The North Shore Albions (Devonport United) side which won the championship for the 5th time in their history having previously won it in 1913, 1914, 1928, and 1932.
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.[1]
The Challenge Round trophy (awarded to the team with the best second round competition points) was won by the much improved Newton Rangers after they beat all 5 senior opponents. The Max Jaffe Cup was won by Richmond who defeated Marist comfortably by 31 to 8, and in a charity match to conclude the season Marist reversed this result with a 16 to 5 win over Richmond.
In reserve and lower grade competitions Richmond once again shone. The senior reserve competition was won by Richmond Rovers Reserves who finished with a 6 win, 2 draw, 2 loss record. While Devonport United Reserves won the reserve grade knockout competition when they defeated Richmond 5 to 4 in the final. Richmond once again won the Davis Shield with their lower grade teams combining for more competition points than any other club. This was their 11th win in the 13 years that it has been awarded.
It was a busy season for the Auckland representative side. They played seven matches for six wins and one loss. Their sole loss came against the South Auckland (Waikato) side who beat them 14–0 at Carlaw Park. Auckland had revenge in their final representative match of the season this time beating South Auckland by 17 points to 5. Their other wins came over Taranaki (32–20 and 25–17), North Auckland (28–13), West Coast (28–22), and Hawke's Bay (47–17).
+ there were company teams representing Amalgamated Theatres (2 teams), Atta Taxis (Cabs), Checker Taxis, City Markets, Railway Locos, Seamen's Union, Victoria United (Markets). There were also House Matches played on Saturdays between business sides including W. Lovett's Limited, Auckland Gas Company, McKendrick Bros, Bycroft's, Miller Paterson & Lees, Australian Waste Products, A.J. Entrican, Star Office, Browne and Geddes, and Auckland Ambulance.
Auckland Rugby League meetings
George Rhodes announced his resignation of the chairmanship due to business commitments which would require him leaving Auckland regularly. He died suddenly near the end of the season and was buried at Waikumete Cemetery. His successor was Mr. G, Grey Campbell, who was a well known member of the City Council, the Transport Board, and other institutions. Rhodes had been chairman of the league for six and a half years. Mr. R. Doble said Mr. Rhodes deserved to be honoured with life membership for his many years service. This was endorsed by several members. Rhodes started out as a groundsman at Carlaw Park in 1921 before becoming the ground superintendent.[2] At the league AGM it was reported that revenue for the year totalled £2,573, of which £1,791 came from gate receipts, £416 from ground rents, £68 from advertising and £45 from subscriptions. The profit was £754 9/3, with £572 1/3 distributed in grant to clubs. After other spending the total profit for the year was £182 8/. J. Carlaw presided over the meeting where over 100 people were in attendance. Mr. J. B. Donald was elected patron, Mr. J. F. W. Dickson was elected vice-president.[3] At the ARL Board of Control meeting prior to the commencement of the season the chairman Mr. G. Grey Campbell said the policy of granting gate percentages to senior clubs should be retained. He said that it was up to the clubs to produce a high standard of play and the percentage to senior clubs would be an incentive.[4]
Near the conclusion of the season the Auckland Rugby League met and Mr. Campbell said “the gate receipts to date had been in excess of those last season. Clubs had benefited considerably from the percentage granted, and most senior clubs were now in a position to assist their players next season”. The intention was to carefully manage the finances of the league and “to improve the stand accommodation and give players better dressing facilities”.[5]
The New Zealand Herald printed an article ‘reviewing’ the season where they wrote of the visiting St George team and the standard of play in Auckland. They also discussed the possibility of Auckland teams touring Australia.[6]
Carlaw Park
In late April efforts were made to protect players from colliding with the concrete retaining wall on the number 2 field by placing sacks filled with sand bags on the lower part of it. The wall had been built soon before using relief workers during the depression.
Junior management meeting
At the annual general meeting of the Auckland Rugby League Junior Management Committee on 21 March the annual report (in reference to the 1932 season) was submitted. It stated that there were 1,008 registered players compared with 1,224 the previous season, and 63 teams took the field. The reason for the decline in numbers was put down to the fact that large numbers of people had left Auckland in search of work during the trying economic times. The report then went on to congratulate teams who had won various trophies in the Junior grades in the 1932 season.[7]
Senior competition
It was decided prior to the season that the reserve grade games would be played before their respective senior teams. This had been requested by clubs as it would help them ensure they had players available for their top side at all times. In spite of this there were no changes ultimately made at all to the scheduling with all senior matches played at Carlaw Park apart from rare exceptions. One reserve grade match was played at Carlaw Park most weekends with the other matches usually played at the nearby Auckland Domain.
The Auckland Rugby League decided at a meeting following the first round of the Roope Rooster competition that a new competition for senior teams spread over 5 weeks would take place. With the senior competition having reverted to 6 teams 2 seasons earlier the round robin was over relatively quickly leaving more time later in the season than had previously existed. The matches were to be unique in that they would be of 40 minutes duration with no interval. Most weeks two of the games would be played prior to an inter-provincial match. In the event of a tie the team that had the best for and against record would be declared the winners and a special trophy would be awarded.
