1923 Auckland Rugby League season

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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.

Preceded by 15th Auckland Rugby League season
1923 		Succeeded by

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 Mangere 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.

Obituary[]

William Southernwood[]

William Southernwood was a Ponsonby first grade player from 1918 until the start of the 1923 season. He tragically drowned on the night of 31 March 1923 when the boat he owned (the launch, Lorraine) capsized while attempting to cross the Tairua Bar. He had been at the Whitanga Regatta during the afternoon and as he attempted to enter Tairua in strong winds and heavy seas the boat was struck by a large wave capsizing it. It was struck by 3 more breaking waves and smashed to pieces. Southernwood was in the engine room at the time and was never seen again. Also onboard was Bill Walsh, his Ponsonby team mate and current Kiwi player. Walsh had his legs tangled in fishing line and after falling into the water was saved by Silston Cory-Wright who was in another vessel. He entered the water and cleared his legs of the fishing line, and used a benzine tin to keep them afloat until they could be rescued. Walsh was in a poor state by this time. He then put a lifebelt over his shoulders and kept him up until they could be pulled in. They then needed to be "rubbed for nearly an hour to bring them round". Three other men lost their lives on board the Lorraine, H Chappell, T Culhan, and N Robson. Another man, Alex Rolandson was on another vessel (Elida) which in trying to assist them he fell overboard and also drowned.[2][3][4] Prime Minister William Massey telegraphed to Tairua his sincere sympathy from himself and his wife for the bereaved relatives.[5] Walsh recovered sufficiently and was able to assume the position of club captain which he had been elected to for the 1923 season.[6] On the one year anniversary of Southernwood's death the Ponsonby Rugby League Football Club placed a memoriam notice in the Auckland Star "In memory of our club mate (Billy) W Southernwood, accidentally drowned, launch disaster Tairua, March 31, 1923".[7]

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 13 11 0 2 228 72 22
Athletic 13 10 0 3 180 87 20
Marist Old Boys 12 9 0 2 170 108 18
Devonport United 12 6 0 6 135 141 12
Ponsonby United 12 4 0 8 118 179 8
Newton Rangers 12 2 0 10 85 183 4
Richmond Rovers 12 1 0 11 93 239 2

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[]

5 May Ponsonby 15–10 Newton Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Henderson, Frank Delgrosso, Wilfred McNeil
Con: Frank Delgrosso 2
Pen: Frank Delgrosso
 [8] Try: Clarrie Polson, Dick Stack
Con: Clarrie Polson
Drop: Lou Brown
 Attendance: 5000
Referee: Gallagher
5 May Marist 23–15 Richmond Carlaw Park 2  
3:00 Try: Billy Ghent, Foss, Stevens, P Gallagher, Courtney
Con: Billy Ghent 2, Nelson Bass
Pen: Billy Ghent
 [9] 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 [10] Try: Nicholson, Miller, Bert Avery, Craddock Dufty
 Referee: Les Bull

Round 2[]

12 May Marist 11–5 Newton Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Stevens, A McNamara, Billy Ghent
Con: Bill Stormont
 [11] 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, Lonergan 2, Craddock Dufty 4, Bert Avery 2
Con: Craddock Dufty 2
 [12] Try: McKenzie, J McLean
Con: McKenzie
 Attendance: 7500
Referee: Len Farrant
12 May Devonport 10–24 City Devonport Domain  
3:00 Try: Matt Scott, Webb
Con: Webb 2
 [13] Try: V Thomas, Ben Davidson, Mike Flynn, G Cargill, C Mitchell, H Hawkes
Con: Mike Flynn 3
 Referee: William Mincham

Round 3[]

26 May Marist 24–9 Ponsonby Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Johnson, Bill Stormont, McNamara, Stevens
Con: Billy Ghent 2, P Gallagher
Pen: Bill Stormont 3
 [14] Try: W Hanlon
Con: Frank Delgrosso
Pen: Frank Delgrosso 2
 Attendance: 8500
Referee: W 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
 [15] 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: H Hawkes, Ben Davidson 3, C Mitchell, George Davidson 2
Con: Bill Davidson, Mike Flynn
 [16] Try: McDonald
Con: McDonald
Pen: McDonald 2
 Referee: Vause

Round 4[]

