1914 Auckland Rugby League season
The 1914 season was the sixth season of Auckland Rugby League since its formation in 1909. It followed the 1913 Auckland Rugby League season where North Shore Albions were crowned senior champions for the first time. The senior grade saw the addition of Otahuhu Rovers, who had previously competed in the lower grades only, and Grafton Athletic. The Manukau Rovers and Eden Ramblers no longer contributed teams. The first grade was won once again by North Shore Albions.
At a meeting of Auckland Rugby League on 9 May it was decided that the proceeds of ticket sales at club games would be split 50–50 between the teams and Auckland Rugby League.[1] Interest in the competition continued to grow with 5,000 attending the 3 senior matches played at Victoria Park on 20 June.[2] There were 3,000 in attendance at the North Shore Albions game versus City Rovers in the Round 8 clash at the Devonport Domain.[3] While 4,000 attended the Round 9 match between City Rovers and Ponsonby United at Victoria Park.[4] There were 7,000 spectators for the final between North Shore Albions and Ponsonby United.[5]
Whilst attendances were spectacular at times there were still signs that the competition was in its infancy with teams often playing one or more men short. The worst case being in the Round 9 match where Newton Rangers could only field eight players, with two spectators from the crowd later joining them as they were defeated by 43 points to 2 by North Shore Albions.[4]
Near the conclusion of the season a match was played at Victoria Park between a team of veterans and Auckland colts on 29 August. It raised £27 and 10 shillings for the Patriotic Fund. Also a "Patriotic Carnival" was held on 5 September. A fancy dress carnival paraded around town with Highland pipers and a brass band. It proceeded to the Auckland Domain where a 3rd grade match was being played between Remuera and Ponsonby United 3rd Grade teams, and a ‘Burlesque’ football game was then played. Finally a match was played between the North Island Jockeys and Newton 3rd grade team which the jockey's won 11–6. £49 was raised for the Patriotic Fund.[6]
Lower grade clubs
Teams which fielded sides in lower grades were the Northcote Ramblers, Hobsonville Pirates, Sunnyside (on the North Shore), Remuera and Manukau.
Representative season
The Auckland representative campaign got underway with a match versus the touring England team where the home side lost. However the Auckland Rugby League made over £500 from the 13,000 in attendance. They also received £200 in gate takings from the match with Wellington at Victoria Park.[7]
Myers Cup championship
After three weeks of practice in inclement weather the competition commenced on 16 May.
Myers Cup standings
The standings include the final between North Shore and Ponsonby won by North Shore by 13 points to 2.
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Shore Albions | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 135 | 38 | 17 |
| Ponsonby United | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 102 | 58 | 15 |
| City Rovers | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 98 | 65 | 10 |
| Grafton Athletic | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 75 | 115 | 6 |
| Newton Rangers | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 55 | 148 | 5 |
| Otahuhu | 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 64 | 115 | 3 |
Round 1
Otahuhu's beginning to senior rugby league got off to an inauspicious start when they began their match with just nine players. At halftime they were brought up to a full thirteen when substitutes arrived. Percy Williams who had previously represented Auckland at rugby union before being signed by Wigan where he played from 1910 to 1913 had returned to Auckland. He had played for New Zealand on their tour of Australia as a late addition mid tour. He turned out for the City Rovers and played his debut match against Otahuhu.
