1931 Auckland Rugby League season

The 1931 Auckland Rugby League season was its 23rd.

The inaugural Fox Memorial Shield was won by Marist Old Boys who defeated Devonport United 12–5 in the final round to win by 2 competition points over the same side. This was Marists second ever first grade title after previously winning it in 1924. Devonport United did however win the Roope Rooster competition defeating Ponsonby United in the final. This was their second time winning the Roope Rooster after they won the inaugural title in 1915. They also beat Marist Old Boys to win the Stormont Shield Trophy for the second year in a row. Alongside these feats Devonport also won the inaugural reserve grade competition with a 5–5 draw in the final securing them the 1 competition point they needed to edge out Ponsonby United. Richmond Rovers won the Stallard Cup by winning the reserve grade knockout competition, defeating Newton Rangers reserves in the final 13–5.

On the final day of the season Mr. Samuel Harris of the Newton Rangers team had a heart attack while running with the ball in the final of the Seven-A-Side charity tournament. The game was called off with no result given. He had played with Newton for 2 seasons after moving to Auckland from Hikurangi. He was single and 26 years of age at the time. ^[1]

Eastern Suburbs toured New Zealand at the end of the season and played 5 matches including 3 at Carlaw Park against Devonport, Devonport-Marist combined, and an Auckland Colts side.

Preceded by 1930

23rd Auckland Rugby League season 1931

Succeeded by 1932

Season News

Club teams by grade participation

Team	Fox Memorial	Reserves	2nd	3rd Open	3rd Int.	4th	5th	6th	7th	Schools	Midweek	Total
Richmond Rovers	1	1	0	1	1	1	1	1	2	0	0	9
City Rovers	1	1	1	0	1	1	1	1	1	0	0	8
Ponsonby United	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	7
Marist Old Boys	1	1	0	1	1	1	1	1	0	0	0	7
Devonport United	1	1	0	1	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	6
Ellerslie United	.5	.5	0	0	0	1	1	1	1	0	0	5
Newton Rangers	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	4
Point Chevalier	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	1	1	0	0	4
Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers	0	0	1	0	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	4
Glen Lynn	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	4
Mount Albert United	0	0	1	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	4
Papatoetoe	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	3
Akarana	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	3
Newmarket	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	0	0	3
Papakura	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2
Mount Wellington	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2
Otahuhu Rovers	.5	.5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
Māngere United	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
Glenora	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
Avondale	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
Avondale Schools	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
City Schools	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
Devonport Schools	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
Northcote Schools	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
Papatoetoe Schools	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
Richmond Schools	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
Newmarket Primary School	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
Newton Schools	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
Parnell/Akarana Schools	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
Ellerslie Schools	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
Auckland Locomotives (Railway)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
City Markets	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Combined Taxis	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Ellerslie Town Board Rovers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
New Zealand Fertilisers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Nicholson Park (Mt Eden)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Post and Telegraph (Messengers)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Stonex and Stormont's	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Waterside Workers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Total	7	7	8	6	8	15	10	10	8	10	9	98

Fox Memorial Shield replaces Monteith Shield

Fox in the back row, 3rd from the left in the 1912 North Shore second grade side.

It was the first season where the premier senior teams had competed for the Fox Memorial Shield. Prior to 1931 the trophy awarded was the Monteith Shield (1920–1930), and before that the Myers Cup (1910–14) (there were no trophies awarded during WW1 despite the first grade championship being competed for each season). The donor of the Monteith Shield had written to the league asking permission to withdraw the trophy from club competition and that the league play for a new trophy named after Edward Vincent Fox who had passed away the season previous and who had been heavily involved in Auckland Rugby League for a long period of time. The new trophy was being donated by friends of Fox. ^[2] The trophy was finished and presented to the league in September. It was described thus; "measuring 27 inches across by 22 inches deep, the base is a handsome sample of polished rimu, with overlay of contrasting pūriri, on which is an ornate centrepiece in oxidised silver depicting an incident of play in the New Zealand v Australia match of 1926". The donators of the trophy even went to the extent of sending the silver piece to England to have it effectively reproduced. ^[3]

The Auckland City Council Parks Committee designated the following of its grounds to the league code: Auckland Domain (2), Outer Domain (1), Victoria Park, Auckland (1), Walker Road (2), Western Springs Reserve (1), Grey Lynn Park (1), and 1 additional ground at Grey Lynn to alternate between rugby and league. ^[4]

Financial statement and annual report – From childhood to manhood

The annual report to be filed at the annual general meeting showed that the league had a £9,711 5/9 surplus with total assets of £10,534 19/4. As there were smaller crowds in 1930 the gate receipts were £2,282 12/, down from £3,465 10/5 in 1929. The Junior Management Committee reported that the number of juniors registered was 1,930 compared with 984 the previous year, and 63 teams took the field. ^[5] At the annual general meeting Mr. James Carlaw said that "this is a very important meeting, as we have now reached our twenty-first birthday, and have developed from childhood to manhood". Mr. Phelan presented trophies to the various winners from the previous season. ^[6] At the Devonport annual meeting Mr. A. Ferguson who was a member of the New Zealand Council and who was presiding over the meeting said that the league game in New Zealand needed to follow the Australian model. He stated that they "demonstrated the value of physical fitness, which was produced by intensive, scientific training". ^[7]

Senior competition restructuring and Carlaw Park gate takings

A management committee meeting which also included the special committee setup the previous year to look into the restructuring of the Senior A and Senior B competitions adjusted their original plans. It had been decided at the end of the 1930 season to reduce the Senior A competition from eight teams to six, thus forcing teams into merging with one another. After the meeting this was adjusted to seven teams. The teams would be Devonport, Richmond Rovers, Ellerslie-Otahuhu (which also included the Māngere United club, who could then choose their own name), ^[8] Marist Old Boys, City, Newton, and Ponsonby United. The Kingsland team which had been removed from the A grade asked for permission to join with the Marist Old Boys. While the Parnell club which has existed since 1921 amalgamated with City Rovers.

The B grade (essentially the second division which had run from 1925–1930) was still to be eliminated. The league would encourage B grade players to try out for the reserve grade teams in the A grade clubs. ^[9]

In a major development for the rugby league game in Auckland the special committee recommended that winning teams would be granted 12.5% of the net gate takings each weekend with losing teams sharing a "trifle less". The league would also enforce a rule where every Senior A club must field a reserve grade team "of sufficient calibre to satisfy the management committee". If they failed to do so they would be vulnerable to being removed from the A grade. The league also reserved the right to set the two lowest teams together at the end of the season against each other in a match and eliminating the losers, or compelling them to improve their standard of play or withdraw from the league. ^[10]

Eastern Suburbs tour of New Zealand

In mid October the Eastern Suburbs club team from Sydney toured New Zealand. They began their tour with a match against Northland in Whangarei before meeting the Auckland championsDevonport at Carlaw Park the very next day. They then travelled to Hamilton where they played South Auckland while also fitting in a trip to see the sights of Rotorua. Eastern Suburbs then travelled back to Auckland where they played against a combined Marist-Devonport team who inflicted the touring sides only defeat with a 14-13 defeat before a crowd of 15,000. Their final match was against and an Auckland Colts side which included several current or future New Zealand internationals, namely Ted Mincham, Len Scott, Dick Smith, Wilf Hassan, Bert Leatherbarrow, and Ed St George before returning home with 4 wins and a loss.

