1911 Auckland Rugby League season

The 1911 Auckland Rugby League season was the second full organised club season in Auckland following the 1910 Auckland Rugby League season. City Rovers won the title again after winning it in the competitions inaugural year.

Preceded by 1910

3rd Auckland Rugby League season 1911

Succeeded by 1912

The club season commenced on 20 May, with the start of the competition for the Myers Cup. City Rovers were crowned champions after defeating Ponsonby United in the final 36–15 which was required due to both teams being within 2 points of each other as the competition entered its closing stages. The competition at the time and for decades to come often did not complete full round robins. When a team had an unassailable lead over their nearest rivals the competition was often concluded at that point. Ponsonby and City had already met twice during the season but rather than conclude the round robin with round 10. In round 10 Ponsonby would have had a bye and City would likely have gained an easy win over wooden spooners, Eden Ramblers so the Auckland Rugby League decided to have the two top teams play off for the title a week early rather than prolong the competition.

The City side featured Albert Asher, Alex Stanaway, Jim Rukutai, and Bob Mitchell, while Ponsonby had Charlie Savory, Charles Dunning and Arthur Carlaw.

Auckland Rugby League news[]

Reminiscing about the league's formative years[]

In 1941 at the annual meeting the chairman of the league in 1911 (Mr. B. Brigham) spoke about the league in its formative years. He said "the seeds sown by the pioneers have developed in a wonderful way... when we first started playing, the matches were at Victoria Park. For funds we used to go around with a hat. Then we started taking boxes round, and if at the end of the day we were "shy", we had to have a tarpaulin just to pay for the ground". He went on to say that "plenty of mud was thrown at us those times, and we had to face a good deal of hostility. Our first meetings were held in the cellar of the Rob Roy Hotel, and then we got the use of the social room in the same hotel. Then we drifted to other rooms, and a home of our own". He also talked of venues and said "at one time the league had a lease of Eden Park at £100 a year, and from there they shifted to Victoria Park, where on one occasion they had a £300 gate, a figure that was not beaten until the 1924 season at Carlaw Park.^[1]

Venues[]

Unlike in 1910 when only two venues were used, there were 5 venues used. They were Victoria Park, Takapuna Racecourse, 'Avondale', Auckland Domain, and Eden Park (which was the venue for the club final between City Rovers and Ponsonby United.

Eden Ramblers formed[]

The senior competition saw the addition of the Eden Ramblers who had been formed in April. A meeting was held at the Avondale Public Hall on Wednesday 26 April with Mr John Bollard, MP presiding over it. He was elected president and chairman, and the name Eden Ramblers was chosen along with the colours or green and gold. The following officers were selected: Hon Secretary, Mr B Boone; Management Committee, W. A. Cummings, J Eddoes, W Fairweather, M Morrow, and J Denyer. The membership was close to 50 and they were to begin their training for the season ahead on 29 April with a joint practice with Ponsonby United at Victoria Park.^[2]

Rugby union converts[]

At the start of the season George Gillett, Arthur Francis, Alan Blakey, and Frank Morse all switched codes. Gillett and Francis had both played for the All Blacks for several seasons and were joining the Newton Rangers along with Blakey who was a well known Auckland rugby player. Morse was joining the City Rovers. Gillett, Francis, and Morse would all go on to represent the Kiwi's.^[3]

Representative season[]

It featured a representative program in August and September where Auckland played nine matches including two against the New Zealand side. They won eight and lost one. Their first match saw them lose to New Zealand however they rattled off consecutive wins against New Zealand (6 weeks later), Wellington, Lower Waikato, Hawke's Bay, Nelson, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay Māori, and a Country team from Waihi & Rotorua.

Myers Cup (first grade championship)[]

Eighteen regular season matches were played before the final on 16 September where City Rovers defeated Ponsonby United 36 to 15 to retain the title which they had won in 1910.

First Grade competition[]

Myers Cup standings[]

Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
City Rovers	8	7	0	1	164	70	14
Ponsonby United	9	7	0	2	205	117	14
North Shore Albions	7	3	0	4	80	68	6
Newton Rangers	7	1	0	6	51	138	2
Eden Ramblers	7	1	0	6	42	149	2

The second round did not feature the final round of matches hence Ponsonby playing an extra match (when they were due to have a bye), while the table also includes the final played between City and Ponsonby.

