1st Grade championship (Myers Cup)
The 1st grade championship had been competing for the Myers Cup from 1910 to 1914 but after the beginning of the war the league decided to not award trophies though the grade competitions were still competed for as normal. Twenty eight matches were played in the 1st grade competition. Nine full rounds were played followed by the final. Victoria Park was the main ground used, with matches also played at the Auckland Domain, Devonport Domain, and Otahuhu.
1st Grade standings
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grafton Athletic | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 118 | 70 | 15 |
| City Rovers | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 93 | 63 | 13 |
| Ponsonby United | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 93 | 63 | 11 |
| North Shore Albions | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 76 | 83 | 9 |
| Newton Rangers | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 80 | 118 | 6 |
| Otahuhu Rovers | 9 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 48 | 111 | 2 |
1st Grade fixtures
Round 1
Bill Davidson debuted for City aged just 18. He kicked a goal but did not play again for them until the following season. He would represent New Zealand 4 years later in 1919. Graham Walker Cook debuted for Ponsonby in the forwards. He enlisted in the war effort and died his wounds in France on July 11, 1916 aged 22. [12] Bernard Farrelly debuted in the halves for Otahuhu. He departed New Zealand in July 1917 for the war effort and was killed in action on August 30, 1918 in France. He is buried at Bancourt British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France. [13]
| 8 May | City | 15–0 | Newton | Auckland Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Vic Barchard, Harold Denize, A Brooks, Jim Rukutai, Bill Davidson | [14] | Referee: A Vause |
| 8 May | Grafton | 11-2 | Ponsonby | Victoria Park | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Dougie McGregor Con: Karl Ifwersen Pen: Karl Ifwersen 2 & a mark | [14] | Pen: Charles Webb | Referee: Tom Fielding |
| 8 May | Otahuhu | 3–4 | North Shore | Otahuhu | ||
| 3:00 | Try: William McManus | [14] | Pen: Jack Paul 2 |
Round 2
Frederick Louis Trezise debuted for City. Several weeks later the league denied his registration due to some discipline issue stemming from his time in rugby. He had been sent off when playing for the City rugby club in a match against Marist in June 1914 and suspended. Trezise was an Auckland representative player and played 15 matches for them from 1910–13, and again later in 1923. He also played rugby for New Zealand Māori on their 1922 tour of Australia. Walter Frost debuted for Otahuhu and was moved into the five eighth position. Towards the end of 1917 he joined the forces and departed for Europe. He was a prisoner of war during 1918 at the Stalag VIII-Band camp in Poland and died of disease (Peritonitis) on October 13, 1918 aged 22. He is buried at Berlin South-Western Cemetery, Berlin, Germany. [15]
| 15 May | Ponsonby | 4–0 | City | Victoria Park | ||
| 3:00 | Pen: Frank McWhirter 2 (marks) | [16] | Referee: Archie Ferguson |
| 15 May | North Shore | 24–3 | Newton | Devonport Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Stan Walters 2, Jack Paul, G Stewart, S Chatfield, C Nicholson Con: Jack Paul 2 Pen: Jack Paul | [17] | Try: Joe Bennett | Referee: Billy Murray |
| 15 May | Otahuhu | 0–10 | Grafton | Otahuhu | ||
| 3:00 | [16] | Try: Karl Ifwersen, Brook Con: Karl Ifwersen Pen: Karl Ifwersen | Referee: Leonard Nield |
Round 3
City travelled out to Otahuhu where they lost 2-0. They were without the services of Charles Woolley, Harold (Ray) Denize, and A Brooks who had all just signed up for the war effort. It was also reported that R. Burns who had played for City last season had been wounded in battle. Sam Magee was also unavailable due to injury while Don Kenealy was away on business. George Asher, the younger brother of Albert and Ernie joined them in the backs and played a good game at inside centre. Bert Farrelly won Otahuhu the game with a penalty kicked from halfway.
| 22 May | Grafton | 7–7 | North Shore | Victoria Park | ||
| 3:00 | Try: P Owen Pen: Karl Ifwersen 2 | [18] | Try: Stan Walters Con: Jack Paul Pen: Jack Paul | Referee: Leonard Nield |
| 22 May | Ponsonby | 14–2 | Newton | Auckland Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Spence Jones 3, George Paki Con: Thomas McClymont | [18] | Pen: Joe Bennett | Referee: F Tyson |
| 22 May | Otahuhu | 2–0 | City | Otahuhu | ||
| 3:00 | Pen: Bernard Farrelly | [18] | Referee: E Dempsey |
Round 4
In the match between Ponsonby and Otahuhu following a penalty being awarded to Ponsonby Arthur Hardgrave threw the ball back and it struck the referee (Richard Calthorpe) on the back of the neck and he was ordered off. It was unclear if this was accidental or deliberate according to the NZ Herald reporter of the time. At the disciplinary committee Hardgrave apologised and said that he had thrown the ball away in frustration and not at anybody in particular. The league decided to leave the matter there. During the game future New Zealand international halfback, Bill Walsh left the field injured. He was replaced by a young Arthur Matthews who would also go on to represent New Zealand in 1919, the same year as Walsh. Grafton beat Newton 15-11 with Karl Ifwersen scoring 2 tries, 2 conversions, and 1 penalty before leaving the field with an injured thigh late in the game. Alan Blakey returned to the field for the first time in 2 seasons and scored one of Newton's tries. City won their second match of the season, beating North Shore 15-8 and remarkably had not conceded a try through 4 matches.
