The Ponsonby Ponies are a rugby league club based in Ponsonby, New Zealand. The club was founded in 1908 and was originally named Ponsonby United. The Ponies compete in the Auckland Rugby League competition and are the oldest rugby league club in NZ.
1917 Ponsonby first grade champions1918 Championship winnersPonsonby with the Thacker Shield in 1920.Newton v Ponsonby, April 24, 1928Ellerslie v Ponsonby, April 28, 1928
The Ponsonby United side which won the 1929 Auckland Rugby League championship. The club was founded in August 1908 by two returning All Golds, Billy Tyler and Charlie Dunning.[2]
In 1924 a Leys Institute side was formed which was affiliated with the Ponsonby club. They fielded 6th Grade teams in that season and in 1925 made up of boys from the area. The team was named after Thomas Wilson Leys who built a building which still stands today for boys to do something and stop them from loitering around 3 Lamps and the tavern later known as the Gluepot. Leys died in 1924 before the building was completed and his brother carried the project on. The team struggled in both seasons, finishing last in 6th Grade A in 1924 and second to last in 1925. The Ponsonby club would hold their meetings at the Leys Institute once it was completed.
1930s
Ponsonby players meeting Lord Bledisloe on May 12, 1934 when the new grandstand at Carlaw Park was opened. Ponsonby captain Lou Hutt is introducing the players.
In 1930 Ponsonby celebrated their 21st anniversary with a social on October 13 at the Druids Hall.
1950s
1952 saw the club win the "treble" of the Fox Memorial, Roope Rooster and Stormont Shield all in one year. This feat was to be repeated in 1972.
In 1979 the club merged with Maritime to form Ponsonby-Maritime however this merger only lasted until 1983. They were relegated in 1992, and have not regained a position in the first division since then.
The club celebrated its centenary in 2008.
In 2015 the Ponies entered back into the Sharman Cup & the rebuild began with a number of former players returning. 2017 was a great season for the Ponsonby Ponies with an outstanding team of former juniors assembled during pre season under coach John Mana. A new committee & chairman was voted in, giving a breath of fresh air into the club.
Following the 2019 season, Auckland Rugby League denied the club entry to its competitive men's competitions indefinitely, citing the clubs inability to meet competitive criteria, despite Ponsonby making the playoffs in 2017 and 2018.
The 2020 season saw the club denied entry to field a male team in any Auckland competitive senior grade competition by ARL, though they did send a team to play the Kia Toa Tigers in Dunedin as a display of its ability to field a competitive team. Otago being the only league welcoming of the clubs attempts to play competitive matches.
Following this, Ponsonby formally entered a men's premier team in the 2021 Otago Rugby League Premiership, travelling to play all games in Otago between Dunedin and Oamaru. A mammoth undertaking for the club which displayed its desire to play competitive games, despite adversity.
Ponsonby won the 2021 Otago Rugby League Minor Premiership, before COVID-19 prevented their ability to travel and participate in the scheduled Grand Final against Otago University, who Ponsonby had defeated earlier in the season.
In 2022 they are fielding a team in the premier grade after several years of negotiations with Auckland Rugby League. Ponsonby were supported in their application by Glenfield, who offered to play in the reserve grade, allowing Ponsonby to compete in the Fox Memorial competition and return to competitive football in Auckland.
Notable players
Between the years 1909 and 1986 Ponsonby developed 44 players that gained New Zealand representative status. Brackets indicates the year that they first represented New Zealand.
The point scoring lists are compiled from matches played in the first grade side including championship, Roope Rooster, Phelan Shield, and all other organised official matches.
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