1923 Auckland Rugby League season

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The 1923 season of the Auckland Rugby League was its 15th. The First Grade competition featured 7 teams with the Fire Brigade club who featured in it in 1922 not entering a team.

Contents

Preceded by 15th Auckland Rugby League season
1923
Succeeded by

Auckland Rugby League news

Club teams by grade participation

Team1st Grade2nd Grade3rd Grade4th Grade5th Grade6th Grade A6th Grade BTotal
City Rovers 11111117
Marist Old Boys 11111117
Ponsonby United 11110116
Richmond Rovers 10101216
Devonport United 11110105
Newton Rangers 11111005
Athletic 11010115
Ellerslie United 01110014
Manukau Rovers 00101114
Parnell 00110114
Kingsland Rovers 01110003
Otahuhu Rovers 01010103
Ihumātao 01100002
Māngere Rangers 01010002
Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers 01001002
Point Chevalier 00101002
Coromandel Old Boys 00100001
Victoria Cruising Club 00100001
Takapuna 00001001
Manukau Cruising Club00000011
Total7121411810971

First grade winners

City Rovers won their 6th championship title and the 3rd in succession after defeating Athletic 8–7 in the final. With a round to play City was only 2 competition points ahead of Athletic so it was decided to play a final to decide the champions. The match was played on Carlaw Park in front of an enormous crowd of 11,500 with £325 received in gate takings. [1] City were the second team to win three consecutive titles after Ponsonby United had won the competition in 1917, 1918, and 1919. It was to be 61 years until it happened again with Mt Albert winning the title from 1984 to 1986 before Northcote won 4 titles from 1991 to 1994, Glenora 3 titles from 1997 to 1999, and Pt Chevalier won 3 titles from 2013 to 2015.

Ponsonby won the Roope Rooster Knockout competition for the second straight year and their third time in the competitions history after defeating City Rovers 14–3 in the final.

Representative team

The Auckland representative team played 5 matches for 4 wins and a 20–20 draw. The draw was arguably the most significant result as it was in a match for the Northern Union Challenge Cup against South Auckland. Auckland had lost the cup to the same opposition the previous season and as the match was drawn South Auckland retained it. The two teams met again at the end of the season at Carlaw Park which Auckland won convincingly however the cup was not being played for as it was only defended at the holders home ground.

Manukau rugby league team

Near the end of the season the Manukau and Māngere clubs sent a letter to the Auckland Rugby League which was read at the management committee meeting on 29 August. It stated that the two clubs had decided to amalgamate and would enter a team in the senior grade the following year provided permission was granted, which it was. The Manukau club is the Manukau club of today, though the Mangere club is not related to the modern day Mangere East who were not founded until 1963. The Manukau club were located in their early decades in the Onehunga area before moving much later to their current location at Moyle Park. The clubs did however remain separate and compete as separate entities the following year. Māngere were previously known as Māngere Rangers however and became known as Māngere United until they ceased to exist at the end of 1934. In the same 1923 season the Manukau Cruising Club decided to enter a team in the 6th B Grade. They played 9 games before withdrawing from the competition despite being relatively competitive. In one of their matches Roy Hardgrave and Ted Brimble played for them when their Manukau teams had a bye.

Monteith Shield (1st grade championship)

The 1923 First Grade Championship was arguably the most keenly fought in the competitions history to this point with three teams in the hunt for the title up until the last two weeks. Marist Old Boys who were in a good position to win the title lost in the 12th and 13th rounds and bowed out of contention, leaving City Rovers and Athletics to contend. It was ultimately won by City Rovers who finished the season with a 10 win and 2 loss record, as did Athletic, with a final being required to determine the winner. City won by the narrowest of margins 8–7 to go back to back.

Monteith Shield standings

TeamPldWDLFAPts
City Rovers 1311022287222
Athletic 1310031808720
Marist Old Boys 1290217010818
Devonport United 1260613514112
Ponsonby United 124081181798
Newton Rangers 122010851834
Richmond Rovers 121011932392

A final was played between City Rovers and Athletic after the round robin to decide the title with City winning 8 points to 7 in front of 11,500 spectators at Carlaw Park.

Monteith Shield fixtures

The First Grade season was particularly close right until the end. In the final round the step was made to play both games on Carlaw Park number 1 field for the first time (usually one match was always played on the number 2 field at the same time). If Athletic had defeated City Rovers in the main match they would have won the championship for the first time however they lost to City which forced a final to be played the following week between the same two teams and City were again victorious to claim their 3rd straight championship.

Round 1

Hec Brisbane Portrait photograph of Hec Brisbane.png
Hec Brisbane
Wilson Hall Wilson Hall.png
Wilson Hall

Round 1 saw the debut of centre Hec Brisbane for Marist against Richmond. Brisbane would go on to play 158 games for Marist from 1923 to 1934 scoring 71 tries, mostly in the centre position. He also played for Auckland 14 times from 1923 to 1933 and a remarkable 50 matches for New Zealand from 1924 to 1932. He was also a representative selector in the 1930s after he retired. Scrum half, Wilson Hall also debuted for Atheltic after joining from the Ngaruawahia club. He would go on to transfer to Hornby in Canterbury before being signed by Hull F.C. in 1928. He later played for Castleford and Dewsbury, as well as representing New Zealand on the 1926-27 tour of England.