| 29 May | Ponsonby | 19–9 | Otahuhu | Victoria Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: W Edwards, Thomas McClymont, Bernard Longbottom Con: A Cross 3 Pen: A Cross 2 | [19] | Try: A Richardson Con: Bernard Farrelly Pen: Bernard Farrelly 2 | Referee: Richard Calthorpe |
| 29 May | Grafton | 15–11 | Newton | Auckland Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Karl Ifwersen 2, F Collins Con: Karl Ifwersen 2 Pen: Karl Ifwersen | [19] | Try: R Clark, Alan Blakey, Len Farrant Con: R Clark | Referee: G Whitley |
| 29 May | North Shore | 8–15 | City | Devonport Domain 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Pen: Jack Paul 2 & 2 marks | [19] | Try: Albert Asher 3 Con: Ernie Asher 3 | Referee: Tom Fielding |
Round 5
The Asher brothers, Albert, Ernie, and George scored all 16 of City's points in their 16-10 win over Grafton. Otahuhu were missing forwards, Sharpe, and Doherty. Both had tried to enlist for the war effort but were turned down for medical reasons so had traveled to Australia to try and enlist there. Also McCallion had moved to South Africa to farm. John Fischer had not intended to play as he was suffering from influenza, while Spence had not fully recovered from injury suffered the previous week. Captain Arthur Hardgrave was also unavailable. J Maurice made a reappearance to help the stricken side but lacked fitness and struggled. Under the circumstances they did well to only lose to Newton 18-6. During North Shore's loss to Ponsonby their captain, Hec Wynyard walked off the field and stood on the sideline.
| 19 June | City | 16–10 | Grafton | Victoria Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: George Asher 2, Albert Asher 2 Con: Ernie Asher Pen: Ernie Asher | [20] | Try: John McGregor 2 Pen: Karl Ifwersen & 1 mark | Referee: Dick Benson |
| 19 June | Ponsonby | 18–0 | North Shore | Victoria Park 2 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Victor McCollum 2 Con: A Cross 2 Pen: A Cross 3, Spence Jones | [20] | Referee: A Vause |
| 19 June | Newton | 18–6 | Otahuhu | Victoria Park 3 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Bowen, Joe Bennett, Bob Biggs, Charles Potier Con: Joe Bennett 2 Pen: Adelbert Tobin | [20] | Try: John Fischer, J Spence | Referee: Archie Ferguson |
Round 6
Otahuhu was significantly weakened once more with Richardson and Browne unavailable, Arthur Hardgrave out with illness and Bert Farrelly who missed the train from Otahuhu to the City and arrived only a few minutes before halftime. They put up a good showing however and only lost by a point to North Shore. Jack Stanaway returned to the field and played at fullback for the South Auckland side. For Ponsonby, Bernard Longbottom was ordered off for questioning the referee.
