1923 Auckland Rugby League season

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.

Auckland Rugby League news

Club teams by grade participation

Team 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade A 6th Grade B Total
City Rovers 11111117
Marist Old Boys 11111117
Ponsonby United 11110116
Richmond Rovers 10101216
Devonport United 11110105
Newton Rangers 11111005
Athletic 11010115
Ellerslie United 01110014
Manukau Rovers 00101114
Parnell 00110114
Kingsland Rovers 01110003
Otahuhu Rovers 01010103
Ihumātao 01100002
Māngere Rangers 01010002
Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers 01001002
Point Chevalier 00101002
Coromandel 00100001
Victoria Cruising Club 00100001
Takapuna 00001001
Total 7121411810870

First grade winners

City Rovers won their 6th championship title and the 3rd in succession after defeating Athletic 8–7 in the final. With a round to play City was only 2 competition points ahead of Athletic so it was decided to play a final to decide the champions. The match was played on Carlaw Park in front of an enormous crowd of 11,500 with £325 received in gate takings.[1] City were the second team to win three consecutive titles after Ponsonby United had won the competition in 1917, 1918, and 1919. It was to be 61 years until it happened again with Mt Albert winning the title from 1984–86 before Northcote won 4 titles from 1991–94, Glenora 3 titles from 1997–99, and Pt Chevalier won 3 titles from 2013–15.

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

Representative team

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

Manukau rugby league team

Near the end of the season the Manukau and Māngere clubs sent a letter to the Auckland Rugby League which was read at the management committee meeting on 29 August. It stated that the two clubs had decided to amalgamate and would enter a team in the senior grade the following year provided permission was granted, which it was. The Manukau club is the Manukau club of today, though the Mangere club is not related to the modern day Mangere East who were not founded until 1963. The Manukau club were located in their early decades in the Onehunga area before moving much later to their current location at Moyle Park. The clubs did however remain separate and compete as separate entities the following year. Māngere had previously been known as Māngere Rangers previously however and became known as Māngere United until they ceased to exist at the end of 1934.

Monteith Shield (1st grade championship)

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

Monteith Shield standings

Team Pld W D L F A Pts
City Rovers 1311022287222
Athletic 1310031808720
Marist Old Boys 1290217010818
Devonport United 1260613514112
Ponsonby United 124081181798
Newton Rangers 122010851834
Richmond Rovers 121011932392

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

Monteith Shield fixtures

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

Round 1

Hec Brisbane

Round 1 saw the debut of Hec Brisbane for Marist against Richmond. Brisbane would go on to play 158 games for Marist from 1923 to 1934 scoring 71 tries, mostly in the centre position. He also played for Auckland 14 times from 1923 to 1933 and a remarkable 50 matches for New Zealand from 1924 to 1932. He was also a representative selector in the 1930s after he retired.

5 May Ponsonby 15–10 Newton Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: W Henderson, Frank Delgrosso, Wilfred McNeil
Con: Frank Delgrosso 2
Pen: Frank Delgrosso
[2] Try: Clarrie Polson, Dick Stack
Con: Clarrie Polson
Drop: Lou Brown
Attendance: 5000
Referee: Bert Gallagher
5 May Marist 23–15 Richmond Carlaw Park 2  
3:00 Try: Billy Ghent, Baden Foss, Stevens, Percy Gallagher, Courtney
Con: Billy Ghent 2, Nelson Bass
Pen: Billy Ghent
[3] Try: Penalty Try, Kettlewell, Unknown x 1
Con: Butler 2
Drop: McKenzie
Attendance: 5000
Referee: William Mincham
5 May Devonport 0–12 Athletic Devonport Domain  
3:00 [4] Try: Nicholson, W Miller, Bert Avery, Craddock Dufty Referee: Les Bull

Round 2

12 May Marist 11–5 Newton Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Stevens, S A McNamara, Billy Ghent
Con: Bill Stormont
[5] Try: Wally Somers
Con: Clarrie Polson
Attendance: 7500
Referee: Les Bull
12 May Athletic 37–8 Richmond Carlaw Park 2  
3:00 Try: Nicholson, George Yardley 2, Redmond Lonergan 2, Craddock Dufty 4, Bert Avery 2
Con: Craddock Dufty 2
[6] Try: McKenzie, J McLean
Con: McKenzie
Attendance: 7500
Referee: Len Farrant
12 May Devonport 10–24 City Devonport Domain  
3:00 Try: Matthew Scott, Stan Webb
Con: Stan Webb 2
[7] Try: Vic Thomas, Ben Davidson, Mike Flynn, G Cargill, 'Chook' Mitchell, Harry Hawkes
Con: Mike Flynn 3
Referee: William Mincham

