2010 Auckland Rugby League season

The 2010 Auckland Rugby League season was the 2010 season of senior rugby league in Auckland. The Auckland Rugby League ran the various competitions. The season commenced on 13 March, with the start of the Phelan Shield, and finished on 28 August with the three senior grand finals. This was the 101st season of the competition, which began in 1910.

The season followed the same format as 2009, with a qualification series in the first half of the year giving sixteen teams the opportunity to enter the Fox Memorial competition.

Mt Albert convert in the Fox Memorial grand final

Fox Memorial Qualification Series

The Appliance Shed Fox Memorial Qualification Series involved sixteen teams divided into two pools, with the top eight teams entering the Fox Memorial competition. It started on 20 March and concluded on 2 May. The bottom eight teams instead entered the Sharman Cup.

Teams

• Papakura were coached by Dean Clark.
• Otahuhu were coached by Richie Blackmore.
• Mt Albert were coached by Steve Buckingham with Ben Lythe as his assistant coach. The team included Matthew Sturm. ^[1]
• East Coast Bays were coached by Willie Swann & Joe Vagana.
• Te Atatu included former Warrior Malo Solomona.
• The Bay Roskill Vikings were coached by Duane Mann and featured Willie Wolfgramm.

Standings

Team Pld W D L Pts Otahuhu Leopards 7 7 0 0 14 Howick Hornets 7 6 0 1 12 Mt Albert Lions 7 5 0 2 10 Te Atatu Roosters 7 4 0 3 8 Richmond Bulldogs 7 3 0 4 6 Marist Saints 7 2 0 5 4 Bay Roskill Vikings 7 1 0 6 2 Pakuranga Jaguars 7 0 0 7 0

Team Pld W D L Pts Northcote Tigers 7 6 1 0 13 Glenora Bears 7 6 1 0 13 Manurewa Marlins 7 5 0 2 10 Papakura Sea Eagles 7 3 1 3 7 East Coast Bays Barracudas 7 3 1 3 7 Manukau Magpies 7 2 0 5 4 Mangere East Hawks 7 1 0 6 2 Ponsonby Ponies 7 0 0 7 0

Phelan Shield

Point Chev v Waitemata in Phelan Shield action

The Mandron Masonry Phelan Shield began on 13 March and featured eleven teams. The Manukau Magpies were the 2009 champions, but in 2010 they were promoted into the Fox Memorial Qualifying series at the expense of the Hibiscus Coast Raiders. The Pukekohe Pythons also replaced the Waiheke Rams.

After finishing last in 2009 the Point Chevalier Pirates received the help of old boys Awen Guttenbeil and Stacey Jones who were able to attract some high-profile players to the club such as Wairangi Koopu, Monty Betham and Karl Te Nana. ^{[2] [3]} They went on to win the minor premiership in their 90th season, losing only two games in the round robin, before beating the Otara Scorpions 37–12 in the grand final.

Team Pld W D L B Pts Pt Chevalier Pirates 22 18 0 2 2 38 Otara Scorpions 22 14 1 5 2 33 Papatoetoe Panthers 22 14 1 5 2 33 Glenfield Greyhounds 22 11 2 7 2 30 Ellerslie Eagles 22 11 2 7 2 28 New Lynn Stags 22 10 1 9 2 25 Mt Wellington Warriors 22 9 0 11 2 22 Hibiscus Coast Raiders 22 9 0 11 2 22 Navy/North Shore Dolphins 22 4 1 15 2 13 Waitemata Seagulls 22 2 0 18 2 10 Pukekohe Pytons 22 3 2 15 2 10

Semifinals Preliminary Final Grand Final                             Pt Chevalier Pirates 22   Otara Scorpions 20         Pt Chevalier Pirates 37       Otara Scorpions 34   Otara Scorpions 12   Papatoetoe Panthers 28   Papatoetoe Panthers 22 Glenfield Greyhounds 20

Sharman Cup

The bottom eight teams in the Fox Memorial Qualification Series took part in the SAS Sharman Cup. The Howick Hornets were the defending champions but in 2010 they earned a place in the Fox Memorial. The Cup was won by the minor premiers, the East Coast Bays Barracudas, who defeated the Bay Roskill Vikings 34–4.