| 16 May | North Shore | 3–3 | Ponsonby | North Shore | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Stan Walters | [8] | Try: Thomas McClymont | Referee: Archie Ferguson |
| 16 May | Newton | 12–9 | Grafton | Victoria Park | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Joe Bennett, Cross Con: C Clark Pen: Len Farrant, Ike Healey |
[8] | Try: Karl Ifwersen Con: Karl Ifwersen Pen: Karl Ifwersen 2 |
Referee: Benson |
| 16 May | Otahuhu | 5–25 | City | Otahuhu | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Arthur Hardgrave Pen: George Cook |
[8] | Try: Rodgers 3, Albert Asher, G Warner, unknown x 2 Con: Ernie Asher, G Warner |
Referee: Fielding |
Round 2
| 23 May | North Shore | 14–4 | Grafton | North Shore | ||
| 3:00 | Try: H Wynyard, Stan Weston, Ernie Bailey, Stan Walters Con: George Seagar |
[9] | Pen: Karl Ifwersen 2 | Referee: Benson |
| 23 May | City | 16–0 | Newton | Victoria Park | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Rogers, Harold Denize Con: Len Farrant 2 Pen: Ernie Asher, Len Farrant, Don Kenealy |
[9] | Referee: Archie Ferguson |
| 23 May | Otahuhu | 4–13 | Ponsonby | Otahuhu | ||
| 3:00 | Pen: Arthur Hardgrave 2 | [9] | Try: Charles Webb, Pipseale, unknown x 1 Pen: Charles Webb, Charles Savory |
Referee: Eddoes |
Round 3
| 30 May | City | 6–8 | North Shore | Auckland Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Pen: Ernie Asher 2 Drop: Ernie Asher |
[10] | Try: Jim Griffin, Edward Fox Con: Jack Paul |
Referee: Archie Ferguson |
| 30 May | Ponsonby | 19–5 | Grafton | Victoria Park | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Charles Savory 2, Tom Cross, Frank McWhirter, Corby Pen: Charles Webb |
[10] | Try: Karl Ifwersen Pen: Karl Ifwersen |
Referee: Fielding |
| 30 May | Otahuhu | 10–10 | Newton | Otahuhu | ||
| 3:00 | Try: George Cook 2 Con: George Cook Pen: George Cook |
[10] | Try: Charles Brockliss, Tobin Con: Tobin 2 |
Referee: Tyson |
Round 4
| 6 June | City | 16–13 | Ponsonby | Victoria Park | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Harold Denize, Frederick Mansell Con: Ernie Asher Pen: Ernie Asher 3 (and 1 mark) |
[11] | Try: Charles Savory Con: Charles Savory Pen: Charles Savory 2, Charles Webb 2 |
Referee: R Benson |
| 6 June | North Shore | 18–0 | Newton | Devonport Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Try: George Seagar 2, Stan Walters Pullen Con: Stan Walters, Pullen Drop: Jack Paul |
[12] |
| 6 June | Grafton | 12–10 | Otahuhu | Auckland Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Karl Ifwersen 2 Con: Karl Ifwersen 2 Pen: Karl Ifwersen |
[13] | Try: Charles Hally, George Cook Con: Stockman Pen: unknown x 1 |
Round 5
In the match between Grafton and City both Albert Asher (City) and Bob Mitchell (Grafton) were ordered off. Fincham, a former Taranaki league representative scored a try for Grafton.
| 13 June | Grafton | 14–10 | City | Victoria Park | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Karl Ifwersen, Fincham Con: Karl Ifwersen Pen: Karl Ifwersen 3 |
[14] | Try: Charles Woolley, G Warner Con: Ernie Asher |
Referee: Wynyard |
| 13 June | Ponsonby | 17–3 | Newton | Auckland Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Corby, Sam Lowrie, Charles Webb Con: Charles Webb Pen: Cross, Charles Webb 2 |
[15] | Try: Bob Biggs | Referee: Tyson |
| 13 June | Otahuhu | 5–15 | North Shore | Otahuhu | ||
| 3:00 | Try: George Cook Pen: Arthur Hardgrave |
[16] | Try: Pullen 2, Donald Con: George Seagar 3 |
Referee: Eddoes |
Round 6
| 20 June | Ponsonby | 2–0 | North Shore | Victoria Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Pen: Tom Cross | [17] | Attendance: 5000 Referee: Archie Ferguson |
| 20 June | City | 5–3 | Otahuhu | Victoria 3 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Rogers Pen: G Warner |
[18] | Try: George Cook | Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Nield |
| 20 June | Newton | 15–4 | Grafton | Victoria Park 2 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Rope 2, Allen, Joe Bennett, Cross | [18] | Pen: Karl Ifwersen 2 | Attendance: 5000 Referee: Fielding |
Round 7
George Gillett was granted a transfer from the Newton Rangers (where he was a life member) to the Ponsonby United club. The transfer needed the casting vote of the chairman before it was confirmed. He debuted for Ponsonby in their match with Otahuhu.
