1915-16 Māngere Rangers formation and hiatus 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".{{cite news On August 7 their game against Thames at
Victoria Park became marred in controversy. The referee, Mr. Whitley "complained that he had to stop the game after 40 minutes play on account of the Māngere team's misconduct. No fewer than four Thames Old Boys players were carried off the field through injuries caused by the Māngere players. Had he not stopped the match the spectators would have taken charge and there would have been serious trouble. 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. In addition to [William] Kipa and Tommy Pai, who were held to be blameless by the referee". It was decided by the
Auckland Rugby League to suspend the team until the names of those "who were responsible for the trouble were supplied".{{cite news In the
1915 2nd grade championship the side finished in third position out of 8 teams with a record of 10
games played, 6 wins, 4 losses, for 57 points, against 108 points. Jack Pai was their only player to gain representative selection, though it was only as an emergency player for the Auckland Junior side to play
Waikato Juniors on September 11 and he was not required to take the field.{{cite news The
1916 season saw Māngere enter a side in the second grade once more.{{cite news
1918-23 Rebuilding On April 10 in
1918 the
ARL received an indication that the Māngere club had reformed, as had the
Manukau Rovers (Magpies) club which was based in the nearby
Onehunga area.{{cite news On August 17 Māngere was given permission to travel to
Helensville to play a game there. 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.{{cite news , their coach from 1919 onwards.The
1919 season saw Māngere once again field a second grade side. The reporting of results was again poor however there were more than the previous season with Māngere winning 1 of the 5 matches reported. They were coached by
Jim (Puhipi James) Rukutai, a well known former
New Zealand international who would go on to coach the
New Zealand side 2 years later in 1921, and
New Zealand Māori in 1922 and 1937. The Observer newspaper wrote on May 31 that "Big Rukutai was made a presentation on Saturday by his pet coachees, the Māngere Rangers. This nippy team of Māori boys are putting in some good work this year".{{cite news The
1920 season saw the Māngere side struggling. They fielded one team in the second grade but only had 3 of their 11 results reported (2 losses and 1 win), before they withdrew after round 11. Then in
1921 they failed to field any sides whatsoever. The
1922 season saw something of a revival. They once again took the field in the second grade and finished mid table out of 13 teams with a 3 win, 1 draw and 4 loss record from the 8 scores reported. An
Ihumatao team from the broader
Māngere area also entered a side in the competition and were also largely made up of Māori players. It was reported at the start of the 1922 season that the league had made use of a private ground at Māngere, possibly farm land at
Pukaki which the Māngere club used around this time in their history.{{cite news On the night of April 13 the club held a "special meeting" at
Onehunga.{{cite news Jack Pai was selected at centre for the Auckland Junior representative side to play the Wednesday Representative team on September 16 which was curtain raiser to the
Auckland v
New South Wales match at the
Auckland Domain.{{cite news Māngere were again very competitive in the
1923 second grade competition. They finished runner up to
City Rovers in a 12 team competition. They lost the final to City on September 1 by 16 points to 3 and finished the season 1 point behind them with a 10 win, 3 loss record. They had led by 4 points late in the season though City had games in hand which they won before beating Māngere.{{cite news Their 1923 annual meeting had been held at the Arcadia Billiard Saloon in
Onehunga on Friday, April 6. The secretary was Harold Edward Grubb who was also a player.{{cite news
1924 Year in first grade The
1924 season was to be the most significant in their history as they were admitted into the 1st grade competition for the Monteith Shield. They also changed their name to 'Māngere United' which they remained until their final year. 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.{{cite news At the 14th annual meeting of the
Auckland Rugby League on March 18 a suggestion was made "that the number of senior teams be increased and that there was not a senior team east of Queen Street. Māngere and
Ellerslie could provide good senior teams". It was then decided that the committee would consider the matter.{{cite news Their colours were registered as black and green and their first match was to be at
Carlaw Park on April 26 at 1.30pm on the #1 field against
Ponsonby United.{{cite news They lost their first match with
Ponsonby 24-5 before a crowd of 4,500 at
Carlaw Park with lock Jack Pai scoring their try and Lipscombe kicking a goal. Their team for their first ever 1st grade match was Lipscombe at fullback, M. Paul, Tommy Pau, and Poutai in the three quarters, Tutaki at second five eighth, Digger at first five eighth, W. Hapi halfback, Peter and Roberts were props, with Harold Lipscombe at hooker, Arthur Ansell and Roberts in the second row and Jack Pai at lock. It was said that "although well defeated they hung on gamely, and much better can reasonably be expected from them before the end of the season". Their backline was "individually very fair, particularly Digger and Tutaki" but they spent too many opportunities kicking at goal from free kicks instead of attacking with the ball.{{cite news Young was appointed their delegate to the management committee for the year.{{cite news Māngere's first ever first grade win came against
Newton Rangers on May 24 on the
Carlaw Park number 2 field. They thrashed their opponents 35 points to 10 with tries to Lou Wilson (3), Jack Pai,