Eastern Suburbs tour matches

	9 October	Northland	11–23	Eastern Suburbs	Kensington Park, Whangarei
	3:00	Try: E O'Callaghan Con: C Hamilton Pen: C Hamilton 3	[11]	Try: Dave Brown 2, Roy Paillas, Ray Stehr, Hilton Delaney Con: Roy Paillas 2, Morrie Boyle Pen: Roy Paillas	Attendance: 2,000 Referee: J Petterson

	10 October	Devonport	27–41	Eastern Suburbs	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: Dick Smith, Allan Seagar, Hugh Simpson, Len Scott, Albert Laing Con: Dick Smith 4 Pen: Dick Smith 2	[12]	Try: Ernie Norman, Morrie Boyle 2, Dick Brown, Dave Brown, Les Rogers 2, Viv Thicknesse, Fred Tottey Con: Morrie Boyle 6, Dave Brown	Attendance: 17,000 Referee: Les Bull

	14 October	South Auckland	14–23	Eastern Suburbs	Steele Park, Hamilton
	3:00	Try: John Whorskey, Huatahi Paki Con: John Whorskey Pen: John Whorskey 3	[13]	Try: Roy Pallais, Fred Tottey 2, Dave Brown, Joe Pearce Con: Roy Pallais 2, Norm Pope Pen: Roy Pallais	Attendance: 2,000 Referee: A Harlock

	17 October	Devonport-Marist	14–13	Eastern Suburbs	Carlaw Park 1
	3:15	Try: Len Scott, Hec Brisbane Con: Alan Clarke Pen: Alan Clarke 3	[14]	Try: Dave Brown 2, Fred Tottey Con: Morrie Boyle 2	Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Percy Rogers

	21 October	Auckland Colts	13–18	Eastern Suburbs	Carlaw Park 1
	4:00	Try: Wilf Hassan, Ted Mincham, Bob Carter Con: Dick Smith Pen: Dick Smith	[15]	Try: Roy Pallais, Morrie Boyle 3 Con: Roy Pallais, Dave Brown 2	Referee: Vic Simpson

Rule changes

At the Management Committee meeting prior to the start of the season it was decided to adhere to the latest rules, where a team forcing the ball in their own in goal area would take a drop kick from the 25-yard line as opposed from their own try line. There was an adjustment to the weight allowance from the fourth grade down, and sixth grade players should be under 18 and a half on 1 May. ^[16] At a following Management Committee meeting it was reported that the English Rugby League had advised that at scrum put in's the loose head would be transferred from the defending team to the attacking team. ^[17]

On 15 August a referee was assaulted by a player after a match between the City and Newmarket Fourth Grade teams at Western Springs Stadium. He had ordered off a player from each team. The City player came back on the field and his team refused to remove him so the referee called the match off. He was then harassed by a number of players and one of them then fought with him, "the pair rolled on the ground fighting for a few minutes, the referee holding his own until some spectators intervened and separated" them. ^[18]

New clubs at Papakura and Glenora, and several amalgamations

On March 26 the Papakura Rugby League club was formed with 60 players enrolling. ^[19] They applied to the Papakura Town Board for use of the reserve at Papakura. This was granted as the entire club had switched over from Rugby Union meaning they had no competition for the field. The council said that if a representative rugby game was being played on the field then the league team could use Prince Edward Park (which later became their home ground and remains so to this day). ^[20] On Saturday, 18 April they played a practice match with Mount Wellington at Papakura. ^[21] The match was won by Mount Wellington by 8 points to 5. Papakura's points came from an unconverted try to Johnstone, and I. Wilson kicked a penalty goal. ^[22] They held their first social on the evening of Wednesday 22 April at the Paragon Theatre. ^[23]

The Kingsland Athletic club joined with Marist Old Boys meaning their senior players would join those of Marist. Kingsland were already an amalgamated club involving Kingsland Rovers and Grafton Athletic (originally named Maritime and not to be confused with the Grafton Athletic club which existed from 1914 to 1922). This placed Marist as one of the early favourites to win the Senior Grade. This was discussed in an article on the prospects of all the teams in the New Zealand Herald. ^[24]

The Ellerslie United, Otahuhu Rovers, and Māngere United clubs combined to form a senior team with the Māngere Senior B team being regraded to first junior (2nd grade) with the team playing as part of the Ellerslie-Otahuhu side. ^[25] However Māngere United then sent a deputation to a Management Committee meeting asking to be able to play as a separate institution as a junior club rather than be a part of the Ellerslie-Otahuhu amalgamation. ^[26] They wished to be affiliated under their own name rather than amalgamate with Ellerslie. Several speakers from Māngere they said that they wished to play league football but maintain their own identity as a Māori team. The League said that there should be a conference with Ellerslie and in the meantime they would play for one week with Ellerslie. ^[27] At a league meeting on 27 May the league decided to uphold their earlier ruling and enforce the amalgamation with the decision reviewed at the end of the season. It was expressed that the Māngere players were willing to play as the league suggested. Mr. Jim Rukutai suggested that Māngere be granted permission to retain their identity for twelve months, subject to all transfers being through the Ellerslie-Otahuhu United Club. The chairman of the league said "he did not think that there was any objection to Māngere playing as the Māngere section of the amalgamated club, but it was the duty of the League to uphold Ellerslie-Otahuhu Club". In the meantime he thought "moral suasion should be used by the members and the position would right itself". ^[28] At the Management Committee meeting on 10 June it was reported by the chairman that the Māngere and Ellerslie clubs had reached a satisfactory agreement and that "the Māori senior team,… was willing to continue playing the league code. It was intended that Māngere should apply for the resignation of its players who had already played for Ellerslie" The matter would be deferred for one week. ^[29]

It was announced at a City Rovers club meeting that the Parnell club had amalgamated with them. They would enter teams in the senior, reserve senior, first junior, third intermediate, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh grades, and also in the primary school competition. ^[30] Ten of the Parnell senior B players were regraded to first class juniors and would play for that particular City Rovers side. ^[31]

In June a new club was registered in the Glen Eden district and was named Glenora. They entered a team in the third grade intermediate. There was a team in the area named Glen Lynn at the time which was a combination of the New Lynn and Glen Eden sides of the late 1920s, and so to distinguish them Glenora chose that name as some of their players were from the Oratia area, and the name was initially spelled as Glen Ora. ^[32]

Fox Memorial Shield (1st grade championship)

The Senior Grade was reduced from 8 teams to 7 for the 1931 season. Each team had to field a reserve side and their matches were to be played prior to the A team's matches at the same venue. ^[33]

Fox Memorial standings

Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Marist Old Boys	12	11	0	1	204	88	22
Devonport United	12	10	0	2	178	92	20
Richmond Rovers	12	7	1	4	143	93	15
Ponsonby United	12	6	1	5	152	143	13
Newton Rangers	12	2	2	8	83	145	6
City Rovers	12	2	1	9	132	179	5
Ellerslie-Otahuhu United	12	1	1	10	85	237	3

Fox Memorial fixtures

Round 1

Casey (Devonport) being tackled by Kerr (City). Simpson (Devonport) is on the ground having been tackled by Hadley.

In Round 1 Marist won after time however the play was continued erroneously. Time was up but the time keeper allowed additional tackles and did not ring the bell until after the winning try had been scored. ^[34] Richmond protested the result and after multiple meetings it was eventually decided by the league Management Committee to replay the match. ^[35]

	2 May	Devonport	23–18	City	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: Alf Scott, Allan Seagar, Trevor O’Leary, J Harding, O’Donnell Con: Alf Scott, Allan Seagar 3	[36]	Try: C Reynolds, George Perry, Ben Davidson 2 Con: Kerr 3	Referee: Les Bull

	2 May	Marist	11–10*	Richmond	Carlaw Park 2
	3:00	Try: Gordon Campbell 2, Claude List Con: L Riley	[37]	Try: Stan Prentice, Bill Telford Con: G Davis 2	Referee: Percy Rogers

	2 May	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	5–5	Newton	Ellerslie Reserve
	3:00	Try: Hickey Pen: Craddock Dufty	[38]	Try: Charles Allan Pen: Claude Dempsey	Referee: E McCall

Round 2

In the match between Marist and Ponsonby, Heck Lunn (Ponsonby) left the field in the 2nd half with a broken rib.