5 MayPonsonby15–10NewtonCarlaw Park 1 
3:00Try: W Henderson, Frank Delgrosso, Wilfred McNeil
Con: Frank Delgrosso 2
Pen: Frank Delgrosso
[2] Try: Clarrie Polson, Dick Stack
Con: Clarrie Polson
Drop: Lou Brown
Attendance: 5000
Referee: Bert Gallagher
5 MayMarist23–15RichmondCarlaw Park 2 
3:00Try: Billy Ghent, Baden Foss, Stevens, Percy Gallagher, Courtney
Con: Billy Ghent 2, Nelson Bass
Pen: Billy Ghent
[3] Try: Penalty Try, Kettlewell, Unknown x 1
Con: Butler 2
Drop: McKenzie
Attendance: 5000
Referee: William Mincham
5 MayDevonport0–12AthleticDevonport Domain 
3:00 [4] Try: Nicholson, W Miller, Bert Avery, Craddock Dufty Referee: Les Bull

Round 2

12 MayMarist11–5NewtonCarlaw Park 1 
3:00Try: Stevens, Sid McNamara, Billy Ghent
Con: Bill Stormont
[5] Try: Wally Somers
Con: Clarrie Polson
Attendance: 7500
Referee: Les Bull
12 MayAthletic37–8RichmondCarlaw Park 2 
3:00Try: Nicholson, George Yardley 2, Redmond Lonergan 2, Craddock Dufty 4, Bert Avery 2
Con: Craddock Dufty 2
[6] Try: McKenzie, J McLean
Con: McKenzie
Attendance: 7500
Referee: Len Farrant
12 MayDevonport10–24CityDevonport Domain 
3:00Try: Matthew Scott, Stan Webb
Con: Stan Webb 2
[7] Try: Vic Thomas, Ben Davidson, Mike Flynn, George Cargill, 'Chook' Mitchell, Harry Hawkes
Con: Mike Flynn 3
Referee: William Mincham

Round 3

26 MayMarist24–9PonsonbyCarlaw Park 1 
3:00Try: Jock Johnson, Bill Stormont, Sid McNamara, Stevens
Con: Billy Ghent 2, Percy Gallagher
Pen: Bill Stormont 3
[8] Try: William Hanlon
Con: Frank Delgrosso
Pen: Frank Delgrosso 2
Attendance: 8500
Referee: Billy Murray
26 MayAthletic16–15NewtonCarlaw Park 2 
3:00Try: George Yardley, Ernie Herring, Nicholson, Bert Avery
Con: George Yardley, Wilson Hall
[9] Try: Ralph Brockliss, Clarrie Polson, Alfred James
Con: Clarrie Polson 3
Attendance: 8500
Referee: A Saunders
26 MayCity25–9RichmondAuckland Domain 2 
3:00Try: Harry Hawkes, Ben Davidson 3, 'Chook' Mitchell, George Davidson 2
Con: Bill Davidson, Mike Flynn
[10] Try: McDonald
Con: McDonald
Pen: McDonald 2
Referee: Albert Vause

Round 4

2 JuneCity25–2NewtonCarlaw Park 1 
3:00Try: Jack Keenan, George Davidson 2, Harry Hawkes, Maurice Wetherill, Ben Davidson 2
Con: Maurice Wetherill 2
[11] Pen: Clarrie Polson Attendance: 3000
Referee: Bert Gallagher
2 JuneAthletic20–5PonsonbyCarlaw Park 2 
3:00Try: Nicholson, Lee, Bert Avery, Ernie Herring
Con: Craddock Dufty 4
[12] Try: A McClure
Con: Frank Delgrosso
Attendance: 3000
Referee: William Mincham
2 JuneDevonport12–3RichmondDevonport Domain 
3:00Try: Bert Laing, Jim O'Brien, (E or J) Johnson, Matt Scott [13] Try: HunterReferee: Les Bull

Round 5

9 JuneAthletic9–0MaristCarlaw Park 1 
3:00Try: Wilson Hall
Pen: Craddock Dufty 3
[14] Attendance: 2500
Referee: Bert Gallagher
9 JuneCity25–0PonsonbyCarlaw Park 2 
3:00Try: Maurice Wetherill, Jack Keenan, Vic Thomas, 'Chook' Mitchell, Harry Hawkes
Con: Bill Davidson 4
Pen: Bill Davidson
[15] Attendance: 2500
Referee: Leonard Neild
9 JuneDevonport9–5NewtonDevonport Domain 
3:00Try: Alex Godick, Cyril Wheeler, G Smith [16] Try: H McNeil
Con: Clarrie Polson
Referee: T Hill

Round 6

16 JuneMarist15–5CityCarlaw Park 1 
3:00Try: Nelson Bass, Baden Foss, Stevens
Con: Bill Stormont 3
[17] Try: Harry Hawkes
Con: Bill Davidson
Attendance: 6500
Referee: Les Bull
16 JuneNewton23–9RichmondCarlaw Park 2 
3:00Try: E Watson, Clarrie Polson 2, Alan Clarke, Peters 2, L O'Donnell
Con: Clarrie Polson
[18] Try: Penalty Try
Con: McDonald
Pen: McDonald 2
Attendance: 6500
Referee: Robert Bouvaird
16 JuneDevonport5–13PonsonbyDevonport Domain 
3:00Try: Bert Laing
Con: Stan Webb
[19] Try: Bill Walsh, W Hanlon, Wilson
Con: Frank Delgrosso
Pen: Frank Delgrosso
Referee: Billy Murray