Myers Cup results[]

Round 1[]

	20 May	Ponsonby	19–3	Newton	Victoria park
		Try: Charlie Savory, S Cole, Charles Dillimore, Sid Riley 2 Con: S Cole 2	[4]	Try: Sainsbury	Referee: Jaggs

	20 May	City	13–3	North Shore	Victoria Park
		Try: William Moeki, Jim Rukutai 2 Con: Alex Stanaway 2	[5]	Try: Haddon	Referee: W Pitts

Round 2[]

	27 May	City	16–3	Newton	Takapuna Racecourse
		Try: Frank Morse 2, Sid Kean, George Harrison Con: Frank Morse Pen: Albert Asher	[6]	Try: Arthur Francis	Referee: Bob Oliphant

	27 May	Ponsonby	49–10	Eden	Victoria Park
		Try: William Cossey, Harry Fricker, Charles Dunning 2, Charles Savory, Ronald MacDonald, + 5 unattributed tries Con: Charles Dillamore, S Cole 3, + 4 unattributed conversions	[6]	Try: Harris, + 1 unattributed try Con: Brett, + 1 unattributed conversion

Round 3[]

	3 June	Ponsonby	30–11	City	Victoria Park
		Try: Nicholson, Henry Bettis, Charles Savory 2, Arthur Carlaw, Ronald MacDonald, S Houghton, Alf Chorley Con: S Cole 2, Charles Dillimore	[7]	Try: William Moeki, Albert Asher, Frank Morse Con: Frank Morse	Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Bob Oliphant

	3 June	North Shore	30–6	Eden	Takapuna Racecourse
	3:00	Try: Jim Griffen 2, George Seagar 3, Fraser, , Stan Weston Con: , Alfred Jackson Pen: Winters	[8]	Try: Don Kenealy, J Cummings	Referee: Jaggs

Round 4[]

In the match between Newton and Eden one of the three tries was unattributed but it was said that the try scorers were Short and Linkhorn so one of those players scored twice but it is unknown which.

	17 June	Newton	13–8	Eden	Victoria Park
		Try: Short (1 or 2), Charles Linkhorn (1 or 2) Con: 2	[9]	Try: Harris 2 Pen: Don Kenealy

	17 June	Ponsonby	22–6	North Shore	Takapuna Racecourse
		Try: Charles Dillimore 3, Arthur Carlaw, Nicholson, Harry Fricker Con: McGregor 2	[10]	Try: Bailey, Jim Griffen	Referee: Bob Oliphant

Round 5[]

	24 June	City	20–4	Eden	Victoria Park
		Try: Robinson, Albert Asher, Julian, George Hunt Con: Albert Asher 3 Pen: Albert Asher	[11]	Pen: Don Kenealy 2	Referee: Cunningham

	24 June	North Shore	17–2	Newton	Takapuna Racecourse
		Try: , Stan Walters 2, Ernie Bailey, Alfred Jackson Con: Jim Griffen	[12]	Pen:	Referee: Pitts

Round 6[]

	1 July	North Shore	3–11	City	Takapuna Racecourse
		Try:	[13]	Try: Robinson 2, Phillips Con: Albert Asher	Referee: Bob Oliphant

	1 July	Ponsonby	32–13	Newton	Victoria Park
		Try: Charles Dillimore 2, Arthur Carlaw 2, Sid Riley, S Houghton Con: Charles Dillimore 3, S Cole 2 Pen: Charles Dillimore	[14]	Try: 3 Con: 2	Referee: Harker

Round 7[]

	8 July	City	32–12	Newton	Victoria Park
		Try: Wilson, Albert Asher, Harold Denize 2, Harry Childs, Bob Mitchell, Phillips, Warner Con: Albert Asher 4	[15]	Try: Marshall, Len Farrant Con: Len Farrant Pen: 2	Referee: Bob Oliphant

	8 July	Ponsonby	24–0	Eden	Avondale
		Try: S Houghton, Charles Dillimore 3, Arthur Carlaw, Henry Bettis Con: S Houghton, Arthur Carlaw, S Cole	[16]		Referee: Cunningham

Round 8[]

In the match between City and Ponsonby at the Takapuna Racecourse there were several injuries. Harrison (City) sprained an ankle, Hunt (City) ruptured the muscles of his shoulder, and Warner (City) had his nose "severely injured in a collision with Carlaw (Ponsonby) who was "partly stunned and sustained a cut to his forehead.