Round 3

26 May Marist 24–9 Ponsonby Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Jock Johnson, Bill Stormont, S A McNamara, Stevens
Con: Billy Ghent 2, Percy Gallagher
Pen: Bill Stormont 3
[8] Try: William Hanlon
Con: Frank Delgrosso
Pen: Frank Delgrosso 2
Attendance: 8500
Referee: Billy Murray
26 May Athletic 16–15 Newton Carlaw Park 2  
3:00 Try: George Yardley, Ernie Herring, Nicholson, Bert Avery
Con: George Yardley, Wilson Hall
[9] Try: Ralph Brockliss, Clarrie Polson, Alfred James
Con: Clarrie Polson 3
Attendance: 8500
Referee: A Saunders
26 May City 25–9 Richmond Auckland Domain 2  
3:00 Try: Harry Hawkes, Ben Davidson 3, 'Chook' Mitchell, George Davidson 2
Con: Bill Davidson, Mike Flynn
[10] Try: McDonald
Con: McDonald
Pen: McDonald 2
Referee: Albert Vause

Round 4

2 June City 25–2 Newton Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Jack Keenan, George Davidson 2, Harry Hawkes, Maurice Wetherill, Ben Davidson 2
Con: Maurice Wetherill 2
[11] Pen: Clarrie Polson Attendance: 3000
Referee: Bert Gallagher
2 June Athletic 20–5 Ponsonby Carlaw Park 2  
3:00 Try: Nicholson, Lee, Bert Avery, Ernie Herring
Con: Craddock Dufty 4
[12] Try: A McClure
Con: Frank Delgrosso
Attendance: 3000
Referee: William Mincham
2 June Devonport 12–3 Richmond Devonport Domain  
3:00 Try: Bert Laing, Jim O'Brien, (E or J) Johnson, Matt Scott [13] Try: Hunter Referee: Les Bull

Round 5

9 June Athletic 9–0 Marist Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Wilson Hall
Pen: Craddock Dufty 3
[14] Attendance: 2500
Referee: Bert Gallagher
9 June City 25–0 Ponsonby Carlaw Park 2  
3:00 Try: Maurice Wetherill, Jack Keenan, Vic Thomas, 'Chook' Mitchell, Harry Hawkes
Con: Bill Davidson 4
Pen: Bill Davidson
[15] Attendance: 2500
Referee: Leonard Neild
9 June Devonport 9–5 Newton Devonport Domain  
3:00 Try: Alex Godick, Cyril Wheeler, G Smith [16] Try: H McNeil
Con: Clarrie Polson
Referee: T Hill

Round 6

16 June Marist 15–5 City Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Nelson Bass, Baden Foss, Stevens
Con: Bill Stormont 3
[17] Try: Harry Hawkes
Con: Bill Davidson
Attendance: 6500
Referee: Les Bull
16 June Newton 23–9 Richmond Carlaw Park 2  
3:00 Try: E Watson, Clarrie Polson 2, Alan Clarke, Peters 2, L O'Donnell
Con: Clarrie Polson
[18] Try: Penalty Try
Con: McDonald
Pen: McDonald 2
Attendance: 6500
Referee: Robert Bouvaird
16 June Devonport 5–13 Ponsonby Devonport Domain  
3:00 Try: Bert Laing
Con: Stan Webb
[19] Try: Bill Walsh, W Hanlon, Wilson
Con: Frank Delgrosso
Pen: Frank Delgrosso
Referee: Billy Murray

Round 7

23 June City 7–0 Athletic Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Alf Townsend
Con: Bill Davidson
Pen: Bill Davidson (mark)
[20] Attendance: 8000
Referee: Billy Murray
23 June Ponsonby 14–12 Richmond Carlaw Park 2  
3:00 Try: A McClure, Williams, Frank Delgrosso, Sam Lowrie
Con: Frank Delgrosso
[21] Try: McKenzie, Butler
Pen: McDonald (pen & mark), Unknown (pen)
Attendance: 8000
Referee: Ladbury (Ray) Hemming
23 June Devonport 13–18 Marist Devonport Domain  
3:00 Try: Jim O'Brien, Johnson, Probert
Con: A Harper, Stan Webb
[22] Try: S A McNamara, Billy Ghent, Percy Gallagher 3, Stevens Referee: Bert Gallagher