It was also decided that force downs in teams own in goal and kicks that went dead in goal would be worth points in order to speed up the games. These rules were used in an annual competition in Sydney when there were no representative games on.[8]Newton ultimately won this round and it was a key factor in them being given the opportunity to play against the touring St George team.
St George tour
Jim Rutherford of St George chasing the ball with Bert Leatherbarrow and John Donald of Devonport following behind.
In September the St George team from Sydney toured the upper North Island. St George had finished runner up in the 1933 NSWRFL. Their first match was against the Auckland champion Devonport United team who they defeated 19–8. They then played a midweek match with Richmond Rovers who they lost to 8–13 and then Marist Old Boys who they also lost to 11–25.
Marist v St George
Following this they departed on a tour of Rotorua to see the geothermal sites before playing South Auckland in Huntly where they won by 17 points to 5.[9] They then travelled to New Plymouth where they had a 22 points to 14 win over Taranaki.[10]
Jack Satherley debuted for Richmond in their October 14 win over St. George.
St George returned to Auckland to complete their tour where they played Newton Rangers in a midweek match which they won 30 points to 23, followed by a return match with Richmond on the Saturday. There had been some debate as to who the last match would be played against. Newton had had a solid season putting in some strong performances and they were arguably the most improved side in Auckland. They had also been the first club to request a match with the touring side however the strongest performing sides had all been matched up with St George first and this last match of the tour was only confirmed at the end of the tour.[11] Following the match with Newton the St George team was entertained by the New Zealand Rugby League at a dinner. Tribute was paid to the “sporting spirit” that the team had shown and a “hand-some engraved shield” was presented to the team by H Wamsley who had made it himself. The shield was to be played for in an annual competition between clubs from Sydney and the Auckland Province.[12] Whilst in Auckland several members of the team along with the manager Mr. J. H. Mostyn visited Sacred Heart College where Mr. Mostyn gave an address to the students on football.[13] Following their last match the team departed for Sydney on the Wanganella Ship at 5pm which meant that the match with Richmond kicked off at the earlier time of 2:45pm. Richmond won the match by 5 points to 3. Prior to the match a running race was held between Len Brennan and Bernard Martin of the touring side and several members of local clubs. It was run from try line to try line and Martin won the race by a foot from Adams (Devonport) in a time of 12.15 seconds with Brennan finishing third.[14]Brennan was killed ten years later in 1943 when the plane he was in was shot down over Italy during World War II.
At a meeting of the Auckland Rugby League in the week prior to the start of the season there were several suggestions put forward in regard to Carlaw Park. These were, that the No. 2 ground be available for practice regardless “of the weather, that the stone wall at the end of No. 2 ground beside the terraces should be covered to protect players; that the scoreboard should be raised; that people should be stopped from jumping the terrace fence at the conclusion of the main match; that the transport Board be asked to extend the penny section from the railway station to the Stanley Street stop...”. It was also decided to issue tickets for the admission of unemployed to Carlaw Park, with the official co-operation of the Auckland Provincial Unemployed Association.[20] After it was found that this system was being abused with the tickets being on sold it was decided to charge the unemployed but at a reduced rate of sixpence. Those trying to enter under this system had to produce their unemployment levy book containing an official stamp and a special turn-style was to be used to admit them. All school children up to 14 years of age would be admitted for free.[21]
In early August it was reported that the overhead bridge from Stanley Street to Carlaw Park would be completed by Saturday, 5 August.[8]
As was often the case at Carlaw Park numerous events were held there in the rugby league off season. A whippet race meeting was held in early December along with cycling races, while on 15 December there was a sports carnival involving cycling, running, and wood chopping events.[22] The wood chopping featured W. M. Johnstone, the champion tree-feller of Australia, and New Zealand's D. Hoey, who was "recognised as one of the World's best".[23] The results of the various competitions were published in the Auckland Star.[24]
Rule issues
At a meeting of the Auckland Rugby League Referees Association on 29 May they decided to recommend to the Board of Control that referees put the ball into the scrum at all grade matches, which was something that had been tried out unsuccessfully 6 years earlier. It was felt that “scrummaging was not satisfactory, particularly with regard to hooking and other infringements around the scrum”.[25] Matches on 2 June featured this new rule change and it was commentated from referees that it had so far improved play around scrums and eliminated a lot of whistle.[26] It was however decided at a meeting of the New Zealand Council several weeks later that the practice was to be discontinued after acting on the recommendation of the New Zealand Referees’ Association. It was also noted that a player when falling on the ball in the goal area needed to ground the ball with their hands and it was play on until this was done so. The play the ball rule was said to be being better controlled with the “same command as evident in a boxing match, when a referee called ‘break’ and the contenders were bound to obey”.[27]
The League Council advised that the forward pass rule was being ruled incorrectly with players being penalised for being offside when receiving a forward pass. As the players had inadvertently got in front of the teammate passing the ball it was clarified that it should be considered a forward pass only and therefore a scrum rather than a penalty. The board approved of this interpretation and referred it to the Referees’ Association.[28]
Radio coverage of matches
The Auckland Rugby League decided to forward a motion of protest from Ted Phelan to the New Zealand Government regarding the ban on the 1ZR station. The speaker said that patients at the Evelyn Firth Home and Auckland Hospital “were strong in their protest against being denied the privilege of listening to the station”.[29]
Midweek competition revived
After not being played in 1932 the midweek business league competitions returned with eight teams competing with matches held at Carlaw Park. They were Amalgamated Theatres A, Amalgamated Theatres B, Atta Taxis, Checker Taxis, City Markets, Railway, Seamen United, Victoria United. The competition consisted of two rounds, though the second round would be a knockout competition.[30]Ponsonby and Richmond wrote to Auckland Rugby League objecting to any of their players playing for the midweek teams as it would risk their health for the weekend matches. City and Marist supported the objection. The league decided that no senior or reserve grade players could take part in the competition unless they had the permission of the clubs and the Wednesday management group be advised of this decision.[31] This rule was somewhat ignored however and “two prominent players were injured... in mid-week matches and were not available for Saturday's games”. The league decided to enforce the rule that permission must by granted from senior clubs before players were allowed to participate in the mid-week competition.[32]
Auckland Rugby League prize giving
In a break from previous years where trophies and awards were handed out at the beginning of the following season it was decided to hold the ceremony at the conclusion of the current season. The event was held at the Manchester Unity Hall on 31 October with free admission and an open invitation. Trophies were presented to teams as follows:
Primary Schools Competition – Championship Walmsley Shield (Avondale), Knockout Davis Cup (Ellerslie)
With Richmond Rovers winning the Davis Point Shield for the highest number of points scored by any club in all junior grades.