	15 July	City	25–0	Ponsonby	Takapuna Racecourse
		Try: William Moeki, George Hunt 2, Bob Mitchell, Robinson, Phillips 2 Con: Albert Asher, Phillips	[17]

	15 July	North Shore	8–0	Eden	Auckland Domain
		Try: Farquharson, Stan Walters Con: Frederick Gladding	[18]

Round 9[]

	22 July	Ponsonby	14–13	North Shore	Takapuna Racecourse
		Try: Arthur Carlaw 2, Charles Dillimore, Henry Bettis Con: S Cole	[19]	Try: Stan Walters, William Wynyard, Billy Harrison Con: Pen:	Referee: Cunningham

	22 July	Eden	14–5	Newton	Auckland Domain
		Try: Don Kenealy, Harris 2, W Fairweather Pen: Don Kenealy	[20]	Try: Little Con: Len Farrant	Referee: Moran

Final[]

	16 September	City	36–15	Ponsonby	Eden Park
		Try: Jim Rukutai 2, Albert Asher, Bob Mitchell 2, Alex Stanaway, William Moeki, G Hunt Con: Albert Asher 6	[21]	Try: Charles Dunning 2, T Wilson Con: S Cole 3

Top scorers[]

The Ponsonby v Eden match in Round 2 had 23 unattributed points for Ponsonby (5 tries and 4 goals) and 5 for Eden (1 try and 1 goal), while the Round 4 match between Newton and Eden saw a try to Newton unattributed. As such the following lists are likely to omit tries and points for players from those sides.

Lower grades[]

Grades were made of the following teams with the winning team in bold:

• Second Grade: City Rovers, North Shore Albions, Ponsonby United, Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers

• Third Grade: City Rovers, Eden Ramblers, North Shore Albions, Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers, Ponsonby United

Representative season[]

The season began with a match against the New Zealand team which was about to depart for its Australian tour. The touring side won by two points but when they returned from their tour they played again only this time Auckland were the victors by 11 points to 3.

Auckland v New Zealand[]

	10 June	Auckland	14–16	New Zealand	Takapuna Racecourse
		Try: George Harrison, Harry Fricker, Joe Bennett 2 Con: S Cole	[22]	Try: George Gillett, Roy Siddells, Ernie Buckland, Dave Mason Con: Arthur Francis 2	Referee: R Oliphant

Auckland v New Zealand[]

	29 July	Auckland	11–3	New Zealand	Takapuna Racecourse
	3:00	Try: J Kay, Arthur Carlaw, Stan Walters Con: Albert Asher	[23]	Try: Ernie Buckland	Referee: Bob Oliphant

Auckland v Wellington (Northern Union Cup)[]

	5 Aug	Auckland	16–8	Wellington	Victoria Park
	3:00	Try: J Kay 2, Albert Asher, Jim Bennett Con: Frank Morse Pen: Frank Morse	[24]	Try: Bob Mitchell 2 Con: A Seeling	Attendance: 5000 Referee: Cunningham

Auckland v Lower Waikato[]

J Kay had the distinction of playing for Auckland one week, and then turning out against them the following week for Waikato. Occasionally players from the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions would represent Auckland. Kay played 3 matches for Auckland in this season. The Auckland Star credited a conversion to Jim Griffen while the New Zealand Herald reported that Charles Dunning kicked all 3 goals. As the Auckland Star's match report was more detailed that is the record reported below.

	12 August	Lower Waikato	22–36	Auckland	Frankton, Hamilton
		Try: J Kay 2, F Hall, R Gleeson Con: Reg Sprague 3 Pen: Reg Sprague Drop: Hall	[25]	Try: E Robinson, Bob Mitchell, Joe Bennett 4, Arthur Carlaw, George Seagar, Alfred Jackson 2 Con: Charles Dunning 2, Jim Griffen	Attendance: 400 Referee: Cunningham

Auckland v Hawke's Bay (Northern Union C.C.)[]

	19 August	Auckland	17–13	Hawke’s Bay	Victoria Park
	3:00	Try: Arthur Carlaw, George Seagar 2, Jim Griffen, Alf Chorley Con: Charles Dunning Pen: Charles Dunning	[26]	Try: Jim Johnson, G Jackson, George Frater Con: G Jackson Drop: G Jackson	Attendance: 3000 Referee: W Jaggs

Auckland v Nelson (Northern Union C.C.)[]

For Nelson Dave Mason scored a try, while Oscar Cederman who was later killed in action in Belgium during World War I scored a try and kicked a conversion.