Round 7

23 JuneCity7–0AthleticCarlaw Park 1 
3:00Try: Alf Townsend
Con: Bill Davidson
Pen: Bill Davidson (mark)
[20] Attendance: 8000
Referee: Billy Murray
23 JunePonsonby14–12RichmondCarlaw Park 2 
3:00Try: A McClure, Williams, Frank Delgrosso, Sam Lowrie
Con: Frank Delgrosso
[21] Try: McKenzie, Butler
Pen: McDonald (pen & mark), Unknown (pen)
Attendance: 8000
Referee: Ladbury (Ray) Hemming
23 JuneDevonport13–18MaristDevonport Domain 
3:00Try: Jim O'Brien, Johnson, Probert
Con: Alf Harper, Stan Webb
[22] Try: Sid McNamara, Billy Ghent, Percy Gallagher 3, StevensReferee: Bert Gallagher

Round 8

Ponsonby defaulted their match with Newton after they could only manage 8 players.

30 JuneAthletic14–8DevonportCarlaw Park 1 
3:00Try: Ernie Herring 2, Lee, Graham
Con: Craddock Dufty
[23] Try: Alf Harper, G Smith
Pen: Charles Hand
Attendance: 2000
Referee: William Mincham
30 JuneNewtonWBD – LBDPonsonbyCarlaw Park 2 
3:00 [24] Referee: A Saunders
30 JuneMarist20–3RichmondAuckland Domain 2 
3:00Try: Percy Gallagher, Bill Stormont, Sid McNamara, Nelson Bass, Stevenson, Billy Ghent
Con: Bill Stormont
[25] Try: S McLeanReferee: Leonard Nield

Round 9

7 JulyDevonport13–10CityVictoria Park 1 
3:00Try: Jim O'Brien, Bert Laing, Alex Godick
Con: C Garrett
Pen: C Garrett (mark)
[26] Try: Harry Hawkes, 'Chook' Mitchell
Con: Mike Flynn
Pen: Mike Flynn
Attendance: 5000
Referee: Bert Gallagher
7 JulyMarist16–4NewtonAuckland Domain 1 
3:00Try: Percy Gallagher, Bill Stormont, Jock Johnson, Sid McNamara
Con: Bill Stormont, Stevens
[27] Pen: Clarrie Polson (pen & mark)Referee: Billy Murray
7 JulyAthletic22–5RichmondAuckland Domain 3 
3:00Try: Bert Avery, W Miller 2, C Timmins, Craddock Dufty, Unknown x 1 (either Bert Avery or Monteith)
Con: Wilson Hall, Unknown x 1
[28] Try: McKenzie
Pen: Butler
Referee: Les Bull

Round 10

Richmond defaulted their match with City as they had a large number of players injured or ill.

14 JulyAthletic11–5NewtonCarlaw Park 1 
3:00Try: Graham, Bert Avery, Charles (Snow) Webb
Con: Craddock Dufty
[29] Try: Watson
Pen: Clarrie Polson
Attendance: 2500
Referee: Les Bull
14 JulyMarist14–8PonsonbyCarlaw Park 2 
3:00Try: John Lang, Stevens 2, Percy Gallagher
Pen: Nelson Bass (mark)
[30] Try: A McClure, Eric McGregor
Con: Frank Delgrosso
Attendance: 2500
Referee: A Saunders
14 JulyCityWBD – LBDRichmondAuckland Domain 4 
3:00 [31] Referee: Leonard Nield

Round 11

21 JulyCity35–3NewtonCarlaw Park 1 
3:00Try: G Cargill, Bill Davidson, F Wilson, George Davidson 2, Ben Davidson, Harry Hawkes, Alf Townsend
Con: Bill Davidson 2, Maurice Wetherill, Harry Hawkes
[32] Try: N PetersAttendance: 2500
Referee: William Mincham
21 JulyDevonport19–10RichmondCarlaw Park 2 
3:00Try: A Harper, Stan Webb 2, Johnson, Allan Seagar
Con: A Harper, Johnson
[33] Try: Hyland, Kettlewell
Con: McDonald
Pen: McDonald
Attendance: 2500
Referee: Bert Gallagher
21 JulyAthletic17–9PonsonbyOtahuhu 1 
3:00Try: Harry Francis, Craddock Dufty, Ernie Herring, W Kirkland, Graham
Con: Wilson Hall
[34] Try: Williams 2, D BlackReferee: Walter Ripley

Round 12

28 JulyAthletic7–6MaristCarlaw Park 1 
3:00Try: Bert Avery
Pen: George Yardley, Craddock Dufty
[35] Try: Hec Brisbane, Billy GhentReferee: Billy Murray
28 JulyCity39–2PonsonbyCarlaw Park 2 
3:00Try: Ben Davidson, Bill Davidson, F Wilson, Alf Townsend, George Davidson 2, Harry Hawkes, G Cargill
Con: Bill Davidson, George Davidson, Mike Flynn, Harry Hawkes 2, Wilcox
[36] Pen: Frank Delgrosso Referee: Les Bull
28 JulyDevonport22–8NewtonVictoria Park 
3:00Try: Alex Godick 3, Charles Hand, Stan Webb, Johnson
Con: Unknown x 1, Neville St George
[37] Try: Alan Clarke, Lou Brown
Con: Clarrie Polson
Referee: Bert Gallagher

Round 13

11 AugustCity14–3MaristCarlaw Park 1 
3:00Try: George Davidson, F Wilson, Alf Townsend, Bill Davidson
Con: Harry Hawkes
[38] Try: Bill Stormont Attendance: 7000
Referee: Leonard Nield
11 AugustDevonport8–4PonsonbyCarlaw Park 2 
3:00Try: Bert Laing, Cyril Wheeler
Con: Charles Hand
[39] Pen: Frank Delgrosso 2Attendance: 7000
Referee: Walter Ripley
11 AugustRichmond14–5NewtonVictoria Park 
3:00Try: McDonald, Jack Campney
Con: McDonald 2
Pen: McDonald, McKenzie
[40] Try: Lou Brown
Con: Clarrie Polson
Referee: Robert Bouvaird

Round 14

The match between City and Athletic saw two forwards ordered off, one from each team. Hec McDonald the future Kiwi debuted for City in the match after being drawn to Auckland from the Waikato.