Obituaries
George Frederick Iles
George Frederick Iles passed away aged 39 in Tauranga on 27 March 1933. He was born in Christchurch before moving to Auckland at the age of 18. He played for the Grafton Athletic side in 1915–16 and then for Newton Rangers in 1916–19. He also represented Auckland and New Zealand in the post war period before moving to Tauranga in 1920 to establish a wool and hide export business. He made an attempt to establish rugby league in the Tauranga area but it was short lived and he largely played rugby union where he represented Bay of Plenty against the Springboks in 1921. Iles was also a prominent sprinter, winning races in the North and South Islands. He was survived by his widow and two young sons.[34]
George Rhodes
Mr. George Rhodes, former chairman of Auckland Rugby League passed away suddenly on 17 September at Auckland Hospital at the age of 68. He was chairman from 1926 to 1932 and had spent many years at Carlaw Park prior to this as an official on the grounds committee. He had been succeeded by Mr. G. Grey Campbell (the chairman in 1933).[35] He was buried at Waikumete Cemetery where the funeral service was held with a “lengthy cortege of motor vehicles” following the casket. A large number of Auckland Rugby League officials were present, along with representatives from each of the senior clubs. His coffin was draped with the Auckland Rugby League flag.[36]
Ray Lawless observing play (centre) in the dark blue and maroon band of Richmond. He scored 2 of Richmond's tries. He had debuted for New Zealand in the previous season.
Future New Zealand representative Alf Mitchell, who was the first ever Samoan to play for New Zealand (in 1935), was knocked unconscious in his first ever game for Richmond. He was taken to Auckland Hospital and didn't reappear in their first grade side until round 5. He had moved to New Zealand from the Pacific Islands in 1928 aged about 18, and was educated at Feilding High School before moving to Auckland in the early 1930s. Ex-New Zealand representative Maurice Wetherill made his debut as a first grade referee in Newton's match with Richmond. Bill (Rauaroa Tangaroapeau) Turei scored his first try for City. He was killed in 1944 fighting in World War 2. A Nathan, a North Auckland rugby representative was also on debut for Newton.
Try: Pat Young, Ray Lawless, Marshall Con: Tony Milicich, Marshall
Referee: Bert Emirali
Round 3
Ted Brimble
Frank Delgrosso was injured in a tackle in the second half when Ponsonby led 5–3. He was forced from the field and announced his retirement as a result. He had played 15 seasons for Ponsonby and over 180 matches, a record at the time. Newton caused a big upset over Devonport who had won the championship the previous season and would still go on to win the championship again this year. Among the Newton try scorers was Ted Brimble who had played for New Zealand the year prior. For Devonport, Bert Leatherbarrow and Dick Smith scored their tries.
13 May
Newton
11–8
Devonport
Carlaw Park 1
3:00
Try: Arnold Porteous, A Pope, Ted Brimble Pen: Arnold Porteous
Horatio Drew for City Rovers was knocked unconscious when he was tackled and was taken to Auckland Hospital in a St John Ambulance. His condition was reported as being satisfactory by the NZ Herald the following day. Francis Herring also left the field injured.
Dick Smith and Albert Laing both left the field injured in the second half leaving Devonport with just 11 players against Marist. While Newton suffered the same fate with Ted Brimble and Cameron colliding. Cameron went off while Brimble hobbled around for the rest of the match after his knee was kicked in the collision. Neither was able to play the following week.
The win for Marist over Ponsonby was significant for the club in that it was their 100th first grade win in their 15th season in the first grade competition.
Try: Rush, H Neale, Leonard Riley Con:Ross Jones, George Mills 2 Pen: George Mills
Referee: O Chalmers
Round 9
The 50 points that City scored in their Round 9 match against Ponsonby was the fourth time that a senior team had hit the 50 point mark in Fox Memorial history to this point. On all four occasions the team to do so was City. In 1920 they defeated Grafton Athletic 66–13, in 1921 they beat Fire Brigade 61–7, and in 1925 they defeated Athletic 57–7.