Round 8

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

30 June Athletic 14–8 Devonport Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Ernie Herring 2, Lee, Graham
Con: Craddock Dufty
[23] Try: A Harper, G Smith
Pen: Charles Hand
Attendance: 2000
Referee: William Mincham
30 June Newton WBD – LBD Ponsonby Carlaw Park 2  
3:00 [24] Referee: A Saunders
30 June Marist 20–3 Richmond Auckland Domain 2  
3:00 Try: Percy Gallagher, Bill Stormont, S A McNamara, Nelson Bass, Stevenson, Billy Ghent
Con: Bill Stormont
[25] Try: S McLean Referee: Leonard Nield

Round 9

7 July Devonport 13–10 City Victoria Park 1  
3:00 Try: Jim O'Brien, Bert Laing, Alex Godick
Con: C Garrett
Pen: C Garrett (mark)
[26] Try: Harry Hawkes, 'Chook' Mitchell
Con: Mike Flynn
Pen: Mike Flynn
Attendance: 5000
Referee: Bert Gallagher
7 July Marist 16–4 Newton Auckland Domain 1  
3:00 Try: Percy Gallagher, Bill Stormont, Jock Johnson, S A McNamara
Con: Bill Stormont, Stevens
[27] Pen: Clarrie Polson (pen & mark) Referee: Billy Murray
7 July Athletic 22–5 Richmond Auckland Domain 3  
3:00 Try: Bert Avery, W Miller 2, C Timmins, Craddock Dufty, Unknown x 1 (either Bert Avery or Monteith)
Con: Wilson Hall, Unknown x 1
[28] Try: McKenzie
Pen: Butler
Referee: Les Bull

Round 10

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

14 July Athletic 11–5 Newton Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Graham, Bert Avery, Charles (Snow) Webb
Con: Craddock Dufty
[29] Try: Watson
Pen: Clarrie Polson
Attendance: 2500
Referee: Les Bull
14 July Marist 14–8 Ponsonby Carlaw Park 2  
3:00 Try: John Lang, Stevens 2, Percy Gallagher
Pen: Nelson Bass (mark)
[30] Try: A McClure, E McGregor
Con: Frank Delgrosso
Attendance: 2500
Referee: A Saunders
14 July City WBD – LBD Richmond Auckland Domain 4  
3:00 [31] Referee: Leonard Nield

Round 11

21 July City 35–3 Newton Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: G Cargill, Bill Davidson, F Wilson, George Davidson 2, Ben Davidson, Harry Hawkes, Alf Townsend
Con: Bill Davidson 2, Maurice Wetherill, Harry Hawkes
[32] Try: N Peters Attendance: 2500
Referee: William Mincham
21 July Devonport 19–10 Richmond Carlaw Park 2  
3:00 Try: A Harper, Stan Webb 2, Johnson, Allan Seagar
Con: A Harper, Johnson
[33] Try: Hyland, Kettlewell
Con: McDonald
Pen: McDonald
Attendance: 2500
Referee: Bert Gallagher
21 July Athletic 17–9 Ponsonby Otahuhu 1  
3:00 Try: Harry Francis, Craddock Dufty, Ernie Herring, W Kirkland, Graham
Con: Wilson Hall
[34] Try: Williams 2, D Black Referee: Walter Ripley

Round 12

28 July Athletic 7–6 Marist Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Bert Avery
Pen: George Yardley, Craddock Dufty
[35] Try: Hec Brisbane, Billy Ghent Referee: Billy Murray
28 July City 39–2 Ponsonby Carlaw Park 2  
3:00 Try: Ben Davidson, Bill Davidson, F Wilson, Alf Townsend, George Davidson 2, Harry Hawkes, G Cargill
Con: Bill Davidson, George Davidson, Mike Flynn, Harry Hawkes 2, Wilcox
[36] Pen: Frank Delgrosso Referee: Les Bull
28 July Devonport 22–8 Newton Victoria Park  
3:00 Try: Alex Godick 3, Charles Hand, Stan Webb, Johnson
Con: Unknown x 1, Neville St George
[37] Try: Alan Clarke, Lou Brown
Con: Clarrie Polson
Referee: Bert Gallagher