18 AugustCity11–8AthleticCarlaw Park 1 
3:00Try: Bill Davidson 2, Ben Davidson
Con: Bill Davidson
[41] Try: Bert Avery 2
Con: George Yardley
Attendance: 7500
Referee: Walter Ripley
18 AugustMarist20–16DevonportCarlaw Park 1 
1:45Try: Baden Foss 2, Stevens, Bill Stormont
Con: Stevens 2, Billy Ghent
[42] Try: A Harper, Bert Laing, Harry Douglas, Stan Webb
Con: Bert Laing, Stan Webb
Attendance: 7500
Referee: G McGowatt
18 AugustPonsonby39–5RichmondCarlaw Park 2 
3:00Try: A McClure, Leonard Riley, John Shirley 2, Frank Delgrosso, George Mormon, W Henderson, Sam Lowrie, Wilfred McNeil
Con: Frank Delgrosso 2, Sam Lowrie, Wilfred McNeil, Thomas McClymont 2
[43] Try: McLean
Con: McDonald
Attendance: 7500
Referee: Les Bull

Championship final

Scenes from the 1923 championship final. City Rovers v Athletic rugby league, August 25, 1923.jpg
Scenes from the 1923 championship final.
25 AugustCity8–7AthleticCarlaw Park 1 
3:00Try: F Wilson, Maurice Wetherill
Pen: Bill Davidson
[44] Try: Bert Avery
Pen: Craddock Dufty 2
Attendance: 11,500
Referee: Bert Gallagher

Roope Rooster knockout competition

Thomas McClymont Thomas McClymont.png
Thomas McClymont
Ivan Littlewood Ivan Littlewood.png
Ivan Littlewood

The Roope Rooster competition was interesting as Ponsonby went on to win it despite being uncompetitive in the First Grade competition. Thomas McClymont and Bill Walsh emerged from retirement, and Ivan Littlewood transferred back to the club from Waikato where he had moved, to bolster their team for the Roope Rooster competition. They defeated Richmond and Marist comprehensively before beating a slightly weakened City team (with Maurice Wetherill suffering from influenza, and Bill Davidson with a leg injury) in the final 14–8.

Round 1

Athletic had a forward ordered off early in their match with Devonport United but still managed to lead at halftime before conceding the lead and the match in the second half.

1 SeptemberDevonport21–16AthleticCarlaw Park 1 
3:00Try: A Harper, Alex Godick, Cyril Wheeler, Bert Laing 2
Con: Charles Hand, Bert Laing
Pen: Charles Hand
[45] Try: Bert Avery, Jack Miller
Con: Craddock Dufty 2
Pen: Craddock Dufty 3
Attendance: 5000
Referee: Les Bull
1 SeptemberMarist43–20NewtonCarlaw Park 2 
3:00Try: Bill Stormont 4, Hec Brisbane 3, John Lang, Baden Foss
Con: Stevens 6, Hec Brisbane
Pen: Bill Stormont
[46] Try: Clarrie Polson, Watson, Bill Williams, Wally Somers
Con: Clarrie Polson, Unknown x 1
Pen: Clarrie Polson, Alan Clarke
Attendance: 5000
Referee: Robert Bouvaird
1 SeptemberPonsonby43–18RichmondAuckland Domain 
3:00Try: Joseph Peckham 2, Frank Delgrosso 2, Thomas McClymont, Ivan Littlewood 3, McMahon
Con: Frank Delgrosso, Thomas McClymont 3, Ivan Littlewood 3, W Hanlon
[47] Try: Butler 3, Barber
Con: McNeil 2
Pen: McNeil
Referee: Billy Murray

Semi finals

8 SeptemberCity49–12DevonportCarlaw Park 1 
3:00Try: F Wilson 2, Sam Crewther, Ben Davidson, Casey, George Davidson 3, Maurice Wetherill 2, Harry Hawkes 2, Hec McDonald
Con: George Davidson 3, Sam Crewther, Harry Hawkes
[48] Try: Harry Douglas, Smith
Con: Charles Hand, Neville St George
Pen: Charles Hand
Attendance: 6000
Referee: Billy Murray
8 SeptemberPonsonby34–12MaristCarlaw Park 2 
3:00Try: Donovan 2, Joseph Peckham 2, Wilfred McNeil, Bill Walsh
Con: Thomas McClymont 3, Ivan Littlewood
Pen: Thomas McClymont, Frank Delgrosso 2
Drop: Eric Grey
[49] Try: M Kirkland, A Nelson
Con: Bill Stormont, John Lang
Pen: Bill Stormont
Attendance: 6000
Referee: Bert Gallagher

Final

15 SeptemberPonsonby14–3CityCarlaw Park 1 
3:00Try: Thomas McClymont, Ivan Littlewood
Con: Thomas McClymont
Pen: Thomas McClymont 3
[50] Try: Ben Davidson Attendance: 7000
Referee: Bert Gallagher

Top try scorers and point scorers

These lists include tries and points scored in the first grade competition and the Roope Rooster knockout competition. A Goddick of the Devonport who scored 6 tries during the season later moved to Fiji to live and help promote the game of rugby union there. [51]

Other senior club matches and competitions

Athletic v Wednesday representative team

During the season a Wednesday afternoon competition was played and it was decided to play a match between Athletic who had a bye and a representative team from that competition as curtain-raiser to the City RoversMarist Old Boys match.