A photograph of the Devonport team was taken before their match with City. Devonport went on the win 17-12 with Kiwi's Allan Seagar (2) and Bert Leatherbarrow scoring tries, along with Horace Hunt, a former Auckland cricket wicket keeper, and Horace Hunt. For City, Steve Watene scored a try, kicked a conversion, and 2 penalties. In Newton's win over Ponsonby, Mortimer Stephens scored 2 tries. He would later sign for St Helens in England.
Auckland Rugby League made the decision to expand the Roope Rooster somewhat by allowing the leading teams from the South Auckland competition to enter it. Taupiri and Huntly were both drawn to play in the first round against Richmond and Marist respectively.[47] Both Taupiri and Huntly both withdrew from their matches in the days leading up to their matches forcing an emergency committee to redraw the first round matches.[48] The competition took a further hit when the entire first round was postponed due to poor weather. Not only were all the league fixtures not played but all rugby matches also were postponed as was the horse racing at Ellerslie Racecourse.[49]
The Ponsonby match with Marist was played at Sturges Park in Otahuhu as a way of promoting rugby league in the area with a charge being made at the ground to gain funds.
Bert Cooke turned out for Richmond for the first time in the season against Newton Rangers in Round 1 of the Roope Rooster after returning to Auckland from Waihou where he had been working.
City received a bye after their victory in the first round with Marist and Richmond playing in the semi-final. A percentage of the gate takings from the match would go towards the Auckland Ladies’ Hockey Association which they would put towards the cost of sending a representative ladies team on tour.[50]
Round 1
Brian Riley scored his first ever try for Ponsonby. He had played one match earlier in the season on July 1 after being promoted from their reserve side. He was aged just 18 and would play for New Zealand just 2 years later.
29 July
City
15–8
Devonport
Carlaw Park 1
1:30
Try: Bill Turei, Harry Wayne, Herring Con:Steve Watene 3
The final of the Roope Rooster doubled as a Challenge Round match as well between Richmond Rovers and City Rovers. The other 1st round matches were played on the same day. The match between Newton and Ponsonby which resulted in the unusual score of 1–0 to Newton was protested by Ponsonby. The competition was being played under altered rules with matches lasting just 40 minutes and with balls forced in teams own in goals resulting in 1 point to the opposition team. Ponsonby claimed that the referee “allowed the game to continue after Newton committed a breach in-goal”, and that they should have been awarded a point. It was decided that if the match was going to have a bearing on the result of the competition then the match would be replayed.[54]Newton went on to win the round after they defeated all 5 opponents.
The Auckland Rugby League said that the winner of the Stormont Shield would earn the right to play against the touring St George team. Ultimately both teams played them anyway, with the losers Richmond in fact playing them twice.
It was decided at a meeting of Auckland Rugby League in early October to play a match between Richmond and Marist who had both in the week prior defeated the visiting St George rugby league team (runners-up in the Sydney competition). The match was to find the ‘best club team in Auckland’.
Marist and Richmond agreed to play in the last match of the season where money raised would go to help the unemployed. The game would be controlled by the central committee of the Grey Lynn Unemployed Relief. Prior to the match there would be a goal kicking competition, a 100-yard race involving senior players and the Waterside Workers’ Band would be performing. Des Herring (Marist) won the goal kicking competition, and Bert Schultz (Marist) won the sprint race with McNeil (Richmond) second, and F. Jones (Richmond) third. On 8 November at a meeting of the Auckland Rugby League Board of Control the Grey Lynn Relief Committee expressed gratitude for assistance in the success of the football match at Carlaw Park, as a result of which a considerable sum had been raised for the benefit of needy people in the district.[62]
21 October
Marist
16–5
Richmond
Carlaw Park 1
3:00
Try: Charles Dunne, V Smith, Norm Campbell 2 Con: O'Halloran 2
The point scoring lists are compiled from matches played in the Fox Memorial, Roope Rooster and Challenge Round matches which involved all first grade sides. Kiwi international and future member of parliament Steve Watene led the scoring with 77 points followed by Marshall from Richmond with 67. The leading try scorers were Alf Smith of Devonport United and Bill Turei of City with 11, followed by Arnold Porteous of Ponsonby who scored 9 tries, and Bert Schultz of Marist Old Boys with 8. One of George Mills tries was awarded as an obstruction try which at this time were credited to the player obstructed.
The senior reserve grade was typically low scoring compared to the senior grade and many other lower grades. The senior grade averaged 30.7 points per game compared to just 13.4 in the reserve grade. Remarkably the Devonport reserve grade team did not concede a single point in their final 4 matches and only conceded 35 in total across their ten contests. On the other side was the City Reserves who could not score a single point in their last 4 matches and only managed to score 39 points for the season.
The final of the Second Grade between Māngere United and Ōtāhuhu Rovers was played at Carlaw Park as the curtain raiser to the Auckland v North Auckland representative match on 12 August. Māngere won by 11 points to 8.[75] Māngere also won the Foster Shield by winning the knockout competition when they defeated Ōtāhuhu 24-8 in the final at Sturges Park in Ōtāhuhu after beating Point Chevalier 15-3 in the semi final. In an astonishing result for the time the Māngere 2nd Grade team defeated Manukau by 98 points to 0. It was rare for teams to score more than 50 points in a match let along run up a score of that size.[76] On September 16 the Point Chevalier side played a special match against a side from Riverhead. Riverhead had not fielded a side since a short lived Riverhead club formed and played several 3rd grade matches in 1916.