2 June City 25–2 Newton Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Jack Keenan, George Davidson 2, H Hawkes, Maurice Wetherill, Ben Davidson 2
Con: Maurice Wetherill 2
 [17] Pen: Clarrie Polson
 Attendance: 3000
Referee: Gallagher
2 June Athletic 20–5 Ponsonby Carlaw Park 2  
3:00 Try: Nicholson, Lee, Bert Avery, Ernie Herring
Con: Craddock Dufty 4
 [18] Try: A McClure
Con: Frank Delgrosso
 Attendance: 3000
Referee: William Mincham
2 June Devonport 12–3 Richmond Devonport Domain  
3:00 Try: Bert Laing, , Johnston, Matt Scott
 [19] 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
 [20] Attendance: 2500
Referee: Gallagher
9 June City 25–0 Ponsonby Carlaw Park 2  
3:00 Try: Maurice Wetherill, Jack Keenan, V Thomas, Mitchell, H Hawkes
Con: Bill Davidson 4
Pen: Bill Davidson
 [21] Attendance: 2500
Referee: L Neild
9 June Devonport 9–5 Newton Devonport Domain  
3:00 Try: A Goddick, Wheeler, Smith
 [22] 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, Foss, Stevens
Con: Bill Stormont 3
 [23] Try: H 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
 [24] Try: Penalty Try
Con: McDonald
Pen: McDonald 2
 Attendance: 6500
Referee: L Bouvaird
16 June Devonport 5–13 Ponsonby Devonport Domain  
3:00 Try: Bert Laing
Con: Webb
 [25] Try: Bill Walsh, W Hanlon, Wilson
Con: Frank Delgrosso
Pen: Frank Delgrosso
 Referee: W Murray

Round 7[]

23 June City 7–0 Athletic Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Alf Townsend
Con: Bill Davidson
Pen: Bill Davidson (mark)
 [26] Attendance: 8000
Referee: W Murray
23 June Ponsonby 14–12 Richmond Carlaw Park 2  
3:00 Try: McClure, Williams, Frank Delgrosso, Sam Lowrie
Con: Frank Delgrosso
 [27] Try: McKenzie, Butler
Pen: McDonald (pen & mark), Unknown (pen)
 Attendance: 8000
Referee: L Hemming
23 June Devonport 13–18 Marist Devonport Domain  
3:00 Try: , Johnston, Probert
Con: Harper, Webb
 [28] Try: McNamara, Billy Ghent, P Gallagher 3, Stevens
 Referee: A 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
 [29] Try: A Harper, Smith
Pen: Charles Hand
 Attendance: 2000
Referee: William Mincham
30 June Newton WBD – LBD Ponsonby Carlaw Park 2  
3:00 [30] Referee: Saunders
30 June Marist 20–3 Richmond Auckland Domain 2  
3:00 Try: P Gallagher, Bill Stormont, McNamara, Nelson Bass, Stevenson, Billy Ghent
Con: Bill Stormont
 [31] Try: S McLean
 Referee: A Nield

Round 9[]

7 July Devonport 13–10 City Victoria Park 1  
3:00 Try: , Bert Laing, A Goddick
Con: C Garrett
Pen: C Garrett (mark)
 [32] Try: H Hawkes, Mitchell
Con: Mike Flynn
Pen: Mike Flynn
 Attendance: 5000
Referee: Bert Gallagher
7 July Marist 16–4 Newton Auckland Domain 1  
3:00 Try: P Gallagher, Bill Stormont, Johnson, McNamara
Con: Bill Stormont, Stevens
 [33] Pen: Clarrie Polson (pen & mark)
 Referee: W Murray
7 July Athletic 22–5 Richmond Auckland Domain 3  
3:00 Try: Bert Avery, Miller 2, Timmins, Craddock Dufty, Unknown x 1 (either Bert Avery or Monteith)
Con: Wilson Hall, Unknown x 1
 [34] 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, Webb
Con: Craddock Dufty
 [35] 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, P Gallagher
Pen: Nelson Bass (mark)
 [36] Try: McClure, E McGregor
Con: Frank Delgrosso
 Attendance: 2500
Referee: A Saunders
14 July City WBD – LBD Richmond Auckland Domain 4  
3:00 [37] Referee: L 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, H Hawkes, Alf Townsend
Con: Bill Davidson 2, Maurice Wetherill, H Hawkes
 [38] 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
 [39] 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, Kirkland, Graham
Con: Wilson Hall
 [40] Try: Williams 2, Black
 Referee: W Ripley

Round 12[]