| 26 June | Grafton | 10–5 | Ponsonby | Victoria Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: F Rogers, John McGregor Pen: Karl Ifwersen & 1 mark | [21] | Try: Spence Jones Con: A Cross | Referee: Archie Ferguson |
| 26 June | City | 16–13 | Newton | Auckland Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Vic Barchard 2, George Asher, Jim Rukutai Con: Ernie Asher 2 | [21] | Try: Richard Rope, R Clark, Len Farrant Con: R Clark Pen: R Clark | Referee: Tom Fielding |
| 26 June | North Shore | 11–10 | Otahuhu | Devonport Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Perritt, T Paul, J McDonald Con: Jack Paul | [21] | Try: John Fischer, J Spence Con: Montrose Stanaway, Bernard Farrelly | Referee: Billy Murray |
Round 7
All of the matches were played in poor conditions at Victoria Park. Rugby union and hockey had cancelled all of their matches but rugby league went ahead with the fields in a messy state. In the match between Newton and North Shore, Stan Walters, and Richard Rope were sent off for "rough play". In the Ponsonby v City game, H Manning and Harry Francis were also ordered off for rough play late in the match with both players throwing punches at each other. Manning had to be attended to with a "badly cut face". It was decided by the league to suspend both players for four weeks though City appealed the decision. [22] [23]
| 10 July | Ponsonby | 3–3 | City | Victoria Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Spence Jones | [24] | Try: Vic Barchard | Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Tom Fielding |
| 10 July | Grafton | 21–3 | Otahuhu | Victoria Park 2 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: F Rogers, John McGregor 3, George Iles Con: Karl Ifwersen 2, Dougie McGregor | [24] | Try: Ralph Wrightson | Attendance: 2,000 Referee: G Whitley |
| 10 July | Newton | 5–3 | North Shore | Victoria Park 3 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Bob Biggs Con: R Clark | [24] | Try: Hec Wynyard | Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Richard Calthorpe |
Round 8
| 17 July | Newton | 19–10 | Ponsonby | Victoria Park | ||
| 3:00 | Try: R Clark 2, Joe Bennett, Charles Potier, Richard Rope Con: R Clark Pen: R Clark | [25] | Try: Spence Jones, Danrell Con: A Cross Pen: A Cross | Referee: Billy Murray |
| 17 July | North Shore | 12–9 | Grafton | Devonport Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Hec Wynyard, C Nicholson Con: Jack Paul Pen: Jack Paul 2 | [25] | Try: Warner Con: Karl Ifwersen Pen: Karl Ifwersen 2 | Referee: Archie Ferguson |
| 17 July | City | 10–6 | Otahuhu | Auckland Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Vic Barchard, Albert Asher Con: Ernie Asher Pen: Ernie Asher | [25] | Try: J Spence, E.J. Donohue | Referee: F Tyson |
Round 9
| 24 July | Grafton | 15–9 | Newton | Victoria Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Tom Haddon, Karl Ifwersen, Bob Mitchell Pen: Karl Ifwersen 2 (and 1 mark) | [26] | Try: Joe Bennett Pen: R Clark 2 (and 1 mark) | Attendance: 4,000 Referee: G Whitley |
| 24 July | City | 13–7 | North Shore | Victoria Park 2 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Jim Rukutai Con: Ernie Asher Pen: Ernie Asher 2 (and 2 marks) | [26] | Try: C Nicholson Con: Jack Paul Pen: Jack Paul | Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Billy Murray |
| 24 July | Otahuhu | 9–18 | Ponsonby | Otahuhu | ||
| 3:00 | Try: John Fischer Con: Bernard Farrelly Pen: Bernard Farrelly 2 | [26] | Try: Spence Jones, Victor McCollum, W Edwards, unknown x 1 Con: A Cross Pen: A Cross 2 | Referee: T Hill |
Championship final
Grafton won their only ever first grade championship with a 10-5 win over City. Karl Ifwersen who had been chiefly responsible for the formation of the club captained them and scored a try and kicked 2 conversions. Warner, a forward scored their other try. Somewhat ironically Dick Roope had to be carried off the field with an injured knee and therefore missed the Roope Rooster knockout competition for the trophy which he had donated to the league. He had started the year as chairman of the league but resigned his position to resume playing. There was significant controversy around the appointment of the referee for the final. The City club applied for Dick Benson to referee the match but the referee's association declined. The Grafton club then suggested that Leonard Nield should be appointed, however the Association decided on Archie Ferguson. This did not satisfy the City club however and their delegate R. Pollock said that Mr Ferguson "had evinced bias against the City club and had publicly expressed opinions concerning one or two players". After much too-ing and fro-ing it was decided to ask Billy Murray if he would referee but the Grafton club objected to his appointment. They then decided to appoint Leonard Nield but the referees themselves had had their tempers raised and on the Saturday and they did not want to change the original appointment. In the end the City players unanimously agreed to take the field under Archie Ferguson and so he refereed the match. After the conclusion of the match Pollock said "we were beaten, and it was our own fault". While the City captain, Albert Asher said "the club has had several disagreements, but after last Saturday we shall always be pleased to see Mr. Ferguson as referee". [27] Playing in the final for City was forward Samuel Russell Magee. He was killed in an "unfortunate accident on the Main Trunk line to the troop train which was taking recruits to Trentham" on October 12, 1915.
| 31 Jul | Grafton | 10–5 | City | Victoria Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Karl Ifwersen, G Warner Con: Karl Ifwersen 2 | [28] | Try: William Mincham Con: Ernie Asher | Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Archie Ferguson |
Roope Rooster knockout competition
Newton, Grafton and North Shore were round 1 victors and North Shore received a bye meaning they should have advanced to the final directly. However Grafton and Newton played out a 2–2 draw in their semi-final. Rather than play a replay the league decided to have a second semi-final match between Grafton and North Shore, with Newton progressing to the final. North Shore beat Grafton and then defeated Newton in the final to win the inaugural Roope Rooster trophy which is still played for today. P.W. (Dick) Roope was confined to bed after badly injuring his knee in the Grafton win over City in the championship final.