Marist won the championship. They also won the knockout final when they beat Glenora 13-5 on September 2 after beating Ponsonby 15-0 in one semi final while Glenora beat Māngere in the other semi final 13-3. On August 26 Mt Albert played a friendly match against Ngaruawahia with the result being a 5-5 draw.
Frank HalloranNorthcote 3rd Grade Intermediate champion side.
Northcote won the championship with a remarkable unbeaten season where they scored 346 points and didn't have their try line crossed. They were captained by future New Zealand halfback Frank Halloran who at the start of the following season transferred to Ponsonby along with Walter and John Stockley. Walter played for Auckland in 1936 and 1937, captaining the side on occasion. John was killed in Italy during the war in 1943. The 6 points they conceded came from 3 penalties. Northcote also won the Murray Cup when they took out the knockout competition after beating Marist 6-3 in the final on September 30. Marist had beaten Papakura 12-7 in their semi final. The match between Marist and Richmond on 10 June was played as curtain-raiser to the Auckland v Taranaki representative match with Marist winning 23–0. Manukau A withdrew from the competition after 6 rounds. In special matches City drew with Huntly 10-0 on September 9, and Papakura beat Ngaruawahia 26-10 on October 10.
Marist A won the championship with Marist B finishing runner up. Marist A also won the knockout competition when they defeated their B side 24-10 in the final on October 7. The match between Akarana and Newton A was played at Carlaw Park on 10 June as a curtain raiser to the Auckland and Taranaki representative match. Newton won the match 19 to 5. On September 30 the Marist A team defeated Ngaruawahia in a friendly match by 30 points to 11.
Similarly to the 4th grade competition where 2 Marist sides dominated the competition, the 5th grade competition saw the 2 Richmond sides head the table with the Richmond B team winning the championship. Richmond B also won the knockout competition when they defeated Ellerslie A in the final on September 16 by 3 points to 0. Several teams withdrew from the competition in the latter stages including Northcote, Ellerslie, New Lynn, and Point Chevalier.
Devonport United were awarded the Rhodes Shield after a 5-5 draw in the last round with the second placed team, Ōtāhuhu on August 19. Previously winners were awarded a banner but a new trophy was awarded following the recent death of former chairman George Rhodes.[1] Ōtāhuhu won the Hammill Cup when they won the knockout competition by getting revenge on Devonport with a 6-5 win on September 16 in the final. They had qualified with a 2-0 win over Richmond a week prior, while Devonport had beaten Manukau 20-0 in their semi final.
Richmond A won the seventh grade title and were also awarded the Harry Johns Memorial Cup, Walker Shield, Lauder Cup, Milicich Cup, Harcourt Cup, and Myers Cup after winning all 14 matches (including knockout matches), scoring 255 points and only conceding 12.[77] They won the knockout competition when they beat Newton 6-0 in the final on September 9 after a 16-0 win over Richmond B in one semi final, with Newton beating Ellerslie 5-4 in their semi final.
Avondale won the championship after beating City 6-3 in what was essentially the final on July 29. There were 7 results not reported so the standings are slightly incomplete. Ellerslie won the Davis Cup for the knockout competition with a 14-5 win over Richmond on September 23. Ellerslie had beaten City on one semi final while Richmond beat Avondale in the other. The match between Devonport and Northcote on 10 June was played at Carlaw Park as curtain raiser to the Auckland v Taranaki match. A seven-a-side competition was also run with the matches played at Carlaw Park.
Team
Pld
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Avondale
11
9
0
0
79
14
18
City
10
8
1
1
71
20
17
Ellerslie
10
2
1
5
34
37
5
Northcote
11
2
0
5
23
88
4
Richmond
10
1
1
6
34
49
3
Devonport
10
0
0
4
8
41
0
Midweek Competition
Midweek League: Amalgamated Theatres A, Amalgamated Theatres B, Atta Taxis (Cabs), Checker Taxis, City Markets, Railway Locos, Seamen's Union, Victoria United (Markets)
House Matches
On Saturdays several business teams competed in friendly matches. These include W. Lovett's Limited, Auckland Gas Company, McKendrick Bros, Bycroft's, Miller Paterson & Lees, Australian Waste Products, A.J. Entrican, Star Office, Browne and Geddes. Then on September 30 a friendly match was played between National Reserve Ambulance and Auckland Ambulance with the National side win, 16-3.
Other notable matches
It was common for non senior clubs to request that higher profile matches be played on their suburban ground in order to help grow the rugby league code in their area. Ellerslie requested one such match to be played on the Ellerslie Reserve and on 5 August with the Newton and Ponsonby senior teams, who had both been knocked out of the Roope Rooster the previous week, playing a match there.[78] It was complained during the week following the match that Ponsonby had largely fielded a junior team and the match would have done “harm rather than good to the code”. The Board of Control was going to be asked to have Ponsonby account for the “failure”.[79] The City Rovers team travelled to New Plymouth to play the local Taranaki side and ran out 29–22 winners with Bill Turei scoring 5 tries.
