1938 New Zealand rugby league season
The 1938 New Zealand rugby league season was the 31st season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand.
International competitions[]
New Zealand toured Australia, playing in no Test matches. For this tour the New Zealand Rugby League officially adopted the name the "New Zealand national rugby league team" and added a white V onto their black jerseys for the first time.[1][2] The Kiwis finished the tour with five wins, one draw and three losses.[3] This included a 30–19 victory against Newcastle.[4] New Zealand were coached by Thomas McClymont and captained by Newton's Bill McNeight.[5] The squad included Jack Hemi, , , , Arthur Kay, , , Wilfred and , vice-captain , Jack McLeod, , John Anderson, , , , Harold Tetley, , Joe Cootes and .
The New South Wales Rugby League's Eastern Suburbs Roosters traveled to Auckland, losing to the Richmond Bulldogs 11–9 at Carlaw Park.[5]
National competitions[]
Northern Union Cup[]
West Coast again held the Northern Union Cup at the end of the season. They defeated Canterbury 19–15 to retain the trophy.
Inter-district competition[]
Auckland defeated Canterbury 28–22 at Carlaw Park.
The Canterbury player-coach was , who had returned from Barrow.[6] The team also included . Auckland included Jack Hemi and .[5]
Club competitions[]
Auckland[]
Marist Brothers won the Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial Trophy.[7] Richmond won the Roope Rooster, Stormont Shield and Norton Cup while Otahuhu won the Sharman Cup.
Newton played a home and away series with a Canterbury XIII selection. Newton, who included Mt Albert's Bob Banham, drew 16-all with Canterbury XIII at Monica Park in July. They hosted Canterbury XIII three weeks later, winning 22–12.[5]
Richmond included . Bob Banham joined the Mount Albert Lions as player-coach from the South Sydney Rabbitohs. He was brought over with some assistance from the Auckland and New Zealand Rugby League.[5]
Wellington[]
Petone won the Wellington Rugby League's Appleton Shield.[7]
Canterbury[]
Linwood won the Canterbury Rugby League's Massetti Cup.[7]
Rakaia was formed with the help of New Zealand international .[6] Due to the distance, the club paid a travel subsidy to travelling teams. Two other Rakaia players, and , were to become New Zealand representatives in 1939.
Other Competitions[]
The Ngongotaha club was founded in 1938.
Addington defeated the Waratah club from Inangahua 40–19 to retain the Thacker Shield.[6]
References[]
- ^ New Zealand Rugby League Archived 24 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine 1908.com
- ^ Coffey and Wood The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League ISBN 1-86971-090-8
- ^ New Zealand Rugby League Annual 2002, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 2002. p.49
- ^ "1930 -1939". newcastlerugbyleague.com.au. Newcastle Rugby League. Archived from the original on 30 August 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4.
- ^ a b c Coffey, John. Canterbury XIII, Christchurch, 1987.
- ^ a b c Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1990 New Zealand Rugby League, 1990. p.72
- New Zealand rugby league seasons
- 1938 in New Zealand sport
- 1938 in rugby league