City Newton Dragons

The City Newton Dragons are a defunct New Zealand rugby league club that was based at Victoria Park, Auckland. The club was created in 1948 by a merger of two original clubs, the City Rovers and Newton Rangers. Both the Rovers and the Rangers participated in the inaugural Auckland Rugby League competition in 1910. In 2004, the club was absorbed by the Ponsonby Ponies, who play a match in the City Newton colours annually to keep the heritage of the club alive.

History

City Rovers

The City Rovers were formed in the days following the formation of the Auckland Rugby League on 19 July 1909. In their first year City played against the Ponsonby Ponies, City included Ernie and Albert Asher, Jim Rukutai and Alex Stanaway.

City won the Auckland Rugby League's first competition, being awarded the Myers Cup in 1910.Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1990 ''New Zealand Rugby League'', 1990. p.72 The Cup had been donated by Arthur Myers.Coffey, John and Bernie Wood ''Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009'', 2009. .

City again won premierships in 1911, 1916, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1925 and 1944. In 1921 they completed a unique treble by also winning the Roope Rooster and Thacker Shield in the same year.

Newton Rangers

The Newtown Rangers were formed in the days following the formation of the Auckland Rugby League on 19 July 1909. They lost to Ponsonby United 6–16 on 21 August at Victoria Park.

The club won premierships in 1912 and 1927 and they won the Roope Rooster in 1919, 1920 and 1935. In 1927 they won the Stormont Shield defeating Richmond 25-17 in the final.

1948-2004

The City Rovers and Newton Rangers clubs amalgamated to form City Newton in 1948.City Newton made up of City Rovers and Newton Rangers
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During the 1960s the Auckland Rugby League instituted a districts programme and Ellerslie, City Newton and Eastern Suburbs combined to form ''Eastern Districts''. The combination won almost every trophy between 1960 and 1963 before the clubs regained their separate identities.

In 2001 City Newton competed in the Auckland Rugby League's second division, the Sharman Cup.

The City Newton Sports Club Incorporated was struck off as an Incorporated Society on 17 June 2004.City Newton Sports Club Incorporated, number 230206
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Notable players

The following players played for the New Zealand national rugby league team while with the club;

City Rovers Kiwis

Players who played for New Zealand while playing for City Rovers. In brackets is the year that they first appeared for New Zealand while also playing for Newton.

*Albert Asher (1910)
*Ernie Asher (1910)
*Sid Kean (1911)
* Frank Morse (1911)
*Jim Rukutai (1911)
*Alex Stanaway (1911)
* Bob Mitchell (1912)
* Bill Davidson (1919)
*Bert Laing (1919)
*Ivan Stewart (1919)
* Tom Haddon (1919)
*George Paki (1921)
* Harry Tancred (1921)
*Maurice Wetherill (1924)
*Hec McDonald (1924)
*Lou Brown (1925)
*Ben Davidson (1926)
* Stan Clark (1930)
* Len Barchard (1930)
* Steve Watene (1930)
* Hawea Mataira (1939)

Newton Rangers Kiwis

Players who played for New Zealand while playing for Newton Rangers. In brackets is the year that they first appeared for New Zealand while also playing for Newton. Lou Brown (pictured) played for Newton in 1922-23 before transferring to City and then being selected for New Zealand in 1925.

* Thomas Houghton (1909)
* Arthur Francis (1911)
* George A. Gillett (1911)
* Billy Curran (1912)
* Billy Dervan (1912)
* George Cook (1913)
* Bill Cloke (1919)
*Wally Somers (1919)
* Bill Williams (1919)
*Craddock Dufty (1919)
* George Iles (1919)
*Nelson Bass (1919)
* Joe Bennett (1920)
*Clarrie Polson (1920)
*Trevor Hall (1928)
*Roy Hardgrave (1928)
*Claude Dempsey

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