Round 1
At Devonport the City side evidently did not take the new trophy seriously and began the game with 10 men and only 3 forwards. Eventually Jim Rukutai joined the game but played without boots and in a pair of long trousers. Despite this under the leadership of Albert Asher they hung in the game and threatened to make a match of it before North Shore finished them off. It was also mentioned that neither Otahuhu or Newton took their game seriously either. Otahuhu scored 3 unconverted tries to O'Connell, Fisher, and Eustace, and had 3 others disallowed for minor infractions to Spence, Simmonds, and McManus, but still lost comfortably to Newton 24-9 with R Clark scoring 15 points through 3 tries and 3 conversions. Near the end of the game O'Connell, who was playing out of position at five eighth broke his leg after he attempted to gather the ball but collided with Thomas of Newton. The match was then called off several minutes from time.
| 7 August | Grafton | 13–9 | Ponsonby | Victoria Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Karl Ifwersen 3 Con: Karl Ifwersen 2 | [29] | Try: D Corby, Spence Jones, Frank McWhirter | Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Richard Calthorpe |
| 7 August | North Shore | 16–8 | City | Devonport Domain 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: T Paul 2, D Fife, Anderson Con: Jack Paul 2 | [29] | Try: Bernard Tresize, Bert Avery Con: Albert Asher | Referee: Tom Fielding |
| 7 August | Otahuhu | 9–24 | Newton | Otahuhu 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Alf Eustace, John Fisher, O’Connell | [29] | Try: R Clark 3, Richard Rope 2, unknown x 1 Con: R Clark 3 | Referee: Joseph Herrick |
Semi-final
| 14 August | Newton | 2–2 | Grafton | Victoria Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Drop: Charles Potier | [30] | Pen: C Owen (mark) | Referee: Archie Ferguson |
Semi-final
The death of Charles Savory was confirmed recently and there was much lamenting of his death at Gallipoli. Players wore white arm bands in his memory along with Charles Hally, William Moeki, and Miller, who had all been killed at Gallipoli. It was also reported that Edward Fox and George Seagar were on the front lines. Dougie McGregor and Mason had their tries singled out as two of the mopst outstanding ever seen at Victoria Park, McGregor scything through the North Shore backs to graze the posts to score while Mason made a strong "cork screw run" beating several Grafton backs to score by the posts. Mason had recently joined the side and was a Māori player who had played rugby in the South Island.
| 21 August | North Shore | 17–13 | Grafton | Victoria Park | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Ernie Bailey, C Nicholson, Mason Con: Jack Paul 2 Pen: Jack Paul | [31] | Try: Dougie McGregor 2, F Collins Con: Karl Ifwersen Pen: Karl Ifwersen (mark) | Attendance: 3,500 Referee: Billy Murray |
Final
Heavy rain set in before the game and the field was covered in water in many areas. North Shore won the match to claim the first ever Roope Rooster title by 10 points to 7.
| 11 September | North Shore | 10–7 | Newton | Victoria Park | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Morgan, Stan Walters Con: Jack Paul Pen: Jack Paul | [32] | Try: Joe Bennett Pen: Joe Bennett, R Clark | Referee: Billy Murray |
Top try scorers and point scorers
The following point scoring lists include both Senior Championship matches and the Roope Rooster competition but does not include the exhibition match at the Patriotic Carnival between Grafton and City. Unlike in previous seasons where there were several matches with incomplete scoring lists the 1915 season was well reported by the New Zealand Herald and only two tries were unattributed (one for Ponsonby and one for Newton). For the second year in a row the outstanding Karl Ifwersen easily topped the point scoring lists. Ifwersen, Paul, and Ernie Asher all kicked goals from marks (when they or a teammate caught a kicked ball on the full within goal kicking range) which were worth 2 points.
| Rank | Player | Team | Games | Tries | Con | Pen | Mark | DG | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karl Ifwersen | Grafton | 12 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 3 | - | 82 |
| 2 | Jack Paul | North Shore | 12 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 2 | - | 51 |
| 3 | R Clark | Newton | 10 | 7 | 7 | 6 | - | - | 47 |
| 4 | A Cross | Ponsonby | 9 | - | 8 | 8 | - | - | 32 |
| 5 | Ernie Asher | City | 11 | - | 10 | 3 | 2 | - | 30 |
| Rank | Player | Team | Games | Tries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karl Ifwersen | Grafton | 12 | 8 |
| 1 | Spence Jones | Ponsonby | 10 | 8 |
| 3 | R Clark | Newton | 10 | 7 |
| 4 | Albert Asher | City | 11 | 6 |
| 5 | Vic Barchard | City | 11 | 5 |
| 5 | Joe Bennett | Newton | 12 | 5 |
| 5 | John McGregor | Grafton | 13 | 5 |