11 AugustAthletic9–5Wednesday Representative TeamCarlaw Park 1 
2:00Try: Charles (Snow) Webb, Bert Avery, George Yardley [52] Try: Halliday
Pen: Halliday

Labour Day Carnival and charity sevens tournament

On 20 October there was a carnival held at Carlaw Park with 7 a-side football on one field and seven-a-side rugby league on the other. There were three first round matches played with Richmond, Athletic A, and Devonport victorious. Richmond received a bye in the semi-finals and met Athletic in the final who they defeated 5 points to 0.

The following weekend another seven-a-side tournament was held at Carlaw Park to raise money for the Takapuna Orphanage which was destroyed by fire. Unfortunately the weather was particularly bad in the morning which had an effect on the attendance with only 1,000 spectators. The teams were supposed to composed of senior players but in reality were largely made up of junior players.

Seven-a-side carnival results
DateScoreScoreVenue
First Round20 Oct [53] Richmond2Athletic B0Carlaw Park
First Round20 OctAthletic A5Marist Old Boys3Carlaw Park
First Round20 OctDevonport10Ponsonby6Carlaw Park
Semi Final20 OctAthletic A6Devonport3Carlaw Park
Final20 OctRichmond5Athletic A0Carlaw Park
Seven-a-side tournament results
DateScoreScoreVenueAttendance
First Round27 Oct [54] Devonport21Athletic3Carlaw Park1,000
First Round27 OctPonsonby9City0Carlaw Park
Semi Final27 OctDevonport14Marist Old Boys8Carlaw Park
Final27 OctDevonportWBDPonsonbyLBDCarlaw Park

Exhibition matches

On June 2 Marist had a bye and so travelled to Hamilton to play a local Hamilton representative side. Hamilton won 28-13 against a Marist team missing 5 of its regular players.

2 JuneHamilton28-13MaristHinemoa Park, Hamilton 
3:00Try: Sorenson, Payne, Jacques, Grice, J Dufty 2
Con: J Dufty 4, Tim Peckham
[55] Try: Hec Brisbane, Baden Foss 2
Con: Baden Foss
Pen: Baden Foss
Referee: Mr. Herrick

Richmond travelled to Taumarunui towards the end of the season when they had a bye in the First Grade competition and were victorious against the local side by 14 points to 5. On 15 September the Athletic and Parnell 4th grade teams played a match in Whangarei which was the first time and organised game of rugby league had been played in the area. As both of the teams were composed of junior players, the game was not of a high standard and gained little interest.

List of Exhibition Matches
DateScoreScoreVenueAttendance
Exhibition Match28 July [56] Taumarunui5Richmond14Taumarunui
Exhibition Match15 Sep [57] Athletic 4th Grade11Parnell 4th Grade9Kensington Park, Whangarei
Exhibition Match22 Sep [58] Ponsonby6City3Carlaw Park7,000

Lower grades

There were 8 lower grade competitions in 1923 with the 6th grade split into an A and B division, while the Cadets competition ran again and a Wednesday Competition was also run featuring businesses and professions. The Richmond club refused to play any of its scheduled May 5 games in protest at the allocation of venues. The ARL in response decided to replay that their move was ill-timed and unavailing as a protest. And that they should have played the games and then protested in order to be heard. [59]

Second grade

City Rovers won the competition after defeating Māngere Rangers 16-3 on September 8. Earlier in the season on June 2 the two sides drew 6-6 but the match was later awarded to Mangere as City had an "unqualified" player. The standings are incomplete with most teams playing around 14 matches but less than half were reported. On August 14 with the competition nearing its end the New Zealand Herald reported that Māngere were on 20 points, City 16, and Otahuhu and Kingsland were on 14. City had 2 games in hand and it appears Māngere must have lost their last match with City winning both of there's and forcing a playoff for the competition on September 8, which they won. Māngere won the knockout competition (Foster Memorial Shield). Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers withdrew after 7 rounds and had defaulted at least two matches to that point.

TeamPldWDLBFAPts
City Rovers 15101411264921
Māngere Rangers 1310030954520
Otahuhu Rovers 147060351714
Kingsland Rovers 137050714414
Newton Rangers 13202140294
Ponsonby United 11114063693
Ihumātao 14103032502
Devonport United 10103029512
Ellerslie United 1210205272
Marist Old Boys 1200208400
Athletic 1100405770
Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers 20000000

Third grade (Myers Cup)

The points for the five leading teams was mentioned in an article in the New Zealand Herald on August 14 when City and Manukau had no games remaining while Richmond, Ponsonby, and Point Chevalier each had two games left. After wins by Ponsonby and Point Chevalier they overtook City and Manukau and needed a playoff for the title. Ponsonby United won the competition, defeating Point Chevalier in the final 10-7 on September 15. Ellerslie, Kingsland and Marist all withdrew after round 7. Each of them had defaulted multiple matches prior to this. 16 rounds were played in total but there were few results reported, though the majority of Ponsonby's matches did have their result published. The Victoria Cruising Club entered a team. They were a boating club based in the Westhaven Marina adjacent to the southern end of the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

