Māngere United League Football Club
On April 7, 1915 it was reported in the New Zealand Herald that “correspondence was received notifying that a league club had been formed at Māngere, and a team would be entered for one of the competitions”.
The incidents at the match were sufficiently serious to suggest the deletion of the Māngere team from the competition, but it was considered advisable that inquiries should be made with a view to exonerating one or two of the players.
[16] At the start of the following season in their annual report by the Auckland Rugby League it was stated that “owing to call of the Empire, Māngere, Remuera, and Northcote withdrew from the competitions”.
At the same meeting it was also decided to play the Māngere v City second grade match as curtain raiser to the Maritime v Newton Rangers Roope Rooster semi final at the Auckland Domain on August 24.
The team included the names Arthur (Henry) Filmer, H. Tutaki, Albert Grubb, John Gill, Alfred Harold Sneyd, P. Walsh, V. Goodwin, W. Jenkins, Whakahau Tīpene (Roy) Wattie (Wati), A. Baker, R. Rennie, J. Glasgow, Moorhouse, W. Nickless, G. Young, and V.
[41] Towards the end of the season on August 29 it was reported that the Māngere club and Manukau Rovers intended to enter a combined senior team in the 1st grade competition for the 1924.
[43] At the end of the season centre Tommy Pai, wing B Potai, halfback W. Harper, and second row forward Arthur Ansell were selected in the Auckland Junior representative side to play their Lower Waikato counterparts at Ngaruawahia.
They once again held their annual meeting at the Arcadia Billiard Saloon in Onehunga which was owned by club official Thomas (Hauwhenua) Kirkwood, on February 15, with Harold Lipscombe their honorary secretary.
[54] The Auckland Star reported that “in Paul, the Māngere team has the makings of a useful three-quarter, but owing to the absence of programmes and numbered jerseys, it was difficult to follow the individual efforts of the players”.
[59] Māngere had been strengthened by the inclusion of Moyle while Newton had recently lost the services of Lou Brown but still included New Zealand internationals Clarrie Polson and Wally Somers.
The second grade side for their May 2 game was listed: Harold Grubb, W. Dunn, P. Archer, E. Stacy, H. Cunningham, C. Rewha, Hami Hapi, T. Cox, H. Pukeroa, J. McGowan, W. Edwards, W. Souter, Alfred Sneyd, H. Roberts, A. Paul, P. Huia, A.
Their second grade side featured Jack Wilson senior at fullback, along with D. Jones, A. Juilert, D. Young, Clarke, Nathan, Heka, Rau, Herekotukutuku (2), Barton, A.
Body, R. Elkington, W. Souter, P. Archer, D. Hira, C. Rewha, D. Filmer, W. Phillips, W. Rongonui, G. Linkhorn, Craike, Roberts, Cartmann, Keating, P. Huia, C. Mahu, Harlick, and Rose.
While the 3rd grade open side listed for a June 25 match was D. Hannant, C. Duffy, E. Stacy, J. Glasgow, Bartlett, Le Long, Pert, B. Somerville, G. Linkhorn, Hudson, C. Lockwood, W. Briggs, A.
In their 63-30 win over Buller it was reported that “Wilson, the Māngere player, took advantage of genial conditions to give a brilliant attacking exhibition of wing three-quarter play, and at times reached quite dazzling heights”.
Their try came after Roberts “cut loose in an astonishing burst of speed, combined with straight running and a soundly delivered transfer at the correct fraction of a second, which enabled [Jack] Wilson, the star of the side, to out-speed the opposition, and score as nice a try as one could wish to see”.
The Auckland Star wrote “mention must be made of the sad death, after a short illness, of Wirenui Hapi, the popular Māngere half-back, who died early in the week.
Their team list for the round 4 match showed that there were several new players in the side which was: Slavin, Hannant, Rewha, Daniel, Rau (2), Somerville, Wilson (2), Stacey, Bartlett, Jerry, Roberts (3), Ellis, and Pai.
There were "about sixteen motor car loads of Auckland Rugby League football officials and members of the Northland executive, and players" attended.
[118] It was then reported around the same time that the three Wilson brothers, Jack, Joe, and Lou had "decided to throw in their lot with" the Kingsland Athletic club for the close of the 1929 season in the Roope Rooster competition.
While their second grade side for the same round was Rewha, Waipouri, Hapi, Stanfield, Edward Graham, Pai, Ratu, Boddy, Hoggit, Lockwood, Roberts (2), Huia (2), Here, Wehi.
[133] Then in mid October the Māngere side played an Auckland Junior representative team at Onehunga Reserve (Waikaraka Park) in an exhibition match.
On November 12, at an Auckland Rugby League meeting they "unanimously agreed to entire amalgamation, and to include the Māngere Club, under the style of "Ellerslie-Otahuhu United"".
[142] The speakers said that "the Maoris [sic] were keen to play league football, but wished to retain their own identity" and it was also decided to arrange a conference with the Ellerslie club.
Mr. E. Adamson, chairman of the junior management committee, said considerable difficulty had already arisen over the position, and Māngere players were apparently members of the Ellerslie club.
The Ellerslie club had also written to the league stating that “it was agreeable to Māngere playing under its jurisdiction as a second grade team until the end of the season, when the matter would be reviewed”.
[144] At their July 10 meeting the league noted that a special committee had been formed to make “representations” with the Ellerslie-Otahuhu United club with the issue looked at again the following week.
[170] At the Auckland Rugby League social evening on October 31 at the Manchester Unity Hall the Māngere club were presented with the Wright Cup and Foster Shield.
[182] On July 17 the Māngere club, represented by Stan Rickards, who had recently succeeded Mr. Harold Grubb as secretary, wrote suggesting a return match with Tuakau.
[186] With their season over representatives Jack Wilson and Stan Rickards met at the Strand Theatre in Onehunga amongst other members of the Māori rugby league community to discuss the Waitangi Shield challenge matches.