	9 May	Marist	20–9	Ponsonby	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: Phil Brady, George Batchelor, Hec Brisbane, Claude List Con: George Batchelor, Railey Pen: Alan Clarke Drop: Claude List	[39]	Try: L Winters, A Schofield, Cyril Thompson	Referee: Percy Rogers

	9 May	Richmond	28–15	City	Carlaw Park 2
	3:00	Try: Stan Prentice, N Pell 2, Ray Lawless, Ritchie, Patterson Con: G Davis 4 Pen: G Davis	[40]	Try: G Munce, Joe Hadley Con: Ben Davidson Pen: Ben Davidson	Referee: Arthur Rae

	9 May	Devonport	26–0	Newton	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: Len Scott, Allan Seagar, Horace Hunt, Les O’Leary 2, Ted Scott Con: Allan Seagar 2, Les O'Leary 2	[41]		Referee: Vic Simpson

Round 3

The Round 3 match between Richmond and Newton was the first ever senior league match played at Western Springs Stadium which had opened for cycling and field sports in 1929.

	16 May	Ponsonby	24–13	City	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: Victor Fagan, L Winters, E Friend Con: Frank Delgrosso 3 Pen: Frank Delgrosso 3	[42]	Try: Laurie Barchard, Len Barchard, Ben Davidson Con: Steve Watene Pen: Steve Watene	Referee: John Stormont

	16 May	Devonport	23–12	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	Carlaw Park 2
	3:00	Try: Ernest Ruby, Len Scott 2, Trevor O’Leary, J Harding Con: Les O’Leary 2, Allan Seagar	[43]	Try: Drew, Quirke Con: Craddock Dufty 2 Drop: Craddock Dufty	Referee: Wilfred Simpson

	16 May	Richmond	6–3	Newton	Western Springs
	3:00	Try: Bill Davis, Patterson	[44]	Try: Arnold Porteous	Referee: H Taylor

Round 4

	23 May	City	16–2	Marist	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: Laurie Barchard, J Iveson Con: Steve Watene Pen: Steve Watene 4	[45]	Pen: Charles Gregory	Referee: Frank Thompson

	23 May	Richmond	17–9	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	Carlaw Park 2
	3:00	Try: G Davis, Bill Telford, Stan Prentice Con: G Davis 2 Pen: G Davis 2	[46]	Try: Hemingway, Boswell, Craddock Dufty	Referee: Bertie Victor Emirali

	23 May	Ponsonby	20–8	Newton	Western Springs
	3:00	Try: Doug McLeay 2, Walter Goodwin, E Friend Con: Frank Delgrosso 3 Pen: Frank Delgrosso	[47]	Try: Charles Allen, Hill Con: Hill	Referee: Les Bull

Round 5

	30 May	Devonport	13–5	Richmond	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: Hugh Simpson, Len Scott, S Casey Con: Alf Scott 2	[48]	Try: Stan Prentice Con: G Davis	Referee: Bertie Victor Emirali

	30 May	Marist	18–9	Newton	Carlaw Park 2
	3:00	Try: Wilf Hassan, Hec Brisbane 2, George Batchelor Con: Charles Gregory 3	[49]	Try: Ted Brimble 3	Referee: Les Bull

	30 May	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	8–24	Ponsonby	Ellerslie Reserve
	3:00	Try: Hobbs, Hickey Con: Craddock Dufty	[50]	Try: E Friend, Pat Skelton 2, Cyril Thompson, George Gardiner, John Angelo Con: E Friend 2, Victor Fagan	Referee: E McCall

Round 1 replay

This match was replayed from Round 1 when the time keeper allowed play to continue well after the bel should have been rung. In the replayed match H Carter for Marist was ordered off for “rough play”. Charles Gregory and Gordon Campbell both of Marist then left the field with injuries leaving Marist to hang on with 10 men for the last few minutes of the game.

	6 June	Marist	13–7	Richmond	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: Norm Campbell, Phil Brady, P Young Con: Charles Gregory Pen: Charles Gregory	[51]	Try: Ray Lawless Pen: G Davis 2	Referee: Vic Simpson

Round 6

	13 June	Devonport	9–8	Ponsonby	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: Len Scott, Trevor O’Leary, Les O’Leary	[52]	Try: Doug McLeay, White Drop: Pat Skelton	Referee: Les Bull

	13 June	City	0–0	Newton	Western Springs
	3:00		[53]		Referee: Percy Rogers

	13 June	Marist	39–3	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	Carlaw Park 2
	3:00	Try: Hec Brisbane 3, Drew 3, George Batchelor 2, Wilf Hassan Con: Pat Meehan 6	[54]	Try: Stan Webb	Referee: Frank Thompson

Round 7

Marist and Devonport met in a top of the table match with Devonport first with a 5-0 record and Marist second with a 4-1 record. Marist's win saw them draw level.

	20 June	Marist	11–4	Devonport	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: George Batchelor 2, Pat Meehan Pen: Alan Clarke	[55]	Pen: Lindsay Simons, Allan Seagar	Referee: E McCall

	20 June	Richmond	2–2	Ponsonby	Carlaw Park 2
	3:00	Pen: Ted Mincham	[56]	Pen: E Friend	Referee: Percy Rogers

	20 June	City	20–2	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	Auckland Domain 1
	3:00	Try: William McLaughlin 2, Laurie Barchard 2 Con: Steve Watene 2 Pen: Steve Watene 2	[57]	Pen: Hickey	Referee: Bertie Victor Emirali

Round 8

	27 June	Devonport	16–5	City	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: P Masefield, C Rhodes, Len Scott, O’Donnell Con: Allan Seagar 2	[58]	Try: Alderton Pen: Steve Watene	Referee: Percy Rogers

	27 June	Newton	14–3	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	Carlaw Park 2
	3:00	Try: Ed St George 2, Hill, Stanley Francis Con: Hill	[59]	Try: Drew	Referee: Les Bull

	27 June	Marist	8–3	Richmond	Western Springs
	3:00	Try: Claude List, Fraser Webberley Pen: Alan Clarke	[60]	Try: Jones	Referee: Frank Thompson

Round 9

In the Richmond – City match both Stan Prentice and Steve Watene were both sent off for fighting.

	4 July	Marist	25–10	Ponsonby	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: George Batchelor, Phil Brady 2, Pat Meehan 2, Claude List 2 Con: George Batchelor, Pat Meehan	[61]	Try: Cyril Thompson, E Friend Pen: Frank Delgrosso 2	Referee: Les Bull

	4 July	Richmond	11–8	City	Carlaw Park 2
	3:00	Try: Pell, Ted Mincham, G Davis Con: Ted Mincham	[62]	Try: J Iveson, William McLaughlin Con: Steve Watene	Referee: John Stormont

	4 July	Devonport	20–5	Newton	Devonport Domain
	3:00	Try: Ernest Ruby 3, Alf Scott, O’Donnell, Trevor O’Leary Con: Lindsay Simons	[63]	Try: A Pope Con: Hill	Referee: E McCall

Round 10

	11 July	Devonport	14–10	Richmond	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: Dick Smith, J Harding Con: Alf Scott Pen: Lindsay Simons, Alf Scott 2	[64]	Try: Ted Mincham, Stan Prentice Con: G Davis Pen: Ted Mincham	Referee: Percy Rogers

	11 July	Ponsonby	20–17	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	Carlaw Park 2
	3:00	Try: E Friend 2, C Stevens, Lou Hutt Con: Frank Delgrosso 3 Pen: Frank Delgrosso	[65]	Try: Stan Webb 2, Leslie Oliff Con: Drew Pen: F Chapman, Unknown x 1 Drop: Hemingway	Referee: Arthur Rae

	11 July	Marist	17–9	Newton	Western Springs
	3:00	Try: Alan Clarke, Pat Meehan, George Batchelor Con: Alan Clarke 2, Pat Meehan Drop: Norm Campbell	[66]	Try: Samuel Harris, A Pope, Ted Brimble	Referee: Vic Simpson

Round 11

	18 July	Marist	18–10	City	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: Pat Meehan 3, Norm Campbell Con: Alan Clarke 3	[67]	Try: Steve Watene, Alderton Con: Steve Watene Pen: Steve Watene	Referee: Vic Simpson

	18 July	Richmond	32–3	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	Carlaw Park 2
	3:00	Try: Charles Dunn 2, Ritchie, Ted Mincham, Stan Prentice 4, N Pell, Unknown x 1 Con: Charles Dunn	[68]	Try: Leslie Oliff	Referee: E McCall

	18 July	Ponsonby	12–7	Newton	Stafford Park, Northcote
	3:00	Try: Walter Goodwin, Leonard Riley Con: Frank Delgrosso 2 Pen: Frank Delgrosso	[69]	Try: Hill Con: Arnold Porteous Pen: Arnold Porteous	Referee: Les Bull

Round 12

The Round 12 match at Devonport between the hosts and Ellerslie-Otahuhu was one with paid entry after permission was granted by the Devonport Borough Council. A sum of £12 5/ was raised to assist the Devonport Welfare League's funds. ^[70] Unofficially the Devonport v Ellerslie-Otahuhu match was referee Les Bull's 100th time officiating an Auckland senior club team match. He was the first referee to achieve this in Auckland Rugby League.