Taranaki v City (Auckland)
9 September
Taranaki
22–29
City (Auckland)
Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
3:00
Try: G Hall, Price, G Moorhead, McLeay Con: R Arnold Pen: R Arnold 2 Drop:Cliff Hunt, C Bedford
Auckland played their first representative match of the season against Taranaki at Carlaw Park on 9 June. It was between Round 6 and Round 7 of the club competition. It was decided not to play the annual inter-island fixture because the cost of assembling and bringing the South Island side would be in the region of 300 pounds and with the depression in full swing it was not considered viable financially.
Auckland v Taranaki (inter-provincial match: Walmsley Shield)
Auckland were not at full strength for this match with the Roope Rooster semi-final between Richmond and Marist being played on the same day in Auckland. J Cowley from the Taranaki side broke his leg during the match.
Auckland v North Auckland (inter-provincial match)
Rata (Northland) leading the chase for the ball with White behind. Vincent Axman is stopped over and turning for Auckland. Cliff Satherley is on the right following up.
Jim Rukutai was appointed coach for the match and remained in the position until the conclusion of the season. There were however issues with attendance at trainings over the coming weeks.
Try: H Smith, H Brady 2 Con: R Smith 3 Pen: R Smith
Referee: Les Bull
Auckland v South Auckland (inter-provincial match)
Claude List came on for Bert Cooke after Cooke was injured. He was taken to hospital to have his ribs checked but was able to return home the same day.
Auckland Rugby League held their annual meeting in the Chamber of Commerce on Swanson Street, on Monday, 10 April.[91]
Auckland Rugby League Junior Management Committee The Junior Management delegate Mr. Wilkie reported that 200 new junior registrations had been received and approved.[92] At a meeting of the Board of Control it was decided to approve the junior management committee's recommendation for an amendment to Rule 36 to read:-"The junior management (comprising nine members unattached to any club, to be elected annually by clubs which enter and play in the competitions one or more teams other than senior teams; one representative of the Referees' Association, and a secretary who shall be elected by the said committee)- the junior management committee shall frame rules and regulations and submit same to the management committee of the Auckland Rugby League for approval or otherwise, for the control and guidance of junior football".[93]
Auckland Rugby League Primary School Management Committee annual meeting was presided over by Mr. W. J, Hammill. The annual report stated that the reduction of the number of teams to nine resulted in an elevated level of play. It was reported that new teams were likely to enter from Ponsonby, Manukau, and Marist.[94] Mr. L. Rout was elected the secretary of the Primary Schools management committee, with Mr. R. E. Newport, the deputy-Mayor of Newmarket, elected chairman once again.[95]
Auckland Rugby League Referees Association held their annual meeting on 27 March. Mr. A. Ball presided over the meeting. It was felt that the more intensive organisation and selection had led to a marked improvement in the standard of refereeing. There had been less criticism of referees and more co-operation by officials, clubs, and players. Mr. A. Ball was elected president, and Mr. L. Bull deputy chairman.[96]
City Rovers held their 21st annual meeting at Carlaw Park on Tuesday, 21 March.[98] There was some discussion about whether the senior clubs should request stronger representation on the management committee of the Auckland Rugby League. It was decided to convene a meeting of senior clubs “with a view to getting full co-operation”. The financial statement from the club showed that they were in profit by £64. The meeting then noted the performance of its senior team and fifth and third grade teams, and the achievement of Steve Watene, and Ben Davidson who had been selected to play against the touring England team in 1932. Mr. C. Waugh was elected president, and Mr. G. Reid was elected vice-president.[99] The vice-president Mr. C. Waugh passed away in the week prior to the official beginning of the season.[100] The City team travelled to New Plymouth to take on a combined Taranaki team on September 9. They were victorious by 29 points to 22 with Bill Turei scoring five tries and kicking a goal.[80]
Devonport United League Football Club held their annual general meeting at the Labour Rooms (above Hellaby's) on Wednesday, 29 March.[101] There were 80 members in attendance with Mr. J. A. Ferguson presiding. The report congratulated the senior team for winning the championship. Their schoolboys won the Kiely Cup for the best average amongst the juniors. Mr. W.D. Meiklejohn was elected Patron, and Mr. Kiely was elected vice-patron.[102] Their end of season annual dance was held at the Pirate Ship at Milford on 28 October.[103]
Ellerslie United League Football Club held their annual meeting in the Training Shed, Findlay Street, Ellerslie on Monday, 20 March.[104] Mr. J. McInnarny presided over the meeting which had a large number of members. Mr. W.J. Jordan, M.P. was elected Patron, and Mr. J. McInnarny was elected president.[105]
