Howick Hornets
Encyclopedia
The Howick Hornets are a rugby league
club based in Howick
, New Zealand
. The premier team competes in Auckland Rugby League
's senior competitions. The club currently competes in the top division, the Fox Memorial Trophy. The club has a rivalry with neighbours, the Pakuranga Jaguars.
was the clubs first chairman. The club first entered a senior team into Auckland Rugby League
competitions in 1964. In 1965 Paparoa Park, the clubs current home ground, was created with the help of the Howick Borough Council.
Between 1978 and 1985 the club competed in senior competitions as Eastern United, a combined team with the Pakuranga club. The team was coached by former Kiwi Murray Eade.
The club won the Sharman Cup, the second division title, in 2005 and 2009. In 2005 they defeated the Bay Roskill Vikings
20-16. In 2009 the team won the Sharman Cup
by defeating the Glenora Bears
19-12 in extra time. They also won the Auckland Rugby League
's 2009 Club of the Year award for the first time ever.
In 2010
the club won promotion to the Fox Memorial Trophy and finished third before losing to the Te Atatu Roosters
in a semi final. This was the first time in the clubs 49 year history that they had competed in the top division of the Auckland Rugby League. During the season the Hornets defeated the Mt Albert Lions
for the first time in three decades and defeated the Otahuhu Leopards
for the first time in the clubs history. They also hosted a Māori Television
broadcast from Paparoa Park for the first time. Six players from the Hornets were named in the Counties Manukau
representative team to compete in the Albert Baskerville Trophy.
In 2011 the Hornets won the Fox Memorial, defeating the Otahuhu Leopards
24-14 in the Grand Final.
, Samuel Brunton
, Luke Laban and Isaac John
.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
club based in Howick
Howick
Howick can refer to:Places*Howick, KwaZulu-Natal**Howick Falls*Howick, Lancashire, a small town in England*Howick, Monmouthshire*Howick, New Zealand**Howick Historical Village*Howick, Northumberland, a small town in England**Howick house...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The premier team competes in Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
's senior competitions. The club currently competes in the top division, the Fox Memorial Trophy. The club has a rivalry with neighbours, the Pakuranga Jaguars.
History
The Howick Rugby League Football Club was founded in 1961 with the team playing at the Howick Domain. Former New Zealand representative Cliff JohnsonCliff Johnson (rugby league)
Clifford Raymond Johnson was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who has been named one of the finest the country produced during the 20th century. An international representative, he played mainly as a prop forward.-Playing career:...
was the clubs first chairman. The club first entered a senior team into Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competitions in 1964. In 1965 Paparoa Park, the clubs current home ground, was created with the help of the Howick Borough Council.
Between 1978 and 1985 the club competed in senior competitions as Eastern United, a combined team with the Pakuranga club. The team was coached by former Kiwi Murray Eade.
The club won the Sharman Cup, the second division title, in 2005 and 2009. In 2005 they defeated the Bay Roskill Vikings
Bay Roskill Vikings
The Bay Roskill Vikings are a rugby league football club based in Mount Roskill and Blockhouse Bay, New Zealand who compete in Auckland Rugby League's Sharman Cup competition. The club was established in 1979.-History:...
20-16. In 2009 the team won the Sharman Cup
2009 Auckland Rugby League season
The 2009 Auckland Rugby League season was the 2009 season of senior rugby league in Auckland. The Auckland Rugby League ran the various competitions. The season commenced on the 14 of March with the start of the Phelan Shield and ended on the 5 September with the Fox Memorial Grand Final...
by defeating the Glenora Bears
Glenora Bears
The Glenora Bears are a rugby league football club based in Glen Eden, New Zealand who compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition. The club was established in 1931...
19-12 in extra time. They also won the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
's 2009 Club of the Year award for the first time ever.
In 2010
2010 Auckland Rugby League season
The 2010 Auckland Rugby League season was the 2010 season of senior rugby league in Auckland. The Auckland Rugby League ran the various competitions. The season commenced on the 13 of March, with the start of the Phelan Shield, and finished on the 28 August with the three senior grand finals...
the club won promotion to the Fox Memorial Trophy and finished third before losing to the Te Atatu Roosters
Te Atatu Roosters
The Te Atatu Roosters is a rugby league club based in Te Atatu. The Roosters compete in the Fox Memorial, the premier division in Auckland Rugby League...
in a semi final. This was the first time in the clubs 49 year history that they had competed in the top division of the Auckland Rugby League. During the season the Hornets defeated the Mt Albert Lions
Mt Albert Lions
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....
for the first time in three decades and defeated the Otahuhu Leopards
Otahuhu Leopards
The Otahuhu Leopards are a rugby league club based in Otahuhu, New Zealand. The club competes in the Fox Memorial competition run by the Auckland Rugby League. They are coached by Peter Caccioppoli. Between 2000 and 2003 they also competed in the Bartercard Cup.The team are the current holders of...
for the first time in the clubs history. They also hosted a Māori Television
Maori Television
Māori Television is a New Zealand TV station broadcasting programmes that make a significant contribution to the revitalisation of the Māori language and culture . Funded by the New Zealand Government, the station started broadcasting on 28 March 2004 from a base in Newmarket.Te Reo is the...
broadcast from Paparoa Park for the first time. Six players from the Hornets were named in the Counties Manukau
Counties Manukau rugby league team
The Counties Manukau rugby league team represents the Counties Manukau zone in the Albert Baskerville Trophy. Previously, teams representing Counties Manukau have competed in the Lion Red Cup and Bartercard Cup. They are nicknamed the Stingrays...
representative team to compete in the Albert Baskerville Trophy.
In 2011 the Hornets won the Fox Memorial, defeating the Otahuhu Leopards
Otahuhu Leopards
The Otahuhu Leopards are a rugby league club based in Otahuhu, New Zealand. The club competes in the Fox Memorial competition run by the Auckland Rugby League. They are coached by Peter Caccioppoli. Between 2000 and 2003 they also competed in the Bartercard Cup.The team are the current holders of...
24-14 in the Grand Final.
Notable players
Players who have played for the club include Paul AtkinsPaul Atkins (rugby league)
Paul Atkins is a former New Zealand rugby league player. He played for the Otahuhu Leopards from 2002–2003, the Otahuhu-Ellerslie Leopards from 2004–2005, the Tamaki Leopards in 2006 and the Howick Hornets from 2007-2009.-Playing career:...
, Samuel Brunton
Samuel Brunton
Samuel Brunton is a Cook Islands rugby league player. He plays as a lock or hooker. He is a Cook Islands international.-Early years:Brunton was a Howick Hornets and Mangere East Hawks junior.-Playing career:...
, Luke Laban and Isaac John
Isaac John
Isaac John is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer currently signed with the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats of the English Super League...
.