28 July Athletic 7–6 Marist Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Bert Avery
Pen: George Yardley, Craddock Dufty
 [41] Try: Hec Brisbane, Billy Ghent
 Referee: W Murray
28 July City 39–2 Ponsonby Carlaw Park 2  
3:00 Try: Ben Davidson, Bill Davidson, F Wilson, Alf Townsend, George Davidson 2, H Hawkes, G Cargill
Con: Bill Davidson, George Davidson, Mike Flynn, H Hawkes 2, Wilcox
 [42] Pen: Frank Delgrosso
 Referee: Les Bull
28 July Devonport 22–8 Newton Victoria Park  
3:00 Try: A Goddick 3, Charles Hand, Stan Webb, Johnson
Con: Unknown x 1,
[43] 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: H Hawkes
 [44] Try: Bill Stormont
 Attendance: 7000
Referee: S Nield
11 August Devonport 8–4 Ponsonby Carlaw Park 2  
3:00 Try: Bert Laing, Wheeler
Con: Charles Hand
 [45] Pen: Frank Delgrosso 2
 Attendance: 7000
Referee: Ripley
11 August Richmond 14–5 Newton Victoria Park  
3:00 Try: McDonald, Campney
Con: McDonald 2
Pen: McDonald, McKenzie
 [46] Try: Lou Brown
Con: Clarrie Polson
 Referee: B 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
 [47] Try: Bert Avery 2
Con: George Yardley
 Attendance: 7500
Referee: W Ripley
18 August Marist 20–16 Devonport Carlaw Park 1  
1:45 Try: B Foss 2, Stevens, Bill Stormont
Con: Stevens 2, Billy Ghent
 [48] 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: McClure, S Riley, John Shirley 2, Frank Delgrosso, Mormon, Henderson, Sam Lowrie, Wilfred McNeil
Con: Frank Delgrosso 2, Sam Lowrie, Wilfred McNeil, Thomas McClymont 2
 [49] 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
 [50] Try: Bert Avery
Pen: Craddock Dufty 2
 Attendance: 11,500
Referee: Bert Gallagher

Roope Rooster knockout competition[]

The Roope Rooster competition was interesting as Ponsonby went on to win it despite being un-competitive 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, A Goddick, Wheeler, Bert Laing 2
Con: Charles Hand, Bert Laing
Pen: Charles Hand
 [51] Try: Bert Avery, 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, B Foss
Con: Stevens 6, Hec Brisbane
Pen: Bill Stormont
 [52] Try: Clarrie Polson, Watson, L Williams, Wally Somers
Con: Clarrie Polson, Unknown x 1
Pen: Clarrie Polson, Alan Clarke
 Attendance: 5000
Referee: B 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
 [53] Try: Butler 3, Barber
Con: McNeil 2
Pen: McNeil
 Referee: W 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, H Hawkes 2, Hec McDonald
Con: George Davidson 3, S Crewther, H Hawkes
 [54] Try: Harry Douglas, Smith
Con: C Hand,
Pen: C Hand
 Attendance: 6000
Referee: W 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
 [55] Try: Kirkland, 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
 [56] 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.[57]

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 Rovers – Marist Old Boys match.

11 August Athletic 9–5 Wednesday Representative Team Carlaw Park 1  
2:00 Try: Webb, Bert Avery, A Yardley
 [58] 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 [59] Richmond 2 Athletic B 0 Carlaw Park
First Round 20 Oct Athletic A 5 Marist Old Boys 3 Carlaw Park
First Round 20 Oct Devonport 10 Ponsonby 6 Carlaw Park
Semi Final 20 Oct Athletic A 6 Devonport 3 Carlaw Park
Final 20 Oct Richmond 5 Athletic A 0 Carlaw Park
Seven-a-side tournament results
Date Score Score Venue Attendance
First Round 27 Oct [60] Devonport 21 Athletic 3 Carlaw Park 1,000
First Round 27 Oct Ponsonby 9 City 0 Carlaw Park
Semi Final 27 Oct Devonport 14 Marist Old Boys 8 Carlaw Park
Final 27 Oct Devonport WBD Ponsonby LBD Carlaw 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
 [61] Try: Hec Brisbane, Foss 2
Con: Foss
Pen: 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 [62] Taumarunui 5 Richmond 14 Taumarunui
Exhibition Match 15 Sep [63] Athletic 4th Grade 11 Parnell 4th Grade 9 Kensington Park, Whangarei
Exhibition Match 22 Sep [64] Ponsonby 6 City 3 Carlaw Park 7,000


Lower grades[]

There were 6 lower grades in 1923, though the sixth grade was split into A and B divisions once again, and one of the grades was a cadets grade.