Team Pld W D L Pts East Coast Bays Barracudas 14 12 0 2 24 Bay Roskill Vikings 14 10 0 4 20 Marist Saints 14 9 1 4 19 Richmond Bulldogs 14 8 1 5 17 Mangere East Hawks 14 6 1 7 13 Manukau Magpies 14 5 1 8 11 Ponsonby Ponies 14 2 0 12 4 Pakuranga Jaguars 14 2 0 12 4

Semifinals Preliminary Final Grand Final                             East Coast Bays 16   Bay Roskill Vikings 0         East Coast Bays 34       Bay Roskill Vikings 24   Bay Roskill Vikings 4   Marist Saints 10   Marist Saints 27 Richmond Bulldogs 24

Fox Memorial

Mt Albert kick off in the Fox Memorial grand final

The top eight teams in the Fox Memorial Qualification Series took part in the Appliance Shed Fox Memorial. The Mt Albert Lions were the defending champions. Round One began with the Otahuhu Leopards and Northcote Tigers playing off for the Stormont Shield and Roope Rooster Challenge Trophy. Otahuhu won this contest and also finished the season as minor premiers to claim to Rukutai Shield.

Otahuhu defeated Mt Albert 22–18 in the grand final to claim the Fox Memorial.

Otahuhu and Mt Albert play in the Fox Memorial grand final

Team Pld W D L Pts Otahuhu Leopards 14 9 3 2 21 Mt Albert Lions 14 9 1 4 19 Howick Hornets 14 9 0 5 18 Te Atatu Roosters 14 8 0 6 16 Glenora Bears 14 7 2 5 16 Northcote Tigers 14 7 1 6 15 Papakura Sea Eagles 14 2 0 12 4 Manurewa Marlins 14 1 1 12 3

Semifinals Preliminary Final Grand Final                             Otahuhu Leopards 18   Mt Albert Lions 26         Mt Albert Lions 18       Otahuhu Leopards 28   Otahuhu Leopards 22   Te Atatu Roosters 14   Howick Hornets 8 Te Atatu Roosters 26

Auckland Rugby League Referees Association

An ARLRA referee in 2010.

The ARL Referees Association celebrated 100 years in 2010 after being founded on 24 May 1910. ^[4] The referees wore a special centenary strip to celebrate the year.

High school

St. Paul's College won the University Cup as first XIII champions. Tamaki College won the under 85 kg division while St Paul's College won the Graeme Lowe Cup for Under 15's. ^[5]

Awards

Player of the Year: Phillip Kahui- Mt Albert Coach of the Year: Richard Blackmore – Otahuhu Club of the Year: Bay Roskill Vikings Volunteer of the Year: Maude Morunga – Papakura Top Goal Kicker: Nickolas Lythgo – Marist Top Try Scorer: Phillip Kahui- Mt Albert Referee of the Year: Craig Pascoe Rookie of the Year: Phillip Pese – Te Atatu

Team of the Year: Fullback – James Blackwell (Otahuhu) Winger – Phillip Kahui (Mt Albert) Centre – Jonathan Carl (Te Atatu) Stand-off – Gavin Bailey (Glenora) Halfback – Trent Wallace (Mt Albert) Prop – Freddie Turuwhenua (Otahuhu) Hooker – Darrin Kingi (Manurewa) 2nd Row – Setu Matafeo (Northcote) Lock – Roman Hifo (Papakura)

References

1. "What they said", Super League, Issue 1 2010. p.17
2. Bliss! Forget about the last game, get ready for another Sunday Star Times, 30 May 2010
3. Old boys fight to keep Pirates afloat New Zealand Herald, 8 November 2009
4. "Referees' Centenary May 21st to 24th" Superleague, Issue 1 2010. p.15.
5. Auckland Rugby League News 1 July 2010

External links

• Official Site

Preceded by 2009

101st Auckland Rugby League season 2010

Succeeded by 2011