| 27 June | Ponsonby | 13–9 | Otahuhu | Victoria Park | ||
| 3:00 | Try: unknown x 1, Charles Savory, Longbottom Con: Tom Cross Pen: Tom Cross |
[19] | Try: Charles Hally Pen: Arthur Hardgrave 3 |
Referee: Archie Ferguson |
| 27 June | City | 21–8 | Newton | Victoria Park | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Albert Asher, Rogers, Frederick Mansell, Charles Woolley, Harold Denize Con: Ernie Asher 2 Pen: Ernie Asher (mark) |
[20] | Try: Allen, Bob Biggs Pen: Joe Bennett |
Referee: Tyson |
| 27 June | North Shore | 12–7 | Grafton | Devonport Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Try: George Seagar, Wynyard Con: Jack Paul Pen: Jack Paul 2 |
[21] | Try: Karl Ifwersen Pen: Karl Ifwersen 2 |
Referee: Dempsey |
Round 8
| 4 July | North Shore | 9–7 | City | Devonport Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Stan Walters Con: Jack Paul Pen: Jack Paul 2 |
[22] | Try: Burns Pen: Ernie Asher 2 |
Attendance: 3000 |
| 4 July | Newton | 5–10 | Otahuhu | Victoria | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Ike Healey Drop: Hira |
[23] | Try: M Stanaway, George Cook Con: George Cook Pen: M Stanaway |
| 4 July | Ponsonby | 15–3 | Grafton | Auckland Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Longbottom, Charles Savory, Thomas McClymont, Corby, Beecham | [24] | Try: Owen |
Round 9
In the match between Otahuhu and Grafton, M Stanaway, the Otahuhu captain was ordered off the field by referee Tyson. The match between North Shore and Newton was a farce with Newton only mustering 8 players. Two of the spectators joined the Newton team who were being trounced and the match finished 43 to 2 in favour of North Shore. The newspapers did not bother recording the point scorers though they did mention that the Shore side gave everybody in the team a chance to kick for goal.
| 11 July | Ponsonby | 5–2 | City | Victoria Park | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Jim Clark Pen: Charles Webb (mark) |
[25] | Pen: Ernie Asher | Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Archie Ferguson |
| 11 July | Otahuhu | 8–17 | Grafton | Otahuhu | ||
| 3:00 | Try: George Cook, Arthur Hardgrave Pen: M Stanaway |
[26] | Try: Bob Mitchell, Karl Ifwersen 2 Con: Karl Ifwersen 3 Pen: Karl Ifwersen |
Referee: Tyson |
| 11 July | North Shore | 43–2 | Newton | Auckland Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Try: unknown x ? Con: unknown x ? |
[27] | Pen: unknown x 1 | Referee: Benson |
Final
| 18 July | Ponsonby | 2–13 | North Shore | Victoria Park | ||
| 3:00 | Pen: Charles Webb | [28] | Try: Wynyard, Edward Fox, Stan Weston Con: Jack Paul 2 |
Attendance: 7,000 Referee: R Benson |
Top try scorers and point scorers
None of the North Shore point scorers from their farcical Round 9 match with Newton Rangers were credited and therefore the following lists will be inaccurate as 43 points were scored by them. Of note in the point scoring lists is the prodigious scoring of Karl Ifwersen with 66 points. Indeed, Grafton only scored 75 points in total.
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Lower grades
Grades were made of the following teams with the winning team in bold. The fourth grade competition was terminated early owing to so many of its players enlisting in the military forces.