Round 13

11 August City 14–3 Marist Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: George Davidson, F Wilson, Alf Townsend, Bill Davidson
Con: Harry Hawkes
[38] Try: Bill Stormont Attendance: 7000
Referee: Leonard Nield
11 August Devonport 8–4 Ponsonby Carlaw Park 2  
3:00 Try: Bert Laing, Cyril Wheeler
Con: Charles Hand
[39] Pen: Frank Delgrosso 2 Attendance: 7000
Referee: Walter Ripley
11 August Richmond 14–5 Newton Victoria Park  
3:00 Try: McDonald, Jack Campney
Con: McDonald 2
Pen: McDonald, McKenzie
[40] Try: Lou Brown
Con: Clarrie Polson
Referee: Robert Bouvaird

Round 14

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

18 August City 11–8 Athletic Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Bill Davidson 2, Ben Davidson
Con: Bill Davidson
[41] Try: Bert Avery 2
Con: George Yardley
Attendance: 7500
Referee: Walter Ripley
18 August Marist 20–16 Devonport Carlaw Park 1  
1:45 Try: Baden Foss 2, Stevens, Bill Stormont
Con: Stevens 2, Billy Ghent
[42] Try: A Harper, Bert Laing, Harry Douglas, Stan Webb
Con: Bert Laing, Stan Webb
Attendance: 7500
Referee: G McGowatt
18 August Ponsonby 39–5 Richmond Carlaw Park 2  
3:00 Try: A McClure, Leonard Riley, John Shirley 2, Frank Delgrosso, George Mormon, W Henderson, Sam Lowrie, Wilfred McNeil
Con: Frank Delgrosso 2, Sam Lowrie, Wilfred McNeil, Thomas McClymont 2
[43] Try: McLean
Con: McDonald
Attendance: 7500
Referee: Les Bull

Championship final

25 August City 8–7 Athletic Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: F Wilson, Maurice Wetherill
Pen: Bill Davidson
[44] Try: Bert Avery
Pen: Craddock Dufty 2
Attendance: 11,500
Referee: Bert Gallagher

Roope Rooster knockout competition

Thomas McClymont
Ivan Littlewood

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

Round 1

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

1 September Devonport 21–16 Athletic Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: A Harper, Alex Godick, Cyril Wheeler, Bert Laing 2
Con: Charles Hand, Bert Laing
Pen: Charles Hand
[45] Try: Bert Avery, Jack Miller
Con: Craddock Dufty 2
Pen: Craddock Dufty 3
Attendance: 5000
Referee: Les Bull
1 September Marist 43–20 Newton Carlaw Park 2  
3:00 Try: Bill Stormont 4, Hec Brisbane 3, John Lang, Baden Foss
Con: Stevens 6, Hec Brisbane
Pen: Bill Stormont
[46] Try: Clarrie Polson, Watson, Bill Williams, Wally Somers
Con: Clarrie Polson, Unknown x 1
Pen: Clarrie Polson, Alan Clarke
Attendance: 5000
Referee: Robert Bouvaird
1 September Ponsonby 43–18 Richmond Auckland Domain  
3:00 Try: Joseph Peckham 2, Frank Delgrosso 2, Thomas McClymont, Ivan Littlewood 3, McMahon
Con: Frank Delgrosso, Thomas McClymont 3, Ivan Littlewood 3, W Hanlon
[47] Try: Butler 3, Barber
Con: McNeil 2
Pen: McNeil
Referee: Billy Murray

Semi finals

8 September City 49–12 Devonport Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: F Wilson 2, Sam Crewther, Ben Davidson, Casey, George Davidson 3, Maurice Wetherill 2, Harry Hawkes 2, Hec McDonald
Con: George Davidson 3, Sam Crewther, Harry Hawkes
[48] Try: Harry Douglas, Smith
Con: Charles Hand, Neville St George
Pen: Charles Hand
Attendance: 6000
Referee: Billy Murray
8 September Ponsonby 34–12 Marist Carlaw Park 2  
3:00 Try: Donovan 2, Joseph Peckham 2, Wilfred McNeil, Bill Walsh
Con: Thomas McClymont 3, Ivan Littlewood
Pen: Thomas McClymont, Frank Delgrosso 2
Drop: Eric Grey
[49] Try: M Kirkland, A Nelson
Con: Bill Stormont, John Lang
Pen: Bill Stormont
Attendance: 6000
Referee: Bert Gallagher