	25 July	Ponsonby	18–7	City	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: Victor Fagan, Lou Hutt, E Friend, Doug McLeay Con: Frank Delgrosso 3	[71]	Try: Laurie Barchard Con: Steve Watene Pen: Steve Watene	Referee: Frank Thompson

	25 July	Richmond	8–0	Newton	Carlaw Park 2
	3:00	Try: Ritchie, Bill Telford Con: Ted Mincham	[72]		Referee: A.E. Smith

	25 July	Devonport	12–6	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	Devonport Domain
	3:00	Try: Dick Smith, Len Scott, Keesing, J Harding	[73]	Try: O'Donnell, Hickey	Referee: Les Bull

Round 13

The Round 13 matches were played in terrible conditions which saw the cancellation of almost all league in Auckland. The match between Marist and Ellerslie-Otahuhu played at Papatoetoe was abandoned at halftime due to the north-westerly squalls making playing conditions impossible. The score of 21–3 in favour of Marist was declared the final score. City was severely understrength with 5 of its regular players absent, while in the Ponsonby-Devonport match Lou Hutt of Ponsonby was ordered off near the end of the match.

	1 August	Devonport	13–0	Ponsonby	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: A Smith, Allan Seagar, Ernest Ruby Con: Dick Smith Pen: Dick Smith	[74]		Referee: Percy Rogers

	1 August	Newton	23–10	City	Carlaw Park 2
	3:00	Try: Ferguson, Ray Middleton, A Pope, Ed St George 2 Con: Ray Middleton 2, Arnold Porteous Pen: Ray Middleton	[75]	Try: William McLaughlin, Len Barchard Con: Laurie Barchard 2	Referee: Wilfred Simpson

	1 August	Marist	21–3	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	Papatoetoe
	3:00	Try: P Young, Charles Gregory, Alan Clarke, Claude List, George Batchelor Con: Charles Gregory 3	[76]	Try: Hickey	Referee: Vic Simpson

Round 14

	8 August	Marist	12–5	Devonport	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: Pat Meehan 2, George Batchelor 2	[77]	Try: P Masefield Pen: Alf Scott	Referee: Les Bull

	8 August	Richmond	14–5	Ponsonby	Carlaw Park 2
	3:00	Try: Ted Mincham, G Davis, N Pell, Blood Con: Ted Mincham	[78]	Try: Pat Skelton Pen: Frank Delgrosso	Referee: E McCall

	8 August	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	14–10	City	Ellerslie Domain
	3:00	Try: Hobbs, Hickey, Stan Webb, Drew Con: Boswell	[79]	Try: Len Barchard, William McLaughlin Con: Steve Watene 2	Referee: Stuart Billman

Roope Rooster knockout competition

Round 1

	29 August	Ponsonby	24–12	City	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: Lou Hutt 2, L Winters, Doug McLeay 2, C Stevens Con: Frank Delgrosso 3	[80]	Try: Len Barchard, Laurie Barchard, William McLaughlin, J Iveson	Referee: Bertie Victor Emirali

	29 August	Devonport	41–8	Newton	Carlaw Park 2
	3:00	Try: Dick Smith 2, Len Scott 4, J Hawkes 3, C Rhodes 2 Con: Dick Smith, J Harding, S Casey, Unknown x 1	[81]	Try: Allen 2 Con: Ray Middleton	Referee: E McCall

	29 August	Richmond	15–11	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	Carlaw Park 1
	1:45	Try: Stan Prentice, Charles Dunn, Arthur Lennie Con: Ted Mincham 2 Pen: Ted Mincham	[82]	Try: Glenn Pen: Stan Webb 4	Referee: Wilfred Simpson

Semi finals

The semi finals were postponed initially due to poor weather before being played on 12 September. The match between Ponsonby and Richmond went to extra-time after it was 20–20 at the end of regular time. This was very rare as usually tied games were replayed. Ponsonby went on to win 28–20.

	12 September	Ponsonby	28–20 (20–20)	Richmond	Carlaw Park 2
	3:15	Try: Winters, Heck Lunn 2, Pat Skelton 2, C Stevens Con: Frank Delgrosso 3 Pen: Frank Delgrosso Drop: Frank Delgrosso	[83]	Try: Ted Mincham, Charles Dunn 2, G Davis Con: Ted Mincham 2 Pen: Ted Mincham 2	Referee: Percy Rogers

	12 September	Devonport	11–8	Marist	Carlaw Park 1
	3:15	Try: J Harding, P Masefield, Len Scott Drop: Dick Smith	[84]	Try: Norm Campbell, McDonald Con: Alan Clarke	Referee: E McCall

Final

	19 September	Devonport	34–17	Ponsonby	Carlaw Park 1
	3:15	Try: S Casey, Bert Leatherbarrow, Ernest Ruby, Dick Smith 2, Allan Seagar 2, P Masefield Con: Dick Smith 4 Pen: Dick Smith	[85]	Try: Horatio Drew, Leonard Riley, George Gardiner Con: Frank Delgrosso 2 Pen: Frank Delgrosso 2	Referee: Percy Rogers

Stormont Shield

	3 October	Devonport	25–6	Marist	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: Allan Seagar 2, Dick Smith 2, Hugh Simpson Con: Allan Seagar 4 Pen: Allan Seagar	[86]	Try: Pat Meehan 2	Referee: Vic Simpson

Top try scorers and point scorers

Top try and point scorers for A Grade, Roope Rooster matches and the Stormont Shield match. Frank Delgrosso of Ponsonby was the top point scorer for the 3rd time in his career with 70 points. He was regularly in the top 5 point scorers in the first grade competitions and to this point in his career had amassed more than any other player, with 665 points. Len Scott (Devonport United) was the top try scorer with 12, closely followed by George Batchelor (Marist Old Boys) and Pat Meehan with 11, and Stan Prentice (Richmond Rovers) with 10.

Top try scorers No Player Team Tries 1 Len Scott Devonport 12 2 George Batchelor Marist 11 2 Pat Meehan Marist 11 4 Stan Prentice Richmond 10 5 Dick Smith Devonport 9 6 E Friend Ponsonby 7 6 Allan Seagar Devonport 7 8 Hec Brisbane Marist 6 8 Laurie Barchard City 6 8 D McLeay Ponsonby 6 8 Ernest Ruby Devonport 6 8 William McLaughlin City 6

Top point scorers No Player Team T C P DG Pts 1 Frank Delgrosso Ponsonby 0 22 13 0 70 2 Dick Smith Devonport 9 10 4 1 57 3 Pat Meehan Marist 11 8 0 0 49 4 Allan Seagar Devonport 7 9 2 0 43 5 Steve Watene City 1 9 10 0 41 6 G Davis Richmond 3 10 5 0 39 6 Ted Mincham Richmond 5 7 5 0 39 8 George Batchelor Marist 11 2 0 0 37 9 Len Scott Devonport 12 0 0 0 36 10 Stan Prentice Richmond 10 0 0 0 30

Senior reserve grade standings

The standings include the 'final' between Devonport and Ponsonby which was a 5–5 draw. This meant Devonport won the title as they finished the competition with one more point that Ponsonby. A Round 11 result between Marist and City is unknown as it was not reported in the newspapers while the score between Devonport and Ellerslie-Otahuhu in Round 12 is also unknown, though Devonport were the victor.

Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Devonport United Reserves	12	9	2	1	149	48	20
Ponsonby United Reserves	12	9	1	2	163	63	19
Richmond Rovers Reserves	12	9	0	3	147	74	18
Marist Old Boys Reserves	10	5	1	4	118	47	11
City Rovers Reserves	10	2	0	8	58	110	4
Ellerslie-Otahuhu United Reserves	11	2	0	9	41	142	4
Newton Rangers Reserves	11	1	0	10	27	219	2

Senior reserve grade fixtures

The Round 13 matches at Carlaw Park were cancelled due to the poor weather conditions and the necessity to protect the ground for the Senior matches to follow immediately afterwards.

1931 Senior Reserve results

	Date		Score		Score	Venue
Round 1	2 May [87]	Devonport	21	City	5	Carlaw Park # 1, 1:45pm
–	2 May	Richmond	8	Marist	6	Carlaw Park # 2, 1:45pm
–	2 May	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	10	Newton	5	Ellerslie, 1:45pm
Round 2	9 May [88]	Ponsonby	13	Marist	5	Domain # 5, 1:45pm
–	9 May	Richmond	16	City	11	?
–	9 May	Devonport	39	Newton	0	Devonport Domain, 3pm
Round 3	16 May [89]	Ponsonby	8	City	4	Carlaw Park # 1, 1:45pm
–	16 May	Devonport	14	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	2	Carlaw Park # 2, 1:45pm
–	16 May	Richmond	32	Newton	0	Western Springs Stadium, 1:45pm
Round 4	23 May [90]	Marist	21	City	2	Carlaw Park # 1, 1:45pm
–	23 May	Richmond	19	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	6	Carlaw Park # 2, 1:45pm
–	23 May	Ponsonby	38	Newton	3	Western Springs Stadium, 1:45pm
Round 5	30 May [91]	Devonport	21	Richmond	0	Carlaw Park # 1, 1:45pm
–	30 May	Marist	32	Newton	0	Carlaw Park # 2, 1:45pm
–	30 May	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	3	Ponsonby	14	Ellerslie, 1:45pm
Round 6	13 June [92]	Devonport	12	Ponsonby	8	Carlaw Park # 1, 1:45pm
–	13 June	City	10	Newton	3	Western Springs, 1:45pm
–	13 June	Marist	14	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	3	Carlaw Park # 2, 1:45pm
Round 7	20 June [93]	Devonport	10	Marist	6	Carlaw Park # 1, 1:45pm
–	20 June	Richmond	15	Ponsonby	10	Carlaw Park # 2, 1:45pm
–	20 June	City	16	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	0	Auckland Domain # 1, 1:45pm
Round 8	27 June [94]	Devonport	15	City	0	Carlaw Park # 1, 2pm
–	27 June	Newton	16	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	12	Carlaw Park # 2, 2pm
–	27 June	Marist	5	Richmond	0	Western Springs Stadium, 2pm
Round 9	4 July [95]	Ponsonby	8	Marist	5	Carlaw Park # 1, 1:45pm
–	4 July	Richmond	13	City	7	Carlaw Park # 2, 1:45pm
–	4 July	Devonport	9	Newton	0	Devonport, 1:45pm
Round 10	11 July [96]	Richmond	19	Devonport	0	Carlaw Park # 1, 1:45pm
–	11 July	Ponsonby	34	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	3	Carlaw Park # 2, 1:45pm
–	11 July	Marist	21	Newton	0	Western Springs, 1:45pm
Round 11	18 July [97]	Marist	?	City	?	Carlaw Park # 1, 1:45pm
–	18 July	Richmond	10	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	2	Carlaw Park # 2, 1:45pm
–	18 July	Ponsonby	6	Newton	0	Northcote, 2pm
Round 12	25 July [98]	Ponsonby	13	City	3	Carlaw Park # 1, 1:45pm
–	25 July	Richmond	10	Newton	0	Carlaw Park #2, 1:45pm
–	25 July	Devonport	W	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	L	Devonport Domain, 1:45pm
Round 13	1 Aug	Devonport	CCD	Ponsonby	CCD	Carlaw Park # 1, 1:45pm
–	1 Aug	City	CCD	Newton	CCD	Carlaw Park # 2, 1:45pm
–	1 Aug	Marist	CCD	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	CCD	Papatoetoe, 1:45pm
Round 14	8 Aug [99]	Marist	3	Devonport	3	Carlaw Park # 1, 1:45pm
–	8 Aug	Ponsonby	6	Richmond	5	Carlaw Park # 2, 1:45pm
–	8 Aug	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	WBD	City	LBD	Ellerslie Racecourse, 1:45pm
Final	15 Aug [100]	Devonport	5	Ponsonby	5	Carlaw Park #1, 1:45pm

Reserve grade knockout competition (Stallard Cup)

1931 Results

	Date		Score		Score	Venue
Round 1	5 Sep [101]	Ponsonby	31	City	2	Carlaw Park # 2, 1:45pm
–	5 Sep	Newton	9	Devonport	3	Auckland Domain, 1:45pm
–	5 Sep	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	L	Richmond	W	Auckland Domain, 3pm
semi final	12 Sep [102]	Newton	18	Marist	15	Carlaw Park # 2, 1:45pm
semi final	12 Sep	Richmond	15	Ponsonby	5	Carlaw Park # 1, 3:15pm
Final	19 Sep [103]	Richmond	13	Newton	5	Carlaw Park # 1, 1:45pm

Charity day tournament and death of a player (Samuel Harris)

On 31 October a Charity Day was held at Carlaw Park. It featured a Seven-A-Side tournament, an 'old timers' match, a match between the referees and St Johns Ambulance, and several running races. The proceeds would all go to the St John Ambulance Brigade. Mr. Samuel Harris of the Newton team collapsed and died from heart failure a few minutes from time in the final. Harris had played for the Newton seniors after joining the club in 1930 and had scored a try in a match earlier in the season. He had played in their earlier matches and had participated in a running race but had complained of feeling too unwell to run again. He collapsed while running with the ball and despite immediate attention from members of St, John Ambulance he died almost immediately. The match was called off. ^[104] Harris had joined Newton in 1930 and was originally from Hikurangi. His funeral was held in Hikurangi on 4 November. ^[105]

1931 Charity seven-a-side tournament results

	Date		Score		Score	Venue
Round 1	31 Oct [106]	Ellerslie-Otahuhu A	21	Ellerslie-Otahuhu B	6	Carlaw Park # 2, 1:30pm
Round 1	31 Oct	Richmond	WBD	Marist	LBD	Carlaw Park # 2, 2pm
Round 1	31 Oct	Ponsonby	15	Newton B	5	Carlaw Park # 2, 2pm
Round 1	31 Oct	Newton A	13	City	0	Carlaw Park # 1, 2:25pm
Round 1	31 Oct	Devonport	38	Ellerslie-Otahuhu A	2	Carlaw Park # 2, 2:25pm
semi-final	31 Oct	Newton A	19	Ponsonby	5	Carlaw Park # 1, 4:30pm
semi-final	31 Oct	Devonport	16	Richmond	0	Carlaw Park # 1, 4:30pm
Final	31 Oct	Devonport	no result	Newton A	no result	Carlaw Park # 1, 4:30pm

Other club matches and lower grades

Lower grade competitions

The Mid-Week competition which was running once again was made up of nine teams. It was decided to allocate the Monteith Shield to the championship. This had formerly been awarded to the winner of the Senior grade champions, but as of this year the newly presented Fox Memorial Shield would replace it. The Waitemata (Endean) Shield would be awarded to the team scoring the most championship points in the second round, and the "Nuko" Cup to the winner of the two lower teams on the ladder. ^[107] Marist were awarded the Davis Shield for scoring the most competition points in the junior grades. ^[108]

Second grade

Point Chevalier won the second grade championship for the first time. They were closely followed all season by Mount Albert and Papakura. Papakura were the only side with all of their results reported so the for and against and win/loss records are slightly incomplete. Papakura won the knockout competition on September 12 when they beat Mount Albert 26-0 in the final. Mount Albert had defeated Point Chevalier in one semi final while Papakura beat Northcote 8-5 in the other. On July 18 the City side played Huntly and won 5-3 while on August 15 Point Chevalier beat a Riverhead side 11-6 at Hobsonville. On August 22 Papakura played a South Auckland (Waikato) side and won 8-3. Then at the end of the season a second grade representative side played the Wednesday Competition representatives and lost 23-6. The second grade representative side was called 'Auckland Juniors'. On October 17 they also played the Devonport reserve grade side who had won the championship and won 18 to 3. Ponsonby withdrew after 9 rounds having defaulted at least 2 of their matches.

Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Point Chevalier	14	12	1	1	144	32	25
Mount Albert United	15	11	0	4	128	26	22
Papakura	15	10	1	4	107	83	21
Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers	15	4	2	4	81	58	10
Māngere United	14	4	0	6	62	28	8
Mount Wellington	14	3	0	8	24	113	6
City Rovers	15	1	0	11	26	183	2
Ponsonby United	8	1	0	7	20	69	2

Third Grade Open standings

Marist Old Boys won the championship when they defeated Ponsonby United in the final on August 29 by 4 points to 2. It was Marist's first time winning this grade. Devonport defaulted their first two matches and then withdrew from the competition, while Ellerslie entered a side but withdrew after the first week with it unknown if the match was played or not. Glen Lynn played until round 12 before withdrawing. On May 30 when Marist had their bye they played a Waiterimu, a Waikato side, and won 3-2.

In the knockout competition Marist beat Devonport 8-0 in one semi final and Ponsonby beat Glenora 8-3 in the other. Glenora had recently formed and entered a team in the 3rd Grade Intermediate competition but decided to enter a team in the 3rd Grade Open knockout competition. They beat Richmond 3-0 to make the semi-final where they were beaten. Marist and Ponsonby drew 5-5 in the knockout final therefore a replay was needed. Ponsonby won the replay 8-2 on September 26.

Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Marist Old Boys	13	7	1	1	119	30	15
Ponsonby United	15	6	1	2	76	32	13
Richmond Rovers	16	4	0	6	92	86	8
Papatoetoe	12	1	0	2	0	44	2
Glen Lynn	9	0	0	5	2	97	0
Devonport United	2	0	0	2	0	0	0

Third Intermediate Grade standings

Richmond Rovers won the 3rd grade intermediate championship for the 4th time in their history. It was only in the 6th year of competition. There were a large number of results not reported so the standings are very incomplete. The competition was notable because Glenora fielded their first ever side when they entered a team in round 6 on June 6. They lost the match to Akarana 16-0. In the knockout competition Richmond beat Mount Albert in one semi final while Akarana beat City 10-4 in the other semi final. Richmond then completed the double when they defeated Akarana 6-3 in the final on September 12. Glenora were knocked out in the first round on August 22 by Mount Albert 6-4 and then entered a side in the 3rd grade open knockout competition. Glen Lynn (an amalgamated club between Glen Eden and New Lynn) withdrew after 8 rounds.

Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Richmond Rovers	15	10	0	3	109	50	20
Akarana	15	8	2	1	98	15	18
Ponsonby United	13	4	2	2	41	74	10
Marist Old Boys	14	5	1	4	82	35	11
City Rovers	13	2	0	4	30	36	4
Mount Albert United	16	1	1	6	16	80	3
Glen Lynn	6	0	0	6	7	45	0
Glenora	7	0	0	5	0	48	0

Fourth Grade standings

Marist won the championship and the knockout competition when they beat Richmond 13-0 on October 10. It was the first time they had won the fourth grade competition in its 20th year of running.

Glen Lynn entered a team but did not play a game before withdrawing. Ellerslie defaulted their first two matches and then withdrew. Mount Wellington withdrew after 3 rounds despite winning in round one and a default win over Ponsonby in round 3. Ponsonby withdrew after defaulting in the third round while Avondale withdrew after 14 rounds.

Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Marist Old Boys	24	10	1	1	215	52	21
Akarana	22	10	1	3	97	71	21
Newmarket	20	6	4	4	84	61	16
Point Chevalier	21	6	3	4	117	84	15
Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers	21	6	1	0	101	25	13
Richmond Rovers	21	6	1	4	57	49	13
Papakura	19	6	1	9	76	143	13
City Rovers	20	4	1	8	105	133	9
Mount Albert United	19	3	2	6	39	66	8
Devonport United	20	1	2	5	47	82	4
Mount Wellington	3	2	0	0	19	0	4
Papatoetoe	19	1	0	9	42	146	2
Avondale	13	1	0	7	17	104	2
Ponsonby United	3	0	0	1	0	0	0
Ellerslie United	2	0	0	2	0	0	0

Fifth Grade standings

Marist won the championship for the fifth grade for the second time with the previous being the year prior in 1930. They also won the knockout competition when they beat City in the final 6-3 on October 3. Marist had beaten Ponsonby in one semi final while City beat Devonport in the other. There were a significant number of scores not reported so the standings are incomplete.

Papatoetoe and Newmarket both entered teams but neither had a result reported and Newmarket withdrew after round 1 and Papatoetoe after round 2. Mount Albert withdrew after 17 rounds near the end of the championship, with Ellerslie withdrawing a week later.

Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Marist Old Boys	19	12	0	0	171	6	24
Newton Rangers	18	9	1	4	135	42	19
City Rovers	19	8	0	2	87	15	16
Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers	18	7	0	3	89	15	14
Ponsonby United	15	4	1	4	55	66	9
Glen Lynn	20	3	0	5	61	59	6
Devonport United	16	3	0	4	16	53	6
Richmond Rovers	19	2	0	10	16	118	4
Ellerslie United	16	1	0	6	17	103	2
Mount Albert United	16	0	0	11	4	158	0

Sixth Grade standings

Newmarket won their first ever sixth grade championship when they defeated Richmond 3-2 in the final on September 26. They had won the schoolboys championship in 1928 and 1929 so may have included some of those players coming through the grades. Ellerslie withdrew after 3 rounds having defaulted their 2nd match and neither of their other results reported. Newmarket also won the knockout competition by the same score over the same opponent on October 17. Newmarket had beaten Marist on one semi final while Richmond beat City 14-6 in the other.

Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Newmarket	18	16	0	1	165	13	32
Richmond Rovers	21	13	1	1	125	16	27
Marist Old Boys A	18	9	1	5	114	49	19
City Rovers	19	6	2	4	64	33	14
Point Chevalier	19	2	3	9	24	71	7
Devonport United	18	3	0	9	41	116	6
Newton Rangers	18	3	0	9	19	119	6
Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers	17	2	1	6	0	13	5
Akarana	17	2	0	10	21	115	4
Ellerslie United	3	0	0	1	0	0	0

Seventh Grade standings

Richmond Rovers A won the seventh grade championship for the second consecutive year. It had been inaugurated in the 1930 season effectively replacing the Sixth grade B competition. Ellerslie were runners up but they had 5 results not reported, with Richmond A having a significant number of scores not reported either so the standings are incomplete. Richmond A also won the knockout competition when they beat Ellerslie 3-2 on September 12. Ellerslie beat City in one semi final and Richmond beat Point Chevalier in the other.

Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Richmond Rovers A	16	14	1	1	170	15	29
Ellerslie United	16	10	1	0	206	5	21
City Rovers	15	4	2	3	33	42	10
Point Chevalier	16	4	1	5	36	96	9
Papatoetoe	15	3	2	4	82	51	8
Newmarket	15	2	1	7	25	120	5
Glen Lynn	15	1	0	7	26	95	2
Richmond Rovers B	14	0	0	11	3	157	0

Primary schools standings

There were a large number of results not reported and therefore the standings are significantly incomplete. It is unknown who won the championship. Richmond initially entered a B team as well but they had two fixtures organised but no scores reported before withdrawing.