TeamPldWDLBFAPts
Ponsonby United 15131111332027
Point Chevalier 1510051723520
City Rovers 121002101520
Manukau 121011287321
Richmond Rovers 119024222318
Devonport United 12302224246
Parnell 12305045466
Victoria Cruising Club 11305313166
Coromandel Old Boys 1120607474
Ellerslie United 31020302
Kingsland Rovers 13018216531
Marist Old Boys 501303331
Ihumātao 12006161160
Newton Rangers 40030000

Fourth grade

Devonport United won the championship on September 29 when they beat Athletic 24-5 in the final. Neither team had many of their results reported and therefore the standings are very incomplete although the New Zealand Herald gave the points of the leading teams near the end of the season. Marist withdrew after 6 rounds when they had already defaulted at least 3 matches.

TeamPldWDLBFAPts
Devonport United 1310030321720
Athletic 129030442418
Parnell 13713055615
City Rovers 15707014014
Otahuhu Rovers 1660910012
Ellerslie United 11203036364
Kingsland Rovers 91001852
Newton Rangers 9003112340
Māngere Rangers 1000205470
Ponsonby United 1200115550
Marist Old Boys 40031000

Fifth grade (Endean Memorial Shield)

Richmond secured the championship when they defeated Newton 11-0 in the final round. Ponsonby withdrew from the competition after 3 rounds when they had defaulted their matches up to this point. Athletic withdrew after 4 rounds when they too had been defaulting matches. There were 14 rounds played but many results were not reported and so the standings are incomplete. Richmond, City, Point Chevalier, Northcote & Birkenhead, and Newton had the majority of their results reported but 5 or 6 not reported in each case. City won the knockout competition when they beat Newton 18-0 on September 29.

TeamPldWDLBFAPts
Richmond Rovers 14100401402420
Takapuna 129130521219
City Rovers 117222702216
Newton Rangers 117040407614
Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers 9405149938
Manukau 1120134784
Marist Old Boys 10204239514
Point Chevalier 11107171582
Athletic 40020000
Ponsonby United 30020000

Sixth grade A

Ponsonby won the competition. Newton finished runner up after they beat Parnell 5-3 in the final round. Otahuhu won the Hamill Cup which was the knockout competition trophy when they beat Ponsonby 21-0 on October 20, and then Devonport 21-0 in the final on October 27. There were very few results reported in the championship although the majority of Ponsonby and Athletics results were reported.

TeamPldWDLBFAPts
Ponsonby United 138230853718
City Rovers 146250363314
Athletic 136240541514
Richmond Rovers B 8323061418
Richmond Rovers A 13312052117
Parnell 13214021335
Manukau 13202027474
Marist Old Boys 1300302120
Otahuhu Rovers 140010030
Devonport United 12006021080

Sixth grade B

Athletic won the competition. There were many results not reported however after round 15 on August 18 it was reported that City's 10-0 win over Athletic brought them within 1 competition point of Athletic which gave a clue as to several earlier matches played.

TeamPldWDLBFAPts
Athletic 18112101272824
City Rovers 1992401243020
Parnell 188141693217
Manukau Cruising Club9322029208
Marist Old Boys 16314019407
Ellerslie United 18115016613
Richmond Rovers 131090181452
Ponsonby United 17016017631

Cadet competition

The Cadet competition was won by the 29th Company from Ponsonby. Only around half of the results were reported.

TeamPldWDLBFAPts
29th Company (Ponsonby)87010984814
36th A Company321012575
27th Company7214051505
34th Company5203127454
22nd Company4202019424
36th B Company500509370

Wednesday Competition

The Post and Telegraph side won the Wednesday Competition which was played for by businesses and professions. Post and Telegraph beat Tramways 16-15 on September 26. On September 13 a Taxi Drivers side beat Bakers 21-9 at Carlaw Park. A Bakers player (T. McPherson) broke his ankle and was taken home). On September 20 the Post and Telegraph side played against the Wednesday representative team as curtain-raiser to the Auckland Province - New South Wales match at Carlaw Park. Post and Telegraph won 33 to 11 with future New Zealand international Arthur Singe scoring 2 tries and kicking a conversion. Wally Somers was also in the Post and Telegraph side. [60]

TeamPldWDLBFAPts
Post and Telegraph870111107614
Tramways960301326912
Taxi Drivers6303139456
Railway7205154944
Carters6006142930

Representative season

The Auckland representative side played 5 matches. They started the season with a match against Wellington in which they ran up a huge score, winning by 71 points to 12. Their second match was played mid week against Hamilton, before two games against South Auckland and finishing the season with a game against an Auckland provincial team.

Auckland challenged South Auckland for the Northern Union Cup which it had lost to the same opponents in 2022. The match was drawn and so South Auckland retained the cup. Auckland later played an Auckland provincial team and won comfortably in front of 7,000 spectators on Carlaw Park. A curtain-raiser was played between the Referees Association and the Junior Advisory Board, and was won by the former by 10 points to 6. In the final full league fixture of the season Auckland played South Auckland again and were this time victorious 25 to 11.

Auckland v Wellington

Every single member of the Auckland team scored points aside from Bill Davidson which was ironic given that he was one of Auckland Rugby League's most prolific point scorers.

