Mount Albert Lions Explained

Clubname:Mount Albert Lions
Fullname:Mount Albert Rugby League
Founded:1928[1]
Ground:Fowlds Park
Coach:John Ackland
League:Auckland Rugby League
Premierships:1939, 1947, 1950, 1951, 1968, 1969, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012
Minorpremierships:1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1970, 1981, 1983, 1992, 2006, 2012
Cup1:Bartercard Cup
Cup1titles:2002, 2004, 2005
Cup2:National Club Champions
Cup2titles:1984
Cup3:Stormont Shield
Cup3titles:1939, 1947, 1948, 1964, 1969, 1970, 1981, 1985, 1987, 1993
Cup4:Sharman Cup
Cup4titles:1980

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.

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

History

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

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.

width=30 Seasonwidth=20 abbr="Played" Pldwidth=20 abbr="Won" Wwidth=20 abbr="Drawn" Dwidth=20 abbr="Lost" Lwidth=20 abbr="Points for" PFwidth=20 abbr="Points against" PAwidth=20 abbr="Points difference" PDwidth=20 abbr="Points" Ptswidth=150 Position (Teams)width=250 Finals
2000221219593584925 Sixth (Twelve)N/A
2001218013414630-21618*Tenth (Twelve)N/A
200216150162027035030 Minor Premiers (Twelve)Champions
200316130353032820226 Second (Twelve)Defeated in Preliminary Final
200416120452237814424Third (Twelve)Champions
200516120457032624424 Minor Premiers (Twelve)Champions

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

Mount Albert Senior Team Records (1928-1944)

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

width=53 Seasonwidth=140 abbr="Grade" Gradewidth=190 abbr="Name" Namewidth=10 abbr="Play" Playwidth=15 abbr="Won" Wwidth=15 abbr="Drawn" Dwidth=15 abbr="Lost" Lwidth=20 abbr="Points for" PFwidth=20 abbr="Points against" PAwidth=20 abbr="Points difference" PDwidth=20 abbr="Points" Ptswidth=420 Finishing position & notes
3rd Grade Mount Albert United15111314831117232nd of 14
2nd GradeMount Albert United12100214137+104202nd of 7
B GradeMount Albert United1141682101-1923rd of 7
2nd GradeMount Albert United15110412826102222nd of 8
2nd Grade Mount Albert United16815965244174th of 9, lost Ko final 15-18 to Māngere United
2nd GradeMount Albert United1241756105-4995th of 7
2nd Grade Mount Albert United146178196-15133rd of 6, lost semi final of KO competition 5-13 to Papakura
1st Grade (Fox)Mount Albert United1383218414836192nd of 7 (lost Phelan Shield final 8-11 v Ponsonby)
1st Grade (Fox)Mount Albert United137151551496154th of 8
1st Grade (Fox)Mount Albert United14100421912495202nd of 8 (lost Phelan Shield final 18-22 v North Shore)
1st Grade (Fox)Mount Albert United16110527720572222nd of 9
1st Grade (Fox)Mount Albert United161312284165119271st of 9 (lost Roope Rooster final 11-13 v Marist, won Stormont Shield 21-9 v Marist)
1st Grade (Fox)Mount Albert United16100628520679203rd of 9 (lost Phelan Shield final 14-20 v Manukau)
1st Grade (Fox)Mount Albert United155010187238-51108th of 9
1st Grade (Fox)Newton-Mount Albert15609160208-48124th of 6 (combined side with Newton due to WW2 weakening senior playing numbers)
1st Grade (Fox)Mount Albert United1690720916247185th of 9
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.
1st Grade (Fox)Mt Albert Lions8503274170104103rd of 9 in section 1, beat Otara 36-18 in prelim final, lost to Pt Chevalier 40-22 in QFs
1928-44 + 2022TOTAL3201701613245543894-360

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<-- Pos PlayerStartEndGamesTriesConPenDGMarkPts-->
1Basil Cranch19351945-44736900416
2Bert Leatherbarrow19371943-4229400192
3Des Herring193419409434241000170
4Les Clement19401945-3619500156
5=Bruce Donaldson1939--7282000117
5=Robert Morrissey19351940-5262500117
7Joseph Gunning19361940-323100104
8Richard Shadbolt19351945-26100080
9Bob Banham1939194032320140077
10Arthur McInnarney19381941-22200070
11=C Cowley19391943-21210069
11=Jack Tristram19371941-23000069
13Cliff Satherley1937-1622900067
14Roy Niwa1942--211110050
15=Roy Hardgrave193819392615000045
15=McCallum1937--15000045

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Club Formed at Mt Albert. 14. Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 80. 1928-04-04. 2019-09-30.
  2. Web site: John Ackland returns to lead our Premiers.
  3. News: Club Formed at Mt Albert. 14. Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 80. 1928-04-04. 2019-09-30.
  4. News: Board of Control Affairs/Unemployed Concession Retained. 18. Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 97. 1934-04-26. 2019-12-03.