On October 10 a schoolboy "City Representatives" side played a "Suburbs Representative" side with the City team winning 20 points to 9. Despite their respective team names the players were made up of players from all over Auckland and no specific geographic area. City included Johnston, Bennett, Filmer, Moore (Newmarket), Legge, Robertson, Bell (City), Zaninovitch (Newton), Sime, Moyle (Devonport), Duncan (Papatoetoe), McInnarney, Haynes (Ellerslie), Hall (Avondale), and Bauern (Richmond). The Suburbs team included Franklin, Stanaway (Newmarket), Stenberg, D. Gildard (Avondale), Beer (Ellerslie), Turner, Williams, Korsache (Richmond), Sullivan, McArthur, York (Devonport), Paltridge, Skinner (Northcote), Burgess (Newton), and Mullins (Papatoetoe). ^[109]

Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Richmond Schools A	18	6	1	1	76	11	13
Devonport Schools	17	5	1	2	57	36	11
Newmarket Primary School	17	5	0	1	111	9	10
Papatoetoe Schools	15	5	0	1	63	12	10
Newton Schools	17	3	2	4	35	93	8
Ellerslie Schools	16	2	0	4	51	92	4
City Schools	16	1	1	6	39	44	3
Parnell/Akarana Schools	10	1	1	2	13	11	3
Avondale Schools	13	1	0	3	11	54	2
Northcote Schools	17	1	0	6	18	104	2

Mid Week Competition standings (Monteith Shield)

The league was known as the Mid Week competition and also the Wednesday competition. The championship winners were awarded the Monteith Shield, with the Endean Shield to the team scoring the most championship points in the second round. Waterside Workers won the competition after Stonex and Stormont's defaulted to them in the final round. If they had played and lost then Auckland Locomotives would have had a chance to win the championship. George Gardiner played for the Waterside Workers side. The New Zealand Fertilisers side withdrew after 6 rounds while a Combined Taxis side entered the competition for the second round. No team was allowed to play more than three players who took part in Saturday football though it is unclear if that was only in the senior grades, and no team was allowed to field more than one representative player. On October 14 a combined City Markets and Combined Taxis side played in the knockout final against a Combined Boards and Nicholson Park team but the result was not reported. Two weeks prior they had defeated Auckland Locomotives and Waterside Workers in the semi-finals respectively.

During the season City Markets was thrown out of the competition for fielding an unregistered player but was readmitted after assurances that they would follow the rules in the future. On August 26 the match between Waterside Workers and Stonex and Stormont's was abandoned with minutes to go with the Waterside team leading 8-5. Spectators had encroached on the field at Victoria Park and the referee was unable to clear them and so called the game off with a replay later required. The games attracted large crowds, particularly the ones at Victoria Park which often drew thousands of interested onlookers. The ground was particularly close to the waterfront where most of the Waterside Workers would have been employed. The two bottom teams played off on September 30 for the "Nuks" Cup with Ellerslie Town Board Rovers beating Nicholson Park 8 to 3.

On October 10 a Midweek representative team played the Taupiri seniors in Taupiri and won 24-12. They also played the Auckland Juniors and won 23 to 6. ^[110]

Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Waterside Workers	14	11	1	1	108	49	23
Auckland Locomotives (Railway)	12	10	1	1	118	42	21
City Markets	12	6	1	3	99	73	13
Stonex and Stormont's	11	4	2	4	64	61	10
Ellerslie Town Board Rovers	12	3	0	8	48	94	6
Nicholson Park (Mt Eden)	15	2	2	9	45	82	6
New Zealand Fertilisers	6	1	1	3	14	37	3
Combined Taxis	6	1	0	4	16	27	2
Post and Telegraph (Messengers)	6	0	0	5	13	60	0

Other notable matches

List of Matches

	Date		Score		Score	Venue	Referee
Exhibition match	11 July [111]	Kia Ora (Huntly)	5	City	25	Huntly
Exhibition match	18 July [112]	Ngaruawahia	6	Devonport	19	Huntly
Exhibition match	25 July [113]	Wellington Combined Team	19	Marist	40	Wellington Show Stadium
Exhibition match	1 Aug [114]	Whangarei United	11	Richmond	13	Kensington Park, Whangarei
Exhibition match	9 Aug [115]	Hamilton	6	Newton	28	Hinemoa Park, Hamilton
Exhibition match	15 Aug [116]	Riverhead	6	Point Chevalier 2nd Grade	11	Hobsonville
Exhibition match	22 Aug [117]	Papakura 2nd Grade	8	South Auckland Juniors	3	Carlaw Park # 1, 2pm	E. McCall
Exhibition match	22 Aug [118]	Newton Seniors	8	Hamilton Seniors	5	Carlaw Park # 2, 1:45pm
Northern Union Cup match	22 Aug [119]	South Auckland	8	North Auckland	16	Carlaw Park # 1, 3pm
Exhibition match	29 Aug [120]	Ngaruawahia Juniors	8	Northcote Fourth Grade	16	Ngaruawahia
Exhibition match	29 Aug [121]	Lower Waikato	11	Marist	13	Steele Park, Hamilton	A. Harlock
Exhibition match	12 Sep [122]	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	3	City (Whangarei)	6	Ellerslie
Exhibition match	12 Sep [123]	Hikurangi	19	Auckland Watersiders	10	Whangarei
Exhibition match	19 Sep [124]	Huntly	9	Marist	20	Huntly
Exhibition match	26 Sep [125]	Hamilton	13	Richmond	8	Hamilton
Exhibition match	3 Oct [126]	Hamilton	35	Ponsonby	14	Hamilton
Representative match	17 Oct [127]	Wednesday Representatives	23	Auckland Junior Representatives	6	Carlaw Park

Representative season

It was a very quiet year on the representative team front. There was a match played between North Island and South Island, but the Auckland team's only match was against Northland. In a surprise result Northland had defeated South Auckland to lift the trophy. Auckland played Northland but the match was not for the Northern Union Shield and so they decided to play several young players including future Kiwi Albert Laing who had not yet even played a first grade match and could only manage a 19 all draw. Auckland junior teams played two matches and a colts side played against the touring Eastern Suburbs team from Sydney who were the recently crowned premiers of the New South Wales Rugby League competition.

Representative fixtures

Inter island match

	15 August	North Island	52–23	South Island	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: Pat Meehan 4, Claude List 3, Edwin Abbott 2, Hec Brisbane 2, Alan Clarke Con: Pat Meehan, Claude List, Alan Clarke 5 Pen: Alan Clarke	[128]	Try: Falgar 2, Jorgensen, Johnny Dodds, Jonas Masters Con: Johnny Dodds	Referee: Les Bull

Auckland v Northland

	26 September	Auckland	19–19	Northland	Carlaw Park 1
	3:15	Try: Ted Mincham 2, Allan Seagar, Pat Meehan 2 Con: Ted Mincham, Allan Seagar	[129]	Try: Ted Meyer, C Payne, Eddie O'Callaghan Con: Rod Hamilton, C Hamilton 2	Referee: Percy Rogers

Auckland representative matches played and points scored

No	Name	Club Team	Played	Tries	Con	Pen	Points
1	Ted Mincham	Richmond	1	2	1	0	8
2	Pat Meehan	Marist	1	2	0	0	6
3	Allan Seagar	Devonport	1	1	1	0	5
4	Dick Smith	Devonport	1	0	0	0	0
4	Albert Laing	Devonport	1	0	0	0	0
4	Wilf Hassan	Marist	1	0	0	0	0
4	J Iveson	City	1	0	0	0	0
4	Heck Lunn	Ponsonby	1	0	0	0	0
4	Robert (Bob) Carter	Marist	1	0	0	0	0
4	Stan Clark	City	1	0	0	0	0
4	Norm Campbell	Marist	1	0	0	0	0
4	Ed St George	Newton	1	0	0	0	0
4	Ernest Ruby	Devonport	1	0	0	0	0

Annual general meetings and club news

• Auckland Rugby League held their annual general meeting in the Chamber of Commerce, Swanson Street on Thursday 16 April. ^[130] At a later meeting they voted to adopt the motion whereby its grading of referees and appointments of them for matches would be done by a group of three, consisting of two of its members and a representative of the Auckland Rugby League. ^[131] Tenders were requested for the lease of the Carlaw Park Refreshment Stall, and for the rights of the Rugby League Gazette. ^[132]