22 AugustAuckland71–12WellingtonCarlaw Park 1 
3:00Try: Alex Godick 3, Ben Davidson 4, Frank Delgrosso 2, Bert Laing 2, Vic Thomas, Wally Somers, William Hanlon, Bill Stormont, Harry Douglas, Nelson Bass
Con: Alex Godick 2, Bert Laing 2, Wilson Hall, Clarrie Polson 3, Wally Somers, Nelson Bass
[61] Try: J Hedges, T Ryan
Con: D Whittington
Pen: D Whittington, A Greer
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Ripley

Auckland v Hamilton

In the match with Hamilton which, was played midweek, there were no players from the Ponsonby United and City Rovers clubs available as they were playing the Roope Rooster final on the following Saturday.

12 SeptemberAuckland22–16HamiltonCarlaw Park 1 
3:00Try: Craddock Dufty 2, Clarrie Polson 2, Nelson Bass, Harry Douglas
Con: Craddock Dufty, Clarrie Polson
[62] Try: McVeay 2, N Vernall, Paki
Con: McVeay
Pen: McVeay
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: W Murray

South Auckland v Auckland (Northern Union Challenge Cup)

15 SeptemberSouth Auckland (Waikato)20–20AucklandSteele Park, Hamilton 
3:00Try: J Payne 2, Wilson, Lyall Stewart
Con: John Dufty 2
Pen: John Dufty
[63] Try: Craddock Dufty, Hec Brisbane, Stevens, Stan Webb
Con: Craddock Dufty 2, Clarrie Polson 2
Referee: T Hill

Auckland v Auckland Province

29 SeptemberAuckland44–15Auckland ProvinceCarlaw Park 1 
3:00Try: Craddock Dufty, Bert Laing, Ivan Littlewood, Maurice Wetherill, Clarrie Polson, Johnston, Richard Stack, Jim O'Brien, Hec McDonald 2
Con: Craddock Dufty, Ivan Littlewood 2, F Wilson 2, Clarrie Polson 2
[64] Try: Lyall Stewart, Wilson Hall, M McNeil
Con: Selby Crewther
Pen: Joseph Dufty, Selby Crewther
Attendance: 7000
Referee: Billy Murray

Auckland v South Auckland

13 OctoberAuckland35–11South AucklandCarlaw Park 1 
3:00Try: Ben Davidson 2, Maurice Wetherill 2, Clarrie Polson, Wally Somers, Hec McDonald
Con: Craddock Dufty 3, Clarrie Polson 3
Pen: Craddock Dufty
[65] Try: Jackson, Joe Dufty, Lyall Stewart
Drop: George Raynor
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: A Saunders

Auckland representative matches played and scorers

NoNameClub TeamPlayTriesConPenPoints
1 Clarrie Polson Newton559033
2 Craddock Dufty Athletic447128
3 Ben Davidson City260018
4Alex GodickDevonport232013
5 Hec McDonald City23009
5 Maurice Wetherill City23009
5 Bert Laing Devonport43009
8 Wally Somers Newton42108
8 Nelson Bass Marist52108
10 Ivan Littlewood Ponsonby21207
11Harry DouglasDevonport42006
11 Frank Delgrosso Ponsonby12006
13F WilsonCity30204
14 Hec Brisbane Marist21003
14 Jim O'Brien Devonport21003
14 Stan Webb Devonport11003
14StevensMarist21003
14Richard StackNewton21003
14JohnsonDevonport11003
14Vic ThomasCity31003
14 Bill Stormont Marist21003
14William HanlonPonsonby11003
23 Wilson Hall Athletic30102
24Billy GhentMarist20000
24John McGregorAthletic10000
24 Bert Avery Athletic10000
24M SherlockMarist20000
24M McNeilRichmond10000
24McDonaldRichmond20000
24Charles (Snow) WebbAthletic10000

Related Research Articles

The Auckland Rugby League competition has been competed for since 1909 when the first organised match was played between North Shore and City Rovers. The following year an official champion was crowned for the first time, namely the City Rovers club who won the 1910 1st Grade title and were one of the 4 original teams at that time. Over the following 110 years many team and individual trophies have been awarded. The following is a list of the clubs and individuals that they have been awarded to at the premier-grade level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1920 Auckland Rugby League season</span>

The Auckland Rugby League was in its 12th season.

The 1921 season of Auckland Rugby League was its 13th. Seventy two teams played across its six main grades.

The 1922 Auckland Rugby League was the 14th in its history. There were 68 teams playing across the various grades. City Rovers won the first grade championship for the 5th time, with Ponsonby winning the Roope Rooster for the 2nd time. City Rovers also defended the Challenge Shield, warding off efforts from Petone, Tongariro, and Huntly to lift it from them. Bill Davidson set a record for points scored in an Auckland club rugby league season with 116 for City Rovers. He and his brothers Ben and George between them scored 186 of City Rover's 339 points which was also a competition record for a team in a single season. City scored a further 19 points in the Roope Rooster competition and 85 points in their 3 Challenge Shield matches for 443 points in all official games.

The 1924 season of Auckland Rugby League was its 15th. Marist won the first grade championship for the first time in their history after defeating Devonport in the final by 20 points to 17 in front of a club record crowd of 17,000 at Carlaw Park. While City won the Roope Rooster competition for the 4th time.

