History
1909-1919
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 |
In 1913 North Shore won their first ever first grade championship. They finished the season with a 5 win, 1 draw, 1 loss record, with their 11 competition points three ahead of Newton Rangers, City Rovers, and Ponsonby United all on 8.
| 18 July | Ponsonby | 2–13 | North Shore | Victoria Park | ||
| 3:00 | Pen: Charles Webb | [11] | Try: Wynyard, Edward Fox, Stan Weston Con: Jack Paul 2 | Attendance: 7,000 Referee: Dick Benson |
In 1914 North Shore was tied with Ponsonby United after 9 rounds with 15 competition points each. This meant a final was required to find the champion. North Shore won by 13 points to 2 on Victoria Park before a crowd of 7,000.
1920-1929
The 1920s were a fairly mediocre decade for the North Shore senior side. They finished in the middle of the table most years, though in 1924 Marist Old Boys had 21 competition points and North Shore had 23 competition points but North Shore had played one extra game. The Auckland Rugby League decided that the two sides should meet in a final to decide the title.
Marist won a gripping game 20-17 to deny North Shore their third first grade championship.
| 27 September | Marist | 20–17 | Devonport | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: John Stormont, Jack Kirwan, Billy Ghent, Malloy Con: Charles Gregory 3 Pen: Charles Gregory | [12] | Try: Bert Laing, A Harper, Harry Douglas Con: Bert Laing, Alf Scott Pen: Bert Laing 2 | Attendance: 17,000 Referee: Bill Murray |
North Shore won the first grade championship for the 3rd time in 1928. At this time it was named the Monteith Shield and was replaced by the Fox Memorial Shield in 1931. They had a 9 win, 3 loss record and finished 3 competition points ahead of the Richmond Rovers. Auckland representative, Ernest Ruby is standing second from the right. The following year in 1929 they were tied with Ponsonby United after the final round so a final was played however they lost 5-0 before 11,000 at Carlaw Park.
| 10 August | Ponsonby | 5–0 | Devonport | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: George Gardiner Pen: Frank Delgrosso | [13] | Attendance: 11,000 Referee: Les Bull |
1930-1939
North Shore won the championship twice in the 1930s. The first was in 1932 while the second was in the following year when they went back to back with victory in 1933. Their teams included New Zealand international players such as Len Scott, Allan Seagar, Dick Smith, Bert Leatherbarrow, and Albert Laing, as well as Auckland representatives Hugh Simpson, Ted Scott, Ernest Ruby, Horace Hunt, Leslie Oliff, Alf Smith, and John Donald.
North Shore v Eastern Suburbs (Sydney)
In 1931 North Shore played against Eastern Suburbs from Sydney. The match was played on October 10 at Carlaw Park before a crowd of 17,000. North Shore lost a high scoring match by 41 points to 27.
| 10 October | Devonport | 27–41 | Eastern Suburbs | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Dick Smith, Allan Seagar, H Simpson, Len Scott, Albert Laing Con: Dick Smith 4 Pen: Dick Smith 2 | [14] | Try: Ernie Norman, Morrie Boyle 2, Dick Brown, Dave Brown, Les Rogers 2, Viv Thicknesse, Fred Tottey Con: Morrie Boyle 6, Dave Brown | Attendance: 17,000 Referee: Les Bull |
North Shore & Marist Combined v Eastern Suburbs
Then a week later on October 17 a combined North Shore and Marist side played the same opponent and won 14 to 13 before 15,000 at Carlaw Park.
| 17 October | Devonport-Marist | 14–13 | Eastern Suburbs | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:15 | Try: Len Scott, Hec Brisbane Con: Alan Clarke Pen: Alan Clarke 3 | [15] | Try: Dave Brown 2, Fred Tottey Con: Morrie Boyle 2 | Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Percy Rogers |
North Shore v St George
In 1933 North Shore won the championship by one point from Marist. At the end of the season St George, who had finished runner up in the NSWRL championship toured New Zealand. In their first game on September 23 they played North Shore and won 17-8.
| 23 September | Devonport | 8–19 | St George | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Oliff, Leatherbarrow Con: Albert Laing | [16] | Try: Bernard Martin, Percy Fairall, Jim Rutherford, Max Hollingsworth, Tom Haywood Con: Percy Fairall, Stan Robinson | Attendance: 9,000 Referee: Maurice Wetherill |
1940-1949
In 1940 North Shore won the Stormont Shield for the fourth time in their history. They defeated Richmond Rovers 15-10 in the final at Carlaw Park in front of 5,000 spectators.
| 5 October | North Shore | 15–10 | Richmond | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Ted Scott, Graham, Davis Con: Jack Smith Pen: Jack Smith 2 | [17] | Try: Dave Solomon, Jack McLeod Con: Jack McLeod 2 | Attendance: 5000 Referee: G Kelly |
North Shore won the Fox Memorial once again in 1941.