Final

15 September Ponsonby 14–3 City Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Thomas McClymont, Ivan Littlewood
Con: Thomas McClymont
Pen: Thomas McClymont 3
[50] Try: Ben Davidson Attendance: 7000
Referee: Bert Gallagher

Top try scorers and point scorers

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

Other senior club matches and competitions

Athletic v Wednesday representative team

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

11 August Athletic 9–5 Wednesday Representative Team Carlaw Park 1  
2:00 Try: Charles (Snow) Webb, Bert Avery, George Yardley [52] Try: Halliday
Pen: Halliday

Labour Day Carnival and charity sevens tournament

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

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

Seven-a-side carnival results
Date Score Score Venue
First Round 20 Oct [53] Richmond2Athletic B0Carlaw Park
First Round 20 OctAthletic A5Marist Old Boys3Carlaw Park
First Round 20 OctDevonport10Ponsonby6Carlaw Park
Semi Final 20 OctAthletic A6Devonport3Carlaw Park
Final 20 OctRichmond5Athletic A0Carlaw Park
Seven-a-side tournament results
Date Score Score Venue Attendance
First Round 27 Oct [54] Devonport21Athletic3Carlaw Park1,000
First Round 27 OctPonsonby9City0Carlaw Park
Semi Final 27 OctDevonport14Marist Old Boys8Carlaw Park
Final 27 OctDevonportWBDPonsonbyLBDCarlaw Park

Exhibition matches

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

2 June Hamilton 28-13 Marist Hinemoa Park, Hamilton  
3:00 Try: Sorenson, Payne, Jacques, Grice, J Dufty 2
Con: J Dufty 4, Tim Peckham
[55] Try: Hec Brisbane, Baden Foss 2
Con: Baden Foss
Pen: Baden Foss
Referee: Mr. Herrick

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

List of Exhibition Matches
Date Score Score Venue Attendance
Exhibition Match 28 July [56] Taumarunui5Richmond14Taumarunui
Exhibition Match 15 Sep [57] Athletic 4th Grade11Parnell 4th Grade9Kensington Park, Whangarei
Exhibition Match 22 Sep [58] Ponsonby6City3Carlaw Park7,000

Lower grades

There were 8 lower grade competitions in 1923 with the 6th grade split into an A and B division, while the Cadets competition ran again and a Wednesday Competition was also run featuring businesses and professions.

Second grade

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

Team Pld W D L B F A Pts
City Rovers 15101411264921
Māngere Rangers 1310030954520
Otahuhu Rovers 147060351714
Kingsland Rovers 137050714414
Newton Rangers 13202140294
Ponsonby United 11114063693
Ihumatao 14103032502
Devonport United 10103029512
Ellerslie United 1210205272
Marist Old Boys 1200208400
Athletic 1100405770
Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers 20000000

Third grade (Myers Cup)

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

Team Pld W D L B F A Pts
Ponsonby United 15111311332023
Point Chevalier 1510051723520
City Rovers 121002101520
Manukau 12912287319
Richmond Rovers 119024222318
Devonport United 12302224246
Parnell 12305045466
Victoria Cruising Club 11301313166
Coromandel Old Boys 1120307474
Ellerslie United 31020302
Kingsland Rovers 13015216531
Marist Old Boys 501303331
Ihumatao 12000161160
Newton Rangers 40030000

Fourth grade

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

Team Pld W D L B F A Pts
Devonport United 1310030321720
Athletic 129030442418
Parnell 13713055615
City Rovers 15707014014
Otahuhu Rovers 1660910012
Ellerslie United 11203036364
Kingsland Rovers 91001852
Newton Rangers 9003112340
Māngere Rangers 1000205470
Ponsonby United 1200115550
Marist Old Boys 40031000

Fifth grade (Endean Memorial Shield)

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

Team Pld W D L B F A Pts
Richmond Rovers 14100401402420
Takapuna 128130521217
City Rovers 117222702216
Newton Rangers 117040407614
Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers 9405149938
Manukau 1120134784
Marist Old Boys 10204239514
Point Chevalier 11107171582
Athletic 40020000
Ponsonby United 30020000

Sixth grade A

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

Team Pld W D L B F A Pts
Ponsonby United 138230853718
City Rovers 146250363314
Athletic 136240541514
Richmond Rovers B 8323061418
Richmond Rovers A 13312052117
Parnell 13214021335
Manukau 13202027474
Marist Old Boys 1300302120
Otahuhu Rovers 140010030
Devonport United 12006021080

