Dave Mason (rugby league)

David Mason (c. 1889 – 5 July 1966), also known by his Māori name, Rawiri Meihana, was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s. He played at representative level for New Zealand (Heritage № 57), and Nelson, as a forward (prior to the specialist positions of; prop, hooker, second-row, loose forward), during the era of contested scrums.[1][2][3][4]

Dave Mason
Rawiri Meihana
Born1888/1889
Died (aged 77)
Rugby league career
Playing information
PositionProp, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1911 St Mary's
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1911–13 Nelson 8 0 1 0 2
1911 New Zealand 5 3 2 0 13
1912 Golden Bay 2
Source: [1]

Playing career

Nelson rugby league

Mason was playing rugby league in the Nelson area. He was a member of the St Mary's club. In 1911 following the tour of Australia with the New Zealand team Mason was selected for the Northern Tour conducted by the Nelson representative side. He played in 3 matches, the first was against Auckland at Victoria Park before a crowd of 5,000. Auckland won 36-12 with Mason kicking a penalty.[5] The second match was against Taranaki in Eltham which the local side won 16-8, while the third was against Wanganui at Cooks Gardens. Wanganui won 40-0 before a crowd of around 750. He played again for Nelson in 1912 against Wellington at St Patricks College in a 19-6 loss and then in July he played for Golden Bay against Nelson. This was followed on October 12 with a match against Marlborough in Blenheim which Nelson won 21 to 6. In 1913 he played 3 more matches for Nelson against Marlborough (35-0), Auckland (2-16), and the touring New South Wales side.[6] They were thrashed 66-2 in front of 1,500 at Trafalgar Park.

International honours

He impressed the selectors and was nominated for inclusion in the New Zealand team for Australia by the Nelson union. He was subsequently selected for the 1911 New Zealand tour of Australia and played 4 matches, scoring 2 tries and kicking 2 goals. Prior to departure he made his New Zealand debut in a match against Auckland at the Takapuna Racecourse on June 10. New Zealand won 16-14 with Mason scoring a try.[7]

Personal life

Mason was a farmer at Tākaka.[8][9] Of Māori descent, he affiliated to Te Atiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui.[10] He died on 5 July 1966, aged 77 years, and was buried at Rototai Cemetery.[11]

References
  1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. "Roll of Honour at nzrl.co.nz". nzrl.co.nz. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. "Past Kiwis → M at nzrl.co.nz". nzrl.co.nz. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  4. "Profile at nzleague.co.nz". nzleague.co.nz. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. "Auckland Win Again/Victory Over Nelson". The New Zealand Herald. XLVIII (147680). 1911-08-28. p. 9. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  6. "A Stirring Wet Day Match". Auckland Star. XLIV (184). 1913-08-04. p. 8. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  7. "New Zealand v Auckland/Win for Dominion Team". Auckland Star. XLII (138). 1911-06-12. p. 8. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  8. Young, Bruce (31 December 1999). "Dr Louis Hauiti Potaka of New Zealand: a biographical essay" (PDF). p. 74. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  9. "The late Dr. Potaka: coroner's verdict". Nelson Evening Mail. 5 October 1936. p. 4. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  10. Southern Maori electoral district: general roll of Maoris entitled to vote for Members of Parliament of New Zealand. 1919. p. 15.
  11. "Plot record details". Tasman District Council. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
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