The 1925 season of Auckland Rugby League was its 16th. On 30 March Auckland Rugby League held its fifteenth annual meeting with 200 in attendance. The strong financial position of the league was commented on. It was also decided that if possible the Senior Grade would be split into A and B divisions owing to the increasing number of teams who wished to enter but also the gap in standard between the best teams and the worst.

The 1926 season of the Auckland Rugby League was its 17th.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1927 Auckland Rugby League season</span> Rugby league season

The 1927 Auckland Rugby League season was its 18th. Newton defeated Ponsonby by 6 points to 3 in the championship final to win the Monteith Shield after both teams finished the season tied with identical 8 win, 1 draw, 3 loss records. This was the second time Newton had won the championship in 18 efforts, with the first being in 1912 and was to be their last after they merged decades later with City Rovers and the combined team ceased in the early 2000s. Richmond won the Roope Rooster knockout trophy for the second consecutive season. Newton Rangers defeated Richmond to win the Stormont Shield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1928 Auckland Rugby League season</span>

The 1928 Auckland Rugby League season was its 19th. Devonport United won the Senior A Championship for the first time under the Devonport United name, though they had won it twice before as North Shore Albions, before the North Shore merger with Sunnyside. Marist Old Boys won the Roope Rooster trophy for the first time. This was their second major trophy after winning the championship in 1924. They also went on to defeat Devonport to win the Stormont Shield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1929 Auckland Rugby League season</span>

The 1929 Auckland Rugby League season was its 20th. One of the key events of the season was the tour of the South Sydney side.

The 1930 season of Auckland Rugby League was its 22nd. It was generally regarded that the season was very disappointing in terms of the quality of the football played and much of the blame was put down to the fact that too many teams were in the Senior A Grade and there was too much talent spread through the Senior B teams which in turn diluted the top division. There had been a noticeable drop in the attendances at matches at Carlaw Park which had seen 8 to 10 thousand regularly attending club matches. A review of the season was published in The New Zealand Herald on 22 October discussing the issue.

The 1931 Auckland Rugby League season was its 23rd.

The 1932 season was the 24th season of the Auckland Rugby League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1933 Auckland Rugby League season</span>

The 1933 season of Auckland Rugby League was its 25th. The championship was won by Devonport United. This was their fifth title having previously won it in 1913, 1914, 1928 and 1932. The first two titles were prior to their merger with the nearby Sunnyside club when they were known as North Shore Albions, a name they later reverted to. They finished 1 point ahead of runner up Marist Old Boys. Devonport also won the Stormont Shield for the third time following victories in 1930 and 1931. They defeated Richmond Rovers in the final by 12 points to 7. Richmond had gained their place in the Stormont Shield match by winning the Roope Rooster with wins over Newton (29–15), Marist Old Boys (10–0), and City Rovers in the final by 26 points to 14. This was Richmond's third Roope Rooster title following wins in 1926 and 1927. Marist were awarded the Thistle Cup for the most competition points scored in the second round.

The 1934 Auckland Rugby League season was its 26th. The senior championship was won by Richmond Rovers who ran away with the title with an 11 win, 2 loss record. Such was their dominance that a 14th round was not played as Richmond had a 6-point lead over their nearest competitor Newton Rangers. Richmond also won the Roope Rooster knockout competition with a 20 to 13 win over Marist Old Boys in the final. Their remarkable season also included the Stormont Shield which they won 21 to 5 over Newton Rangers. This was the first ever time that an Auckland club had won all three senior grade titles in the same season. The Richmond reserve grade team also won the title which was remarkable in that they lost their first two matches before reeling off 12 consecutive wins to claim the title. They also won the Stallard Cup knockout competition when they beat City Rovers Reserves 21 to 9. Richmond also recorded two wins over the touring Western Suburbs side who had won the New South Wales premiership with 18–16 and 10–3 wins. This was easily the strongest set of results of any club at the senior level in Auckland Rugby League's history to this point and arguably to this day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivan Littlewood</span> NZ international rugby league & union footballer

Inglis Ivan Irwin Levers Littlewood was a rugby league player who represented New Zealand for the first time in 1925. In so doing he became Kiwi 181. He also represented the Lower Waikato, South Auckland, and Auckland representative rugby league teams from 1919 to 1927.

Maritime was a rugby league club in Auckland. They competed from 1918 to 1930 under the name Maritime for 4 seasons, Athletic for 4 seasons, Grafton Athletic for 3 seasons and Kingsland Athletic for 2 seasons, before the club was 'forced' to join with Marist Old Boys in 1931.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Clarke (rugby league)</span> NZ international rugby league footballer

Alan Clarke was a rugby league player who represented New Zealand in one test match against England in 1932 at lock. In the process he became the 227th player to represent New Zealand. He also played rugby league for the North Island and Auckland representative sides as well as the Newton Rangers, and Marist Old Boys clubs.

James Lawrence O'Brien was a New Zealand rugby league player. He represented the New Zealand rugby league team in 1 match in 1925 against Queensland. In the process he became the 182nd player to represent New Zealand. He also represented Auckland 20 times from 1922 to 1927, and the North Island side in 1927. He played his club rugby league in Auckland for the North Shore Albions from 1921 to 1928, captaining them at times later in his career. He played for the Maritime club in 1920 and 1921 in his early years after returning from World War 1.

The Ihumātao Rugby League Club was a rugby league club in Auckland, New Zealand which existed from 1922 to 1923. They competed in the Auckland Rugby League 2nd grade competition in each season and had a third grade side in 1923. They represented the Ihumātao area in the Māngere suburb in Auckland.

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