• Auckland Rugby League Junior Management Committee held their annual meeting at the Grey Buildings on Tuesday, 31 March. ^[133] After the reports were given by club delegates the prospect was for a record season in terms of team and player numbers. Mr. C. Adamson was elected Chairman, with his deputy Mr. W. Lusty. ^[134] During the season the Junior Management Committee became dissatisfied with their chairman Mr. C. Adamson because he voted contrarily to their position at an Auckland Rugby League meeting. They subsequently voted him out of the position. Mr. George Rhodes, chairman of the senior management committee attended a later meeting to say that Adamson was on the senior board as an independent representative, not as a representative of the Junior Management Committee and their dismissal of him was unjustified. A vote was then held over who should be chairman with Mr. J. H. Eddowes nominated along with Mr. Adamson and the former won by 10 votes to 6. ^[135]

• Auckland Rugby League Primary School Management Committee
• Auckland Rugby League Referees Association annual meeting was held at the League Rooms, Grey Buildings on 30 March. The report stated that membership had increased and the standard of refereeing was maintained at a high level. ^[136]

• Akarana Rugby League Football Club held their annual general meeting at Carlaw Park on Thursday 9 April. ^[137]

• Avondale League Football Club held their annual meeting at Hick's Tearooms, Avondale on Wednesday 25 March. ^[138] There was an attendance of about twenty players and the cash credit was £7 10/8. The club voted to thank Mr. H. P. Burton for the use of his ground where the majority of their matches were played in 1930. ^[139]

• City Rovers annual meeting was held at Carlaw Park on Sunday 22 March to discuss the annual report, balance sheet, general business and to elect officers. Seventy five people attended the meeting where the annual report showed a balance of £33 10/6. They stated that their chances of winning the title the year before was spoiled by the fact that they lost four players to the New Zealand team which toured Australia. They were aiming to have teams in all of the junior grades. ^[140]

• Devonport United Football Club annual general meeting was held in the Labour Rooms (above Hellaby's), Devonport on Monday 30 March regarding the election of officers and general business. ^[141] About fifty members attended and the balance sheet showed a credit of £9 7/2. ^[142]

• Ellerslie United League Football Club held their annual general meeting at the Club's Training Shed, Ellerslie on Monday 23 March. They requested that everybody attend as it would be their final meeting due to the league enforced merger with Otahuhu. ^[143]

• Ellerslie-Otahuhu United League Football Club held their first general meeting at the Ellerslie club's training shed opposite the railway station on Monday 30 March. ^[144] They had practice for all grades on Saturday 18 April to make final arrangements for all teams as there was a merger of Ellerslie, Otahuhu and Mangere. ^[145]

• Glen Lynn League Football Club held their annual general meeting at the Delta Theatre on Monday 23 March. ^[146] The Glen Lynn club wrote a letter to the New Lynn Borough Council asking for assistance in acquiring a playing area. The council intended to give the club details of an existing league football area on Great North Road in New Lynn which had been used by the New Lynn club prior to the joining of New Lynn and Glen Eden. ^[147]

• Kingsland Athletic Rugby League Football Club held their annual meeting at Liberty Luncheon Rooms at the top of Symonds Street on Monday 30 March to discuss the annual report and balance sheet. ^[148] They held a further Special General Meeting on Thursday 16 April at Donovan's Gym, Parnell with all juniors requested to roll up. ^[149] The Kingsland club amalgamated with the Marist club after they lost Senior A grade status.

• Marist Brothers Old Boys League Football Club annual meeting held at Donovan's Gymnasium, Parnell on Monday 30 March. ^[150]

• Mangere Rugby League Football Club held a meeting in the Strand Theatre Hall, Onehunga on Wednesday, 29 April. ^[151]

• Mt. Albert United Rugby League Football Club held their annual meeting at the King George Hall in Mount Albert on Thursday, 5 March to discuss the annual report, balance sheet, election of officers, and general business. ^[152] There first practice was held at the club's grounds on Springleigh Avenue on Saturday, 11 April. ^[153] At a Management Committee meeting on 22 April Mount Albert applied to have its Senior B team (who had played in the Senior B Grade – effectively the 2nd division of senior teams in 1930) regraded to first junior. ^[154]

• Mt Wellington Rugby League Football Club annual meeting was held at the Abattoir, Westfield on Tuesday 24 March to discuss the annual report and balance sheet, the election of officers, and general business. Players and intending players were requested to attend. ^[155]

• Newmarket Rugby League Football Club annual meeting was held at the Club Room 235, Khyber Pass, Thursday 26 March. All players and intending players were invited to attend. ^[156]

• Newton Rangers Football Club annual meeting was held at the Y.M.C.A on Wellesley St. East on Monday 23 March. All vice presidents, members and intending members were invited to attend including late Senior B players (players from Senior B clubs who no longer had senior teams). ^[157] There was a large attendance with Mr. W. Badley presiding over the meeting and Mr. W. Monteith was elected patron ^[158] ..

• Northcote and Birkenhead Ramblers Football Club annual general meeting was held at the Foresters' Hall, Birkenhead on Thursday 12 March to discuss "business important". ^[159] They donated £2 2s to the Mayors fund for Napier Earthquake fund. ^[160] The annual meeting of the Northcote and Birkenhead Ramblers Football Club was their 21st. The president of the club was Mr. A. E. Greenslade who was also the mayor of Northcote. The club report stated that they had a membership of 115 and fielded six teams in the league competition, and that this made them the fourth largest club in Auckland. ^[161]

• Otahuhu Rugby League Football Club were given use of the Sturges Park and Princes Street playing grounds in a shared arrangement with rugby by the Otahuhu Borough Council. ^[162]

• Papakura Rugby League Football Club The Papakura Rugby Club had decided to disband and play league instead. ^[163] They held their first ever meeting in the Parish Hall, Papakura on Thursday, 26 March. Officials of the Auckland Rugby League were present. All members, intending members, players and supporters were invited to attend. ^[164] Following the meeting a club was formed with 60 players enrolling. ^[165]

• Papatoetoe Rugby League Club held their annual meeting in mid April. There was a large attendance and it was decided to nominate five teams for the season, namely third grade open, fourth grade, fifth grade, sixth grade, and a schoolboys. ^[166] The club held its annual ball in the Papatoetoe Town Hall on 24 July. The venue was decorated in the club's colours of blue and gold. ^[167]

• Point Chevalier League Football Club held their annual meeting at the Sailing Club's Hall on Thursday 19 March to discuss business, balance-sheet, and election of officers. ^[168]

• Ponsonby United Football Club held their annual meeting at Leys Institute, Ponsonby on Monday 30 March to receive their annual report and balance sheet, elect officers, and general business. ^[169] 80 members attended the meeting and the report referred to how successful the club had been, especially with the senior side winning the Monteith Shield, Roope Rooster, and Thistle Cup. The third grade open team was particularly good and the schoolboy team consisted of players from Ponsonby, Curran Street, and Bayfield Schools. ^[170]

• Richmond Rovers Football Club annual meeting was held in the Gaiety Hall, Surrey Crescent on Friday 20 March to discuss the annual report and statement of accounts, and general business. ^[171] About 100 members were in attendance. The report showed that the club had fielded 12 teams in 1930 with four winning the championship. Trophies were presented as follows – Lauder Cup, fourth grade; Milicich Cup, seventh grade A team; Walker Shield: second grade; and a trophy to the schoolboys who tied for first place. ^[172] They held an additional meeting for all prospective Senior, Senior B, and Second Grade players at Grey Lynn Park on Wednesday, 8 April. ^[173] On 16 May the Richmond club performed the notable feat of having all eight of its A teams winning their matches, although its Seventh Grade B team was defeated, and the 5th Grade team's victory was by default. ^[174] Prior to the start of the season the Third Grade captain for Richmond, Mr. George Williams drowned in a fishing accident in Breaker Bay, Wellington. ^{[175] [176]}

|} |}

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External links

• Auckland Rugby League Official Site