Sixth grade B

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

Team Pld W D L B F A Pts
Athletic 18112101272824
City Rovers 1992401243020
Parnell 188141693217
Manukau Cruising Club 9322029208
Marist Old Boys 16314019407
Ellerslie United 18115016613
Richmond Rovers 131090181452
Ponsonby United 17016017631

Cadet competition

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

Team Pld W D L B F A Pts
29th Company (Ponsonby) 87010984814
36th A Company 321012575
27th Company 7214051505
34th Company 5203127454
22nd Company 4202019424
36th B Company 500509370

Wednesday Competition

The Post and Telegraph side won the Wednesday Competition which was played for by businesses and professions. Post and Telegraph beat Tramways 16-15 on September 26. On September 13 a Taxi Drivers side beat Bakers 21-9 at Carlaw Park. A Bakers player (T. McPherson) broke his ankle and was taken home). On September 20 the Post and Telegraph side played against the Wednesday representative team as curtain-raiser to the Auckland Province - New South Wales match at Carlaw Park. Post and Telegraph won 33 to 11 with future New Zealand international Arthur Singe scoring 2 tries and kicking a conversion. Wally Somers was also in the Post and Telegraph side.[59]

Team Pld W D L B F A Pts
Post and Telegraph 870111107614
Tramways 960301326912
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Representative season

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

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

Auckland v Wellington

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

22 August Auckland 71–12 Wellington Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Alex Godick 3, Ben Davidson 4, Frank Delgrosso 2, Bert Laing 2, Vic Thomas, Wally Somers, W Hanlon, Bill Stormont, Harry Douglas, Nelson Bass
Con: Alex Godick 2, Bert Laing 2, Wilson Hall, Clarrie Polson 3, Wally Somers, Nelson Bass
[60] Try: Hedges, Ryan
Con: Whittington
Pen: Whittington, Greer
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Ripley

Auckland v Hamilton

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

12 September Auckland 22–16 Hamilton Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Craddock Dufty 2, Clarrie Polson 2, Nelson Bass, Harry Douglas
Con: Craddock Dufty, Clarrie Polson
[61] Try: McVeay 2, N Vernall, Paki
Con: McVeay
Pen: McVeay
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: W Murray

South Auckland v Auckland (Northern Union Challenge Cup)

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

Auckland v Auckland Province

29 September Auckland 44–15 Auckland Province Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Craddock Dufty, Bert Laing, Ivan Littlewood, Maurice Wetherill, Clarrie Polson, Johnston, Richard Stack, Jim O'Brien, Hec McDonald 2
Con: Craddock Dufty, Ivan Littlewood 2, F Wilson 2, Clarrie Polson 2
[63] Try: Lyall Stewart, Wilson Hall, McNeil
Con: Selby Crewther
Pen: John Dufty, Selby Crewther
Attendance: 7000
Referee: Billy Murray

Auckland v South Auckland

13 October Auckland 35–11 South Auckland Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Ben Davidson 2, Maurice Wetherill 2, Clarrie Polson, Wally Somers, Hec McDonald
Con: Craddock Dufty 3, Clarrie Polson 3
Pen: Craddock Dufty
[64] Try: Jackson, Joe Dufty, Lyall Stewart
Drop: George Raynor
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: A Saunders

Auckland representative matches played and scorers

NoNameClub TeamPlayTriesConPenPoints
1Clarrie PolsonNewton559033
2Craddock DuftyAthletic447128
3Ben DavidsonCity260018
4Alex GodickDevonport232013
5Hec McDonaldCity23009
5Maurice WetherillCity23009
5Bert LaingDevonport43009
8Wally SomersNewton42108
8Nelson BassMarist52108
10Ivan LittlewoodPonsonby21207
11Harry DouglasDevonport42006
11Frank DelgrossoPonsonby12006
13F WilsonCity30204
14Hec BrisbaneMarist21003
14Jim O'BrienDevonport21003
14Stan WebbDevonport11003
14StevensMarist21003
14Richard StackNewton21003
14JohnsonDevonport11003
14Vic ThomasCity31003
14Bill StormontMarist21003
14W HanlonPonsonby11003
23Wilson HallAthletic30102
24Billy GhentMarist20000
24John McGregorAthletic10000
24Bert AveryAthletic10000
24M SherlockMarist20000
24M McNeilRichmond10000
24McDonaldRichmond20000
24Charles (Snow) WebbAthletic10000

References

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