Mount Albert Lions

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Mount Albert Lions
Mount Albert Lions.png
Club information
Full nameMount Albert Rugby League
Founded 1928 [1]
Current details
Ground(s)
Coach John Ackland
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 Champions1984
Stormont Shield 1939, 1947, 1948, 1964, 1969, 1970, 1981, 1985, 1987, 1993
Sharman Cup1980

The Mount Albert Lions are a rugby league club based in Mount Albert, New Zealand. The Lions home ground is at Fowlds Park. Their patron is the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark. In 2008 and 2009 the Lions won the Fox Memorial.

Contents

As of 2019 the team is coached by John Ackland. [2]

History

Mt Albert kick off in the 2010 grand final MtAlbertLionsKickOff.JPG
Mt Albert kick off in the 2010 grand final

The club was founded in 1928, after a meeting was held in April of that year. [3] 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. [4] 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.

In 2006 they 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.

Notable players

Kiwis

Australians

Other NZ representatives

Players who represented New Zealand before or after playing for Mt Albert.

Auckland Representatives (1935-1945)

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.

SeasonPldWDLPFPAPDPtsPosition (Teams)Finals
2000 221219593584925Sixth (Twelve)N/A
2001 218013414630-21618*Tenth (Twelve)N/A
2002 16150162027035030Minor Premiers (Twelve)Champions
2003 16130353032820226Second (Twelve)Defeated in Preliminary Final
2004 16120452237814424Third (Twelve)Champions
2005 16120457032624424Minor Premiers (Twelve)Champions

*Two points for a Bye as the Ngongotaha Chiefs withdrew from the competition

Mount Albert Senior Team Records (1928-1944) & (2022-24)

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

SeasonGradeNamePlayWDLPFPAPDPtsFinishing position & notes
1928 3rd GradeMount Albert United15111314831117232nd of 14
1929 2nd GradeMount Albert United12100214137+104202nd of 7
1930 B GradeMount Albert United1141682101-1923rd of 7
1931 2nd GradeMount Albert United15110412826102222nd of 8
1932 2nd GradeMount Albert United16815965244174th of 9, lost Ko final 15-18 to Māngere United
1933 2nd GradeMount Albert United1241756105-4995th of 7
1934 2nd GradeMount Albert United146178196-15133rd of 6, lost semi final of KO competition 5-13 to Papakura
1935 1st Grade (Fox)Mount Albert United1383218414836192nd of 7 (lost Phelan Shield final 8-11 v Ponsonby)
1936 1st Grade (Fox)Mount Albert United137151551496154th of 8
1937 1st Grade (Fox)Mount Albert United14100421912495202nd of 8 (lost Phelan Shield final 18-22 v North Shore)
1938 1st Grade (Fox)Mount Albert United16110527720572222nd of 9
1939 1st Grade (Fox)Mount Albert United161312284165119271st of 9 (lost Roope Rooster final 11-13 v Marist, won Stormont Shield 21-9 v Marist)
1940 1st Grade (Fox)Mount Albert United16100628520679203rd of 9 (lost Phelan Shield final 14-20 v Manukau)
1941 1st Grade (Fox)Mount Albert United155010187238-51108th of 9
1942 1st Grade (Fox)Newton-Mount Albert15609160208-48124th of 6 (combined side with Newton due to WW2 weakening senior playing numbers)
1943 1st Grade (Fox)Mount Albert United1690720916247185th of 9
1944 1st Grade (Fox)Mount Albert United19114419015832262nd 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 MemorialMount Albert United1490517513936184th of 10
Roope RoosterMount Albert United320149454W v Manukau 18-15, W v Ponsonby 19-13, L v North Shore 12-17 in SF
Phelan ShieldMount Albert United1001525-20L v City 5-25 in SF
2022 1st Grade (Fox)Mt Albert Lions8503274170104103rd of 9 in section 1
Playoffs11015862-4W v Otara 36-18 in PF, L v Pt Chevalier 40-22 in QF
2023 Fox QualifiersMt Albert Lions31023690-5423rd of 4 Pool B
Fox Memorial11416219260-4197th of 12
2024 Fox QualifiersMt Albert Lions33009620+7661st of 4 Pool B
Fox Memorial11515302280+22116th of 12
Playoffs10011022-1211L v Te Atatu 10-22 in SF
1928-44 + 2022-2024TOTAL4142172117466465989+657447

All time top point scorers (1935-1945)

The point scoring lists are compiled from matches played in matches for the first grade side. The matches and point scorers includes the combined Newton-Mount Albert side of 1942.

Top point scorers
NoPlayerStartEndGamesTriesConPenDGMarkPts
1Basil Cranch19351945-44736900416
2 Bert Leatherbarrow 19371943-4229400192
3 Des Herring 193419409434241000170
4Les Clement19401945-3619500156
5=Bruce Donaldson1939--7282000117
5=Robert Morrissey19351940-5262500117
7Joseph Gunning19361940-323100104
8Richard Shadbolt19351945-26100080
9 Bob Banham 1939194032320140077
10 Arthur McInnarney 19381941-22200070
11=C Cowley19391943-21210069
11=Jack Tristram19371941-23000069
13 Cliff Satherley 1937-1622900067
14 Clarry McNeil 193519393419000057
15Roy Niwa1942--211110050
16= Roy Hardgrave 193819392615000045
16=McCallum1937--15000045

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References

  1. "Club Formed at Mt Albert". Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 80. 4 April 1928. p. 14. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  2. "John Ackland returns to lead our Premiers".
  3. "Club Formed at Mt Albert". Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 80. 4 April 1928. p. 14. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  4. "Board of Control Affairs/Unemployed Concession Retained". Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 97. 26 April 1934. p. 18. Retrieved 3 December 2019.