Marist Brothers Old Boys League Football Club held their annual meeting at Donovan's Gymnasium, Manukau Road, Parnell on Thursday, 23 March.[107] Between eighty and ninety members attended. The report stated that the 1932 season had been the most successful season financially and in terms of results in the club's history. The club had won the Roope Rooster, the Stormont Shield, and the Max Jaffe Charity Cup. In addition seven players wore the New Zealand jersey (Hec Brisbane, Claude List, Gordon Campbell, Jim Laird, Norm Campbell, Alan Clarke, and Wilf Hassan). The balance sheet showed a credit of £86 13/9. His Lordship Bishop Liston was elected president, and Mr. E. Lahman was elected vice-president.[108] The Marist 4th Grade team had a particularly strong season. They played a match in Ngaruawahia where they defeated the local 3rd Grade Open team by 32 points to 11. At that point in the season they had played 17, won 16, and scored 367 points while only conceding 54.[109]
Māngere United League Football Club held their seventeenth annual meeting with Mr. S. Rickards presiding. The annual report made mention of the Second Grade team which had come 4th in the championship and won the knockout competition. Mr. S.W. House was elected Patron, and Mr. Rickards President.[110]
Manukau Rugby League Club held a Special Meeting at the Orpheum Theatre, Onehunga on Thursday, 16 February.[111] They asked for the use of three playing areas on the recreation reserve in Onehunga. The Onehunga Council granted them the use of two which is what was set aside for rugby league players three years earlier.[112] Their annual meeting was held at the Onehunga Ex-Servicemen's clubrooms on Thursday 9 March.[113] The secretary read a lengthy report about the work done by the organising committee during the offseason and reported bright prospects for the future of the club. They were in credit £11 4/3. Mr. W.J. Jordan, MP was elected patron, with Mr. F. Murray elected president.[114] They held a further special general meeting in Kelvin Hall, Queen Street, Onehunga, on Thursday, 6 April.[115] The club wrote a letter to the Onehunga Borough Council requesting that dressing accommodation be made available on the Waikaraka Recreation Reserve. They submitted plans for a proposed building and with matches starting soon and the Manukau Rovers Rugby Football Club having been granted exclusive use of the existing dressing pavilion the question was urgent. They also asked for permission to hold a league carnival two Saturdays later and to charge admission to the reserve when exhibition matches would be played between Devonport and Marist.[116] They had their application for financial consideration from the Auckland Rugby League recognised.[106]
Mt. Albert United Rugby League Football Club held their annual meeting in the King George Hall, Mt Albert Terminus on Thursday, 9 March.[117] They placed advertisements in the newspapers for the annual practice which was held at Morningside Reserve on Saturday 8 April.[118]
New Lynn Rugby League Football Club advertised in the newspapers for players to attend a practice match to be played at the ground adjacent to the New Lynn Council Chambers, Great North Road.[119] The New Lynn club was granted permission to adopt the royal blue colour for its jerseys for the coming season.[106]
Newton Rangers Football Club held their 23rd annual meeting at the Y.M.C.A on Monday, 20 March.[120] The meeting saw “a large and enthusiastic” attendance with the financial statement showing the position of the club to be healthy. Mr. W. Monteith was elected Patron, Mr. A. Blakely vice patron, and Mr. John A. Lee M.P. was elected president.[121] On 7 November Newton held their annual social with "over 200 members, supporters and friends participating". The following prizes were presented by chairman Mr. W. Badley: Most Improved player – A. Porteus, Best Back – Claude Dempsey, Best Forward – C. Blacklaws, Most Improved Reserve Player – H. Oakley Browne, Most Consistent Reserve Player – C.L. Clemm.[122]
Northcote and Birkenhead Ramblers League Football Club held their annual meeting in the Victoria Hall, Birkenhead on Monday, 13 March.[123] The league granted the “usual donation for the use of the Northcote and Birkenhead school ground last year” on the recommendation of the junior management committee.[4] The club requested that the municipal ground at Stafford Park be allocated to the two codes on alternate Saturdays, and stated that the club had entered five teams in the competitions. It was decided to allocate the ground equally between the two codes.[124] They celebrated their 23rd anniversary with a dance at the King's Theatre in Northcote on 28 September.[125] On 4 November the Northcote league and rugby codes combined with local cricket, harrier and gymnastic clubs to have a combined sports gathering at Stafford Park. A collection was taken up for charitable purposes.[126] It had been originally scheduled for 14 October but had to be postponed.
