1908 Auckland Rugby League season
The 1908 season for Auckland consisted of four representative matches played in an effort to grow the game in Auckland and New Zealand. The team was chosen prior to the formation of the Auckland Rugby League so in some respects were an ‘unofficial’ Auckland team though they were very strong nonetheless and many of the players went on to represent Auckland and New Zealand in the ensuing years. Several of the players were also strongly involved in the establishment of club sides and the growth of the game in Auckland for many years to come such as Albert Asher, Charles Dunning, William Wynyard, and Ronald MacDonald.
The games[]
The four matches were against Wellington and Taranaki with games being played in Auckland, Wellington and New Plymouth. They resulted in 3 wins and a draw. Prior to the last match of the season against Taranaki at Victoria Park the promoters of the proposed Auckland League stated clearly their intentions. They said that it was not their intention to pay players for home matches. If any profits accrued from their last match it would be “banked to form the nucleus of a ground fund. It will be the policy of the league to provide players with uniforms, free brake trips to grounds, and payment for loss of wages when away from Auckland on tour”. They went on to say that the tour had not been profitable. The money they had gained from Wellington’s visit in August had been lost while on tour due to travel costs and other expenditure. They hoped to “stimulate a strong local competitions next season” and had secured a ground at Epsom for play.[1]
Representative matches[]
Auckland v Wellington[]
| 22 August | Auckland | 16–14 | Wellington | Victoria Park | ||
| Try: Harold Rowe, William Wynyard Con: William Tyler Pen: William Tyler 2 Drop: William Tyler 2 |
[2] | Try: Conrad Byrne, James Barber, Dan Twohill, P McGill Con: George Spencer |
Attendance: 7000 Referee: J Laing |
Auckland v Wellington[]
| 12 September | Wellington | 13–13 | Auckland | Petone Recreation Ground | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Edward Tyne, Dan Twohill, John Spencer Con: George Spencer 2 |
[3] | Try: Harold Rowe, Albert Asher, Matt Hooper Con: William Tyler 2 |
Attendance: 3000 Referee: L Isherwood |
Auckland v Taranaki[]
This match was originally supposed to be played on the recreation ground but after pressure from the rugby union it was moved to the Tukapa Cricket Field adjacent to Western Park. There were further issues with seating as the advertised seats for spectators did not arrive at the ground. Taranaki won the match by 5 points to 3 and it was suggested that Auckland had deliberately thrown the match to stir up interest in the return match. Though the closeness of the game back in Auckland would suggest this might not have been the case.
| 17 September | Taranaki | 5–3 | Auckland | Tukapa Cricket Field, New Plymouth | ||
| Try: Arthur Hardgrave Con: Arthur Hardgrave |
[4] | Try: William Tyler |
Attendance: 600 Referee: H Gilboy |
Auckland v Taranaki[]
| 10 October | Auckland | 21–18 | Taranaki | Victoria Park | ||
| Try: Harold Rowe, Richard Wynyard, William Tyler, Ronald MacDonald, Marshall Con: William Tyler, Marshall Pen: Thomas Houghton |
[5] | Try: Gordon Hooker, Ernie Buckland 2 , W McLean Con: Arthur Hardgrave 2 Pen: Arthur Hardgrave (mark) |
Attendance: 3000 |
Auckland representative matches played and scorers[]
| Matches and Points | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Played | Tries | Conv | Pen | Marks | Points |
| William Tyler | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 22 |
| Richard Wynyard | 4 | 1 | - | - | - | 3 |
| Bill Trevarthen | 4 | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Ronald MacDonald | 4 | 1 | - | - | - | 3 |
| Matt Hooper | 4 | 1 | - | - | - | 3 |
| Charles Dillimore | 3 | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Harold Rowe | 3 | 3 | - | - | - | 9 |
| William Wynyard | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | 3 |
| P Redwood | 3 | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Sid Riley | 3 | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| William Mackrell | 3 | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Charles Dunning | 3 | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Fred Gladding | 2 | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Albert Asher | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | 3 |
| Frank Barclay | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Thomas Houghton | 1 | - | - | 1 | - | 2 |
| Alex Stanaway | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Marshall | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 5 |
References[]
- ^ "Northern Union Game". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. XLV, no. 13877. 10 October 1908. p. 9. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
- ^ "Auckland v Wellington/A Fascinating Exhibition/Auckland Defeats Wellington". Auckland Star. Vol. XXXIX, no. 202. 22 August 1908. p. 6. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
- ^ "Wellington v Auckland/A Drawn Game". Vol. XXX, no. 6624. New Zealand Times. 14 September 1908. p. 2. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ "The Northern Union Game/Auckland v Taranaki". Vol. LI, no. 227. Taranaki Daily News. 18 September 1908. p. 4. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
- ^ "Auckland v Taranaki". Auckland Star. Vol. XXXIX, no. 244. 12 October 1908. p. 6. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
External links[]
- Auckland Rugby League seasons
- 1908 in New Zealand rugby league