Jim Rukutai, P. Tutaki, and M. Paul (2), with Lou Wilson converting 2, and Moyle and M. Paul 1 each.{{cite news Their second win of the season came in round 8 when they beat
Ellerslie United 18-10 at Manukau.{{cite news In July the Māngere club was involved in a controversy with the
Manukau Rovers club. It resulted in the entire Manukau club switching to
rugby union in protest at their treatment by the
Auckland Rugby League. One of their players, M. King, had played for Māngere with them allegedly knowing but not reporting it to the league.{{cite news In mid June M. Paul was selected on the wing in an
Auckland trial match and scored a try for his Probables side, while Jack Wilson jun., and Tutaki had been selected in the reserves but did not play.{{cite news
1925-1930 B Division 1925 The
1925 season saw 11 teams nominate themselves for the 1st grade, however the league was concerned with a 1st grade competition with so many teams and as a result they elected to have a 6 team A grade competition and a 5 team B grade competition generally named the B Division. Māngere found themselves placed in this grade along with
Ellerslie United,
Ōtāhuhu Rovers,
Kingsland Rovers, and
Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers.{{cite news {{cite news They also fielded sides in the second, third, and fourth grades but had few results reported and appear to have finished in the bottom half of each grade. 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. Clark.{{cite news
1926 The
1926 season saw their annual meeting once again held at St James Parish Hall on Church Road in Māngere Bridge on March 10. Their honorary secretary was Harold Grubb.{{cite news The senior side in the B Division finished 4th of 6 sides with a 7 win, 1 draw, 6 loss record. Their second and third grade sides struggled and had very few of their results reported. Jack Wilson junior who was the Māngere captain was selected in the reserves for what was effectively a New Zealand trial on July 3.{{cite news In late September it was reported that the Māngere Domain Board had invited tenders to develop a football ground at the domain.{{cite news
1927 In
1927 the B Division had less coverage in the newspapers and Māngere had 3 results not reported at all and others with no score given. However they finished in the lower half of the table with 3 wins and 7 losses reported. H. Lipscombe was elected as the Māngere delegate to the Auckland Management Committee.{{cite news Following a 26-7 loss to
Ellerslie at the Ellerslie Reserve on May 21 the
Auckland Star wrote that "the Māngere team is composed mostly of Maoris [sic] and they threw themselves into the game with wild abandon. The backs were always dangerous, and it was only lack of cohesion that saved Ellerslie's line several times. J. Wilson senr., gave a splendid display at fullback and was a tower of strength to his side. Rosier and J. Wilson were two other backs who showed good form. Forrest and Hama Hapi seemed to be the mainstays of the Mangere pack". The Ellerslie side included the former New Zealand international
Ivan Littlewood.{{cite news Jack Wilson jun., was selected for the Auckland side in 6 games for
Auckland. He scored 5 tries and kicked 1 conversion for them. 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".{{cite news
1928 The
1928 saw Māngere once again struggle to compete. Their B Division team won 5 of the 12 games with 1 draw, finishing mid table. While their 2nd grade team withdrew after 6 rounds and their 3rd grade open team withdrew at the beginning of the season. It was reported in early February that good progress was being made with the improvement of the playing area at Māngere Domain with contractors levelling the sports ground, covering the surface "with four inches of sieved volcanic soil" and it was expected they would be open for play towards the end of the coming football season with it being "among the best playing surfaces in Auckland".{{cite news The Mangere club was going through a relatively settled phase in terms of its playing personnel with many players turning out for their senior side and 2nd grade side once more, though their 3rd grade side obviously failed to take the field when the season opened.{{cite news sideJack Wilson was named in the Auckland Trial match in the Probables side on the wing. The Possibles won the match 24-14 on July 11.{{cite news On Saturday, July 7 tragedy struck the Māngere club when their senior player Wirenui Hapi died after a short illness. Māngere had had a bye on the day of his death and they wore white armbands to remember him for their drawn match with Grafton at Carlaw Park. 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. Hapi had been prominently associated with the Māngere Club, and as a junior represented Auckland. Until a week of his death, Hapi showed good form for Māngere".{{cite news
1929 The Māngere club had a particularly poor season in
1929. They only fielded one team (after their second grade side withdrew in the early weeks), which was their senior side in the B Division once more and they finished last, winning just 1 match of the 10 they played. In the Stallard Cup they won 2 games of 5 but one of those was by a default. 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.{{cite news In August Joe Wilson (Te Hiko Joseph Wirihana Takaanini Wilson) married Nellie Moore (Hiko Hiko Kawiti) in a large ceremony at Pukaki Pa in Māngere. There were "about sixteen motor car loads of Auckland Rugby League football officials and members of the
Northland executive, and players" attended. Wilson was a "direct descendant of high chiefs of the
Te Ākitai Waiohua tribe".{{cite news
1930 The
1930 season saw a slightly improved showing from the Māngere senior side. They won 4 of their 10 matches to finish around 4th of 7 sides. They also fielded a side in the second grade. Their annual meeting was at Jones' Confectionary Shop,