Otahuhu Rugby League Football Club requested use of Sturgess Park, Otahuhu on alternate Saturdays for the season, stating to the Otahuhu Borough Council that they had a strong following in the borough.[127] At an Auckland Rugby League Board of Control meeting prior to the start of the season it was decided to assist the “Otahuhu Rovers Club financially in regard to the use of Sturgess Park, which the club hopes to use one Saturday in every four.[4] The Otahuhu Borough Council and decided to delegate the use of the ground based on the number of teams in each club. As the Otahuhu Rugby Club had 5 teams they would have the ground for 5 Saturdays while the Otahuhu League Club had 3 teams and so would have the ground for 3 Saturdays. They would review this after the matches had been played to see how many teams both clubs still had.[128] Otahuhu requested the use of Sturgess Park on 22 July for a Roope Rooster match to be played there. The Otahuhu Borough Council granted permission for the use of the ground and also that the club could charge patrons for admission but not exceeding 6d per person.[129]
Papakura Rugby League Football Club annual meeting was presided over by Mr. A. J. Williamson in front of a large attendance. The chairman congratulated the second grade team on winning the championship. Mr. E. C. Foote was elected president, and Mr. S. H. Godden vice-president.[130] The club advertised in the newspaper for tenders to transport the Papakura players from Papakura to Auckland City and suburban football grounds on Saturday afternoons during the season.[131] They had their application for financial consideration from the Auckland Rugby League recognised.[106] In mid July Papakura sent a lengthy letter to the Auckland Rugby League complaining about their best players being poached by senior clubs. ARL chairman Mr. G. Grey Campbell agreed that it was a hardship on clubs which had no senior team. He said it was only reasonable that a transfer fee might be paid by senior clubs to the club losing players. Papakura suggested that junior clubs could be groups with senior clubs, thus giving junior players the opportunity for promotion. It was decided that the letter should be forwarded to the junior management committee for a report.[132]
Ponsonby United Football Club held they annual meeting at Leys Institute, Ponsonby on Monday, 6 March.[134] The meeting discussed the strong performance of the senior team in winning 7 out of 10 matches and finishing runner-up but also commented on some members of the reserve grade team who had shown a failure “to realise the importance of placing club and not team interests first”. This was in reference to the 1932 season where several players under the approval of their coach had played for the reserve grade team at the Auckland Domain before belatedly making their way to Carlaw Park where kick off was 20 minutes late. The Ponsonby Club then suspended several of the players and removed the coach from all his positions in the club. Frank Delgrosso who had played for Ponsonby since 1919 was presented with a life membership medallion and was awarded the Mr. J. Arneil juns medal for the most consistent back during the season.[135]
Richmond Rovers Football Club held their annual meeting in the Gaiety Hall, Surrey Crescent on Monday, 20 March.[136] Over 100 members were in attendance at the annual meeting with Mr. B.W. Davis presiding. Reference was made to the loss of Harry Johns the previous season. He was a playing member of the club who had risen through the ranks and debuted for the Senior team. He was already under consideration for senior representative teams and a promising career lay ahead. Sadly he was killed following a boxing match at the Auckland Town Hall and was buried at Waikumete Cemetery.[137] In January Bert Cooke received an offer from the Balmain League Club in Sydney.[138] It was reported that he was anxious to play with them.[139] The two parties could not reach an agreement however as Cooke wanted £6 5s a week, or a position with that value, for the two full years. The Balmain club found these demands to be too prohibitive.[140] Cooke moved away from Auckland for work purposes down to Waihou but said that he had kept himself fit by playing some “house” rugby union games and he returned to Auckland to play for Richmond in the Roope Rooster knockout competition towards the end of the club season.[141] On 30 August Mr. James Henry Lawson died. He had been vice-chairman of the Richmond club. He was buried at Waikumete Cemetery.[142]
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
The North Shore Albions were a rugby league club based on the North Shore of Auckland in Devonport before moving to Bayswater at a later time. They formed in 1909 and folded in the early 2000s due to a lack of playing numbers. At the start of the 1920 season they were renamed Devonport United when they amalgamated with the Sunnyside club. It was proposed at the merger that they be known as North Shore Albions but Sunnyside objected and the name of Devonport United was chosen. In 1937, 17 years later at their annual general meeting they decided to revert to the name "North Shore Albions" as they had been commonly referred to as "shore" for many years. Chairman H. Mann made the proposal and it was adopted by the club. Aside from Northcote and Birkenhead Ramblers they were the only club on the North Shore at that time. They closed their doors in 2005. The only remaining club connected to them are the Northern Brothers who are based at Ngataringa Bay Sports Field. Their senior team is an amalgamation of East Coast Bays Barracudas and Glenfield Greyhounds but are based more in the North Shore Albions traditional area which includes the navy ground which has provided many players and teams over the years. The predominant colours are black and green which have been common colours of all the North Shore clubs over the decades.
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.
Stan Prentice (1903-1982) was an Auckland rugby league player who represented New Zealand in 5 test matches from 1928 to 1935. He was Kiwi #192 when he debuted against England in 1928 when he played in all 3 test matches. He then played in 2 tests against Australia in 1935. Prentice played 141 games for Richmond Rovers, captaining them in the later half of his career. He also represented Auckland on 20 occasions, as well as 5 times for the North Island. He later coached Mount Albert United to the 1939 Fox Memorial title and also coached Auckland in 1939 and 1948 as well as being a selector of the side through many seasons.
Albert Laing was a rugby league player who represented New Zealand in 1932 against England becoming Kiwi #217. He played club rugby league for Devonport United from 1931 to 1934 and made 4 appearances for Auckland, and 1 for the North Island.
Gordon Campbell was a rugby league player who represented New Zealand in 2 tests in 1932 against England. Campbell played in the position of hooker. In the process he became the 223rd player to represent New Zealand.
Roy Powell was a rugby league player who represented New Zealand in four test matches in 1935 and 1936 against Australia (2), and England (2) at halfback. In the process he became the 230th player to represent New Zealand. He also played rugby league for the North Island and Auckland representative sides as well as spending 16 years playing for Richmond Rovers including 8 in the senior side.
Dick Smith was a rugby league player who represented New Zealand in one test match in 1932 against England on the wing. In the process he became the 218th player to represent New Zealand. He also played rugby league for Auckland. He was a member of the North Shore Albions, and the Newton Rangers clubs. His brother was Jack Smith, the New Zealand rugby league representative of the late 1930s, they were both the nephews of the well known sportsman of the 1890s-1910s George Smith.
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