Grades were made of the following teams with the winning team in bold and winners of knockout competitions in italics:

  • Second Grade: Athletic, City Rovers, Devonport United, Ellerslie United, Epsom, Ihumatao (misspelled as Ihumata in the newspapers), Kingsland Rovers, Mangere, Marist Old Boys, Newton Rangers, Otahuhu Rovers, Ponsonby United, and Richmond Rovers
  • Third Grade: City Rovers, Coromandel, Devonport United, Ellerslie United, Ihumatao, Kingsland Rovers, Manukau, Marist Old Boys, Parnell, Point Chevalier, Ponsonby United, Richmond Rovers, and Victoria Cruising Club.
  • Fourth Grade: Athletic, City Rovers, Devonport United, Ellerslie United, Kingsland Rovers, Mangere, Manukau, Marist Old Boys, Newton Rangers, Otahuhu Rovers, Parnell
  • Fifth Grade: City Rovers, Manukau, Marist Old Boys, Newton Rangers, Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers, Point Chevalier, Richmond Rovers, and Takapuna
  • Sixth Grade A: Athletic, City Rovers, Devonport United, Ellerslie United, Manukau, Marist Old Boys, Otahuhu Rovers (won the Hamill Cup for a 'special round'), Parnell A, Parnell B, Ponsonby United, Richmond Rovers
  • Sixth Grade B: Athletics, City Rovers, Ellerslie, Manukau Cruising Club, Marist Old Boys, Parnell, Ponsonby United, Richmond Rovers
  • Cadet Competition: 22nd Company, 26th Company, 27th Company, 29th Ponsonby Company, 34th Company, 36th A Company, 36th B Company, 49th Company

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: Godick 3, Ben Davidson 4, Frank Delgrosso 2, Bert Laing 2, V Thomas, Wally Somers, W Hanlon, Bill Stormont, Harry Douglas, Nelson Bass
Con: Godick 2, Bert Laing 2, Wilson Hall, Clarrie Polson 3, Wally Somers, Nelson Bass
 [65] 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
 [66] 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
 [67] 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, O’Brien, Hec McDonald 2
Con: Craddock Dufty, Ivan Littlewood 2, F Wilson 2, Clarrie Polson 2
 [68] Try: Lyall Stewart, Wilson Hall, McNeil
Con: S Crewther
Pen: J Dufty, S Crewther
 Attendance: 7000
Referee: W 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
 [69] Try: Jackson, John Dufty, Lyall Stewart
Drop: George Raynor
 Attendance: 6,000
Referee: A Saunders

Auckland representative matches played and scorers[]

No Name Club Team Play Tries Con Pen Points
1 Clarrie Polson Newton Rangers 5 5 9 0 33
2 Craddock Dufty Athletic 4 4 7 1 28
3 Ben Davidson City Rovers 2 6 0 0 18
4 A Godick Devonport 2 3 2 0 13
5 Hec McDonald City Rovers 2 3 0 0 9
5 Maurice Wetherill City Rovers 2 3 0 0 9
5 Bert Laing Devonport United 4 3 0 0 9
8 Wally Somers Newton Rangers 4 2 1 0 8
8 Nelson Bass Marist Old Boys 5 2 1 0 8
10 Ivan Littlewood Ponsonby United 2 1 2 0 7
11 Harry Douglas Devonport United 4 2 0 0 6
11 Frank Delgrosso Ponsonby United 1 2 0 0 6
13 F Wilson City Rovers 3 0 2 0 4
14 Hec Brisbane Marist Old Boys 2 1 0 0 3
14 Devonport United 3 1 0 0 3
14 Stan Webb Devonport United 1 1 0 0 3
14 Stevens Marist Old Boys 2 1 0 0 3
14 Richard Stack Newton Rangers 2 1 0 0 3
14 Johnston Devonport United 1 1 0 0 3
14 V Thomas City Rovers 3 1 0 0 3
14 Bill Stormont Marist Old Boys 2 1 0 0 3
14 W Hanlon Ponsonby United 1 1 0 0 3
23 Wilson Hall Athletic 3 0 1 0 2
24 Billy Ghent Marist Old Boys 2 0 0 0 0
24 Jack McGregor Athletic 1 0 0 0 0
24 George Yardley Athletic 1 0 0 0 0
24 Bert Avery Athletic 1 0 0 0 0
24 Sherlock Marist Old Boys 1 0 0 0 0
24 M McNeil Richmond 1 0 0 0 0
24 McDonald Richmond 2 0 0 0 0
24 C Webb Athletic 2 0 0 0 0

References[]

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