Thames Old Boys League Football Club
They were made up of former Thames residents who had moved to live in Auckland partly as the Coromandel Gold Rushes came to an end.
The first mention of a Thames Old Boys rugby league club was in the Auckland Star on 17 April 1915, with an advertisement placed for a meeting.
[2] On 27 April, the New Zealand Herald reported details of the meeting, stating “at a meeting convened by a number of Thames Old Boys Club and to enter teams it was unanimously decided to form a Thames Old Boys Rugby League enthusiasts to compete in the first, junior, and third grade Rugby League competitions.
It was mentioned that from the many players offering, and the support promised, the club should secure a fair share of success, both on and off the field”.
; president, Mr. W. Blomfield; vice-presidents, Messrs. (Christopher) James Parr, GCMG, James Twohill, J. Endean, L. Bradley, R. Tudehope, H. E. Partridge, J. Seccombe, P. Hayward, J. Robinson, A. W. Gordon, W. Eddows, J. M. Mennie, Maurice Casey (all of Auckland), H. Bramley, James Twohill, R. R. Price, Len Pedrottie, J. Inglis (Thames); hon members, every member of the Thames Old Boys Association, club captain Mr. C. Williams; field captain, Mr. T. Schofield; delegate to league, Mr. V Somerville; selectors, Messrs. T. Schofield and L. Newmann; hon.
It was decided to grant a transfer to both parties, it being stated that Schofield was standing on the line on Saturday last, and that he had not been asked to play by Newton".
[9] Player, J. Frelan, who had been the secretary of the recently defunct Hobsonville Pirates, also joined the Thames playing ranks.
The first ever named side in the New Zealand Herald was their second-grade team, which was Webber, Kielty, Morten, Marks, Williams, Cole, Adamson, Peate, Newman, Hogan, Somerville, Schofield, Pennycock, Walmesley, Skinner, and McIntyre.
It was made up of Mangan, Goodwin (2), Kneebone (2), Wheeler, Frelan, Eagle (2), Jeffries, Reid, Martin, Newdick, Loughlin, and Huia.
[12] The second-grade side lost their second match, on 22 May, by 11 points to 0 against Remuera, with a comment made in the New Zealand Herald that it was a "fairly good game".
He was later killed when a 12 ft mullet yacht he was sailing on capsized between Milford and Islington Bay on Rangitoto Island.
[16] Unfortunately for the side, the result was reversed by the Auckland Rugby League after it was found that Thames Old Boys had fielded a first-grade player.
[18] They were to play the local Thames B side, with the Thames Old Boys team named: "Fullback, Newdick; three quarters, Adams, Martin, Nicholson; five-eighths, Addison, Peate; halfback, Newman; forwards, Brownlee, Walmsley, Pennycock, Somerville, Hogan, Schofield, Emergencies: McIntyre, Mangan, Kelly", with the side requested to meet at the Man-o' war steps on 3 September at 10pm.
It included Somerville, Hogan, Schofield, Walmsley, Marks, Pennycook, Walters, Adams, Goldworthy, Horsfall, Bowden, Campenie, Whisker, and Ross.
Their side for their 24 June match was Mangden (2), Kelly, Burton, Nell, Rogers, Church, Reid, Newdick, O’Loughlin, Cantell (2), Eaton, Nicolson, Carter, Wheeler, Tuohey, and Madson.
A report from Thames that appeared in the Auckland Star said that the "first-half was a little scraggy, but the second was a good exhibition of the league game, it being fast and open".
[31] Their sides for their opening round matches were (second grade) – Newdick (2), Herring, Hogan, Johnson, Reid, Walters, Rogers, Ross, Dalzill, Church, Kelly, Frelan, W. Ross, Burton, and Edwards, (fourth grade) – McCarthy, Buckly, McGregor, Craig, Neal, Baskett, Mangan, Wren, Horsfall, Smith, Hutchinson, Dickens, Nicolson, Mackey, and Patterson.
It was reported on 26 May in the Observer that Jim Johnston and Somerville, secretary and delegate respectively of the Thames Old Boys, were "in Trentham waiting orders".
[37] The two second-grade sides had finished champions (Ponsonby) and runners-up (Thames Old Boys) with the match admission being sixpence.
The club had played a practice match at the Auckland Domain on 27 April, with an advertisement appearing with C. Reid named as their honorary secretary.
[40] Their side for an early-season match was Kelly, Horsfall, Powell, Nicolson, Macky, Reid, Cowdell, Cantell, McGregor, Buckly, Mangan, Julian, Webber, Hickey, Dixon, Stack, and Geraghty.