Onehunga on Thursday, March 20. Their honorary secretary was P. Rose.{{cite news They lost their opening round game to Ōtāhuhu 11-5 on the Māngere Domain.{{cite news When the 18 player Auckland Junior representative squad was named to play the
South Auckland team on May 31, T Tapi and Clark from Māngere were included.{{cite news
1931 Forced amalgamation with Ellerslie and Ōtāhuhu Towards the end of the
1930 season the
Auckland Rugby League decided to make some significant changes to the structure of the senior grade competitions. 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"". They had also decided to amalgamate the
Richmond Rovers and
Kingsland clubs in a 'Western Suburbs' club. A suggested name for the Māngere-Ellerslie-Ōtāthuhu side was "Eastern Suburbs", though the name "Southern Suburbs" had also been suggested.{{cite news In mid January of
1931 it was reported that improvement work had been getting done to the Māngere Domain and recreation ground with 50 unemployed men being used while half that number would be used to complete the works over the coming weeks.{{cite news Eventually in mid July the Māngere club was released from the amalgamation. Though the Ellerslie-Otahuhu United club asked "for the retention of Māngere players pending a conference in September". The league decided that the "Māngere clubs petition for release be granted, Ellerslie to have the right to veto any Māngere club transfers to other clubs this season".{{cite news In their second match of the season against
Papakura (the eventual second grade championship winners) the Māngere side had a 14-7 win at Prince Edward Park in
Papakura. The likes of D. Young, Jack Wilson jun., Roberts, and M. Paul were playing for the second grade side.{{cite news
1932-34 2nd grade champions and demise Now that Māngere had been allowed to go their separate way and return to being a stand alone club they spent their final 3 seasons of their existence in the second grade.
1932 second grade knockout champions In 1932 Māngere fielded a side in the second grade, along with teams in the 6th and 7th grades which were for smaller, younger players. Their second grade team for their July 16 match was listed as: Roberts (3), Jack Wilson jun., Lou Wilson, Hika Wilson, M. Paul, C.E. Black, Albert E. Grubb, P. Daniels, Here (2), R. Young, J. McKay, Youlden, B. Rau, J.T. Harvey, H. Kopu, M. Grace, and L. Marshal.{{cite news On November 3 they held their "annual dance and social" at Foresters' Hall in Onehunga.{{cite news
1933, 2nd grade champions, and repeat knockout winners They held their seventeenth annual meeting in late March with Mr. Stan Rickards presiding. Their annual report referred to the second grade side which won the knockout competition and finished 4th in the championship. They suggested that prospects for the season ahead were "bright". The following officers were elected:- Patron, Mr. Samuel Ward House; president, Mr. Stan J. Rickards; senior vice-president, Mr. S. J. French; vice presidents, committee, and selectors were re-elected; secretary, Mr. Harold E. Grubb, treasurer, Mr. French; auditor, Mr. C. P. Laeity.{{cite news The 1933 season saw Māngere win their first and only grade championship when they won the 2nd grade competition. In late July Māngere hosted
Papakura and won 13 to 6. The Franklin Times said in reference to the Māngere side that "on their wonderful display it is doubtful whether there is a team in the competition likely to defeat them. Māngere is still one point behind Otahuhu and it is fairly obvious that the winners this season will be decided when these two teams meet in the second round". Their match description notes said "their forwards were tireless and wonderful on defence while the backs were displaying better combination and more effective penetrating ability".{{cite news On August 29 the club requested financial assistance from the league to assist toward ground fees, with the application deferred for consideration.{{cite news
1934 final season, matches v Tuakau The
1934 season was to be the Māngere clubs last. In the second grade they played 14 games, winning 6 and losing 8 to finish 4th out of 6 teams. Their 3rd grade side finished towards the bottom of the standings. One possible reason for their demise was the resurgence of the
Manukau club in the neighbouring Onehunga area which fielded 4 teams. The league asked the Māngere side to travel to
Tuakau to play the local side on Monday, June 7 which was Kings Birthday.{{cite news In mid June the league requested that the club "compel spectators to stand back on the bank at games staged there" in reference to the Māngere Domain which had a bank on its northern side line. {{cite news On July at the league meeting several clubs complained loudly at the league's decision to only play 2 rounds in the second grade. The Māngere club said ‘it took some weeks for a team to settle down. Experience proved that three rounds of play produced the best results". At the same meeting Poutai Rewha transferred back to the Māngere club after having spent time at the
Ellerslie club following their failed merger of 1931.{{cite news On August 4 their match with
Papakura was played at Massey Park in
Waiuku. The game was played there to introduce the game to the area with Māngere winning by 7 points to 6.{{cite news
Involvement in Māori representative league origins 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. They were principally focussed on the establishment of a Tāmaki (Auckland) Māori rugby league team to challenge for the shield. A committee was set up with Rickards as chairman.{{cite news
1935 Disappearance There was no indication that the Māngere club was going to cease to exist. On August 6 it was reported that the Māngere senior B players were regraded to second grade though they had neither a senior B team nor a second grade team in 1935.{{cite news ==Player records==