albert United | 14 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 219 | 124 | 95 | 20 | 2nd of 8 (lost Phelan Shield final 18-22 v North Shore) |
| 1938 | 1st Grade (Fox) | Mount Albert United | 16 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 277 | 205 | 72 | 22 | 2nd of 9 |
| 1939 | 1st Grade (Fox) | Mount Albert United | 16 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 284 | 165 | 119 | 27 | 1st of 9 (lost Roope Rooster final 11-13 v Marist, won Stormont Shield 21-9 v Marist) |
| 1940 | 1st Grade (Fox) | Mount Albert United | 16 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 285 | 206 | 79 | 20 | 3rd of 9 (lost Phelan Shield final 14-20 v Manukau) |
| 1941 | 1st Grade (Fox) | Mount Albert United | 15 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 187 | 238 | -51 | 10 | 8th of 9 |
| 1942 | 1st Grade (Fox) | Newton-Mount Albert | 15 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 160 | 208 | -48 | 12 | 4th of 6 (combined side with Newton due to WW2 weakening senior playing numbers) |
| 1943 | 1st Grade (Fox) | Mount Albert United | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 207 | 162 | 45 | 18 | 5th of 9 |
| 1944 | 1st Grade (Fox) | Mount Albert United | 19 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 190 | 158 | 32 | 26 | 2nd of 10 (lost championship final to City 7-17, won v Otahuhu in RR R1, lost v Ponsonby 2-17 in RR SF. |
| 1945 | Fox Memorial | Mount Albert United | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 175 | 139 | 36 | 18 | 4th of 10 |
| Roope Rooster | Mount Albert United | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 49 | 45 | 4 | W v Manukau 18-15, W v Ponsonby 19-13, L v North Shore 12-17 in SF | ||
| Phelan Shield | Mount Albert United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 25 | -20 | L v City 5-25 in SF | ||
| 2022 | 1st Grade (Fox) | Mt Albert Lions | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 274 | 170 | 104 | 10 | 3rd of 9 in section 1 |
| Playoffs | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 58 | 62 | -4 | W v Otara 36-18 in PF, L v Pt Chevalier 40-22 in QF | |||
| 2023 | Fox Qualifiers | Mt Albert Lions | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 36 | 90 | -54 | 2 | 3rd of 4 Pool B |
| Fox Memorial | 11 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 219 | 260 | -41 | 9 | 7th of 12 | ||
| 2024 | Fox Qualifiers | Mt Albert Lions | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 96 | 20 | +76 | 6 | 1st of 4 Pool B |
| Fox Memorial | 11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 302 | 280 | +22 | 11 | 6th of 12 | ||
| Playoffs | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 22 | -12 | 11 | L v Te Atatu 10-22 in SF | ||
| 2025 | Fox Memorial | Mt Albert Lions | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 320 | 171 | +149 | 18 | 2nd of 10 |
| Playoffs | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 24 | +2 | 2 | W v Manukau 22-16 in SF, L v Otahuhu 4-8 in Final | ||
| 2026 | Fox Memorial | Mt Albert Lions | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 270 | 293 | -23 | 15 | 3rd of 8 |
| Playoffs | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 70 | 50 | +20 | - | W v Pt Chevalier 32-18 in min. SF, W v Manukau 22-12 in maj. SF, L v Otahuhu 16-20 in Grand Final | ||
| 1928-44 + 2022-2026 | TOTAL | 445 | 236 | 22 | 185 | 7,330 | 6,527 | +803 | 480 |
All time top point scorers (1935-1945)
The point scoring lists are compiled from all matches played in matches for the first grade side irrespective of whether they were organised Auckland Rugby League competition games, games against touring sides, or friendly matches outside of Auckland. The matches and point scorers includes the combined Newton-Mount Albert side of 1942.
| Top point scorers | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | Player | Start | End | Games | Tries | Con | Pen | DG | Pts |
| 1 | Basil Cranch | 1935 | 1945 | 143 | 47 | 84 | 62 | 0 | 433 |
| 2 | Bert Leatherbarrow | 1937 | 1943 | 101 | 48 | 23 | 13 | 0 | 220 |
| 3 | Les Clement | 1939 | 1945 | 119 | 45 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 175 |
| 4 | Des Herring | 1934 | 1940 | 88 | 35 | 21 | 10 | 0 | 167 |
| 5 | Robert Morrissey | 1935 | 1936 | 30 | 5 | 29 | 24 | 0 | 121 |
| 6 | Bruce Donaldson | 1939 | - | 20 | 9 | 29 | 16 | 1 | 119 |
| 7 | Joseph Gunning | 1935 | 1941 | 111 | 36 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 116 |
| 8 | Bob Banham | 1939 | 1940 | 32 | 3 | 26 | 17 | 0 | 95 |
| 9 | Richard Shadbolt | 1935 | 1945 | 146 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 89 |
| 10 | Cliff Satherley | 1936 | 1937 | 18 | 1 | 28 | 10 | 0 | 79 |
| 11 | Colin Cowley | 1939 | 1943 | 55 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 75 |
| 12 | Arthur McInnarney | 1938 | 1941 | 53 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 72 |
| 13= | Jack Tristram | 1937 | 1941 | 90 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 |
| 13= | Clarry McNeil | 1935 | 1939 | 34 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 |
| 15 | William McCallum | 1937 | 1938 | 20 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57 |
| 16 | Roy Hardgrave | 1934 | 1939 | 26 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 |
| 17= | Martin Hansen | 1937 | 1939 | 44 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50 |
| 17= | Roy Niwa | 1942 | - | 11 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 50 |
| 19 | Ted Mincham | 1938 | - | 8 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 41 |
| 20 | Arnold Jones | 1943 | 1944 | 36 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 |
References
- ↑ "Club Formed at Mt Albert". Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 80. 4 April 1928. p. 14. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
- ↑ "Club Formed at Mt Albert". Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 80. 4 April 1928. p. 14. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
- ↑ "Board of Control Affairs/Unemployed Concession Retained". Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 97. 26 April 1934. p. 18. Retrieved 3 December 2019.