	26 August	Auckland	36–12	Nelson	Victoria Park
		Try: Frank Morse, Jim Rukutai 3, Reg Sprague, Jim Griffen 2, Harry Fricker, George Harrison, Stan Walters Con: Charles Dunning 3	[27]	Try: Oscar Cederman 2 Con: Oscar Cederman 2 Pen: Dave Mason	Attendance: 5,000 Referee: McCarthy

Auckland v Taranaki (Northern Union C.C.)[]

	2 September	Auckland	26–15	Taranaki	Victoria Park
		Try: Albert Asher 2, Jim Rukutai, Harry Fricker 2, Bob Mitchell Con: Charles Dunning 4	[28]	Try: P Kyle, C Moir, Dan Twohill Con: Arthur Hardgrave 3	Attendance: 6,000 Referee: Matt Hooper

Auckland v Hawke's Bay Māori[]

	9 September	Auckland	22–10	Hawke’s Bay Māori	Takapuna Racecourse
	3:00	Try: Joe Bennett 2, George Hunt, Jim Griffen, Albert Asher, C Linkhorn Con: Charles Dunning 2	[29]	Try: W Paewai, Hopi Kani Con: W Hiha Pen: W Hiha	Attendance: 500 Referee: Cunningham

Auckland v Country (Waihi & Rotorua)[]

A month after Auckland's match with Hawke's Bay Māori an exhibition game was arranged in Waihi against a 'Country' team from that area, including Rotorua players. It was the first ever rugby league match and was played on the Waihi Domain in front of a "fairly large crowd". Despite a few regular forwards not making the trip Auckland still took a strong side to Waihi and ran out winners 20-10. For the Country side Rukingi Reke kicked 2 conversions.

	14 October	Country	10-20	Auckland	Waihi Domain
	3:00	Try: F Hall, St George Con: Rukingi Reke 2	[30]	Try: Albert Asher 2, E Robinson, Frank Morse, Henry Bettis, George Seagar Con: 1 x unknown	Referee: R. Oliphant

Auckland representative matches played and scorers[]

Rank	Name	Club	Play	Tries	Con	Pen	Mark	Points
1		Newton Rangers	7	9	-	-	-	27
2	Charles Dunning	Ponsonby United	6	-	12	1	-	26
3	Albert Asher	City Rovers	7	6	1	-	-	20
4	Jim Griffen	North Shore Albions	8	4	1	-	-	14
5	Harry Fricker	Ponsonby United	7	4	-	-	-	12
5	Jim Rukutai	Manukau Rovers	7	4	-	-	-	12
7	Frank Morse	City Rovers	5	2	1	1	-	10
7	George Seagar	North Shore Albions	4	2	2	-	-	10
9	Arthur Carlaw	Ponsonby United	6	3	-	-	-	9
9	J Kay	Komakorau (Ngaruawahia Comp.)	3	3	-	-	-	9
11	Alfred Jackson	North Shore Albions	9	2	-	-	-	6
11	Bob Mitchell	City Rovers	6	2	-	-	-	6
11	George Harrison	North Shore Albions	2	2	-	-	-	6
11	Stan Walters	North Shore Albions	2	2	-	-	-	6
11	E Robinson	City Rovers	7	2	-	-	-	6
16	Alf Chorley	Ponsonby United	3	1	-	-	-	3
16	C Linkhorn	Newton Rangers	2	1	-	-	-	3
16	Reg Sprague	Lower Waikato (Ngaruawahia)	1	1	-	-	-	3
16	George Hunt	City Rovers	2	1	-	-	-	3
20	S Cole	Ponsonby United	1	-	1	-	-	2
21	Harry Childs	City Rovers	7	-	-	-	-	-
21	Charles Dillimore	Ponsonby United	2	-	-	-	-	-
21	Don Kenealy	Eden Ramblers	3	-	-	-	-	-
21	Stan Weston	North Shore Albions	1	-	-	-	-	-
21	S Houghton	Ponsonby United	1	-	-	-	-	-
21	J Cummings	Eden Ramblers	1	-	-	-	-	-
21	J O’Sullivan	City Rovers	1	-	-	-	-	-
21	Ernie Asher	City Rovers	1	-	-	-	-	-
21	Ronald MacDonald	North Shore Albions	1	-	-	-	-	-
21	Roy Denize	City Rovers	1	-	-	-	-	-
21	Henry Bettis	Ponsonby United	1	-	-	-	-	-

References[]

External links[]

• Auckland Rugby League Official Site