- Second Grade: City Rovers, Grafton, Newton Rangers, North Shore Albions, Northcote Ramblers, Otahuhu, Ponsonby United, Sunnyside
- Third Grade: Hobsonville Pirates, Manukau, Sunnyside A, Sunnyside B, Newton, North Shore Albions A, North Shore Albions B, Grafton, Otahuhu, City Rovers, Northcote Ramblers, Ponsonby United, Remuera
- Fourth Grade: City Rovers, Otahuhu A, Otahuhu B, North Shore Albions, Sunnyside, Ponsonby, Manukau A, Manukau B, Grafton, Remuera, Newton
Representative fixtures
Auckland began the representative season with a match with the touring England side who were on their first ever tour of New Zealand. Film footage exists of the match and is archived on the New Zealand Archive of Film, television and Sound Ngā Taonga website.[29] Auckland was defeated 34–12 in front of 13,000 paying spectators at the Auckland Domain which allowed Auckland Rugby League to collect £519 and 2 shillings.
Auckland v England
| 25 July | Auckland | 12–34 | England | Auckland Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Charles Savory, Jim Clark Con: Karl Ifwersen Pen: Karl Ifwersen 2 |
[30] | Try: Stan Moorhouse 2, Billy Hall, Bert Jenkins, Johnny Rogers, Dick Ramsdale Con: Alf Wood 5 |
Attendance: 13,000 Referee: R Benson |
Auckland v Waikato (Northern Union Cup)
| 8 August | Auckland | 29–10 | Waikato | Auckland Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Joe Bennett, Jim Clark, Karl Ifwersen, Edward Fox, Stan Weston, Charles Savory, Charles Woolley Con: Ernie Asher 2, Charles Savory 2 |
[31] | Try: Cook, Smith Pen: Henderson, unknown x 1 |
Auckland B v Rotorua
| 8 August | Auckland B | 29–11 | Rotorua | Auckland Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Corby 3, Albert Asher, Harold Denize, G Warner, Rogers Con: Albert Asher 2, M Stanaway, Warner |
[31] | Try: B Harp, Johnson 2 Con: Rukingi Reke |
Auckland v Taranaki (Northern Union Cup)
| 15 August | Auckland | 35–4 | Taranaki | Victoria Park | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Joe Bennett, Charles Savory, Jim Clark, George Seagar, Stan Walters, Harry Fricker, Rogers Con: Charles Savory 6 Pen: Charles Savory |
[32] | Pen: Gordon Hooker 2 | Attendance: 4,000 Referee: W T Wynyard |
Auckland v Wellington (Northern Union Cup)
| 22 August | Auckland | 10–6 | Wellington | Victoria Park | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Wynyard, Stan Weston Con: Charles Savory Pen: Charles Savory |
[33] | Pen: George Bradley 2, Les Campbell | Attendance: 4000 Referee: L Nield |
Auckland representative matches played and scorers
The following list includes the 4 matches that the Auckland A team played and excludes the Auckland B team match.
| No | Name | Club Team | Play | Tries | Con | Pen | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Savory | Ponsonby United | 4 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 31 |
| 2 | Karl Ifwersen | Grafton | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
| 2 | Jim Clark | Ponsonby United | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 4 | Joe Bennett | Newton Rangers | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | Stan Weston | North Shore Albions | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 6 | Ernie Asher | City Rovers | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 7 | Charles Woolley | City Rovers | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | Edward Fox | North Shore Albions | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | Stan Walters | North Shore Albions | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | George Seagar | North Shore Albions | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | Rogers | Grafton | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | Harry Fricker | Ponsonby United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | Wynyard | North Shore Albions | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 14 | Arthur Hardgrave | Otahuhu | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Thomas McClymont | Ponsonby United | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | J McDonald | Grafton | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Tom Cross | Ponsonby United | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Bob Mitchell | Grafton | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Harold Hayward | Thames | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Corby | Ponsonby United | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Charles Webb | Ponsonby United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | G Warner | City Rovers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Harold Denize | City Rovers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
References
- "FOOTBALL. NEW ZEALAND HERALD". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Vol. LI, no. 15605, 11 MAY 1914. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
- "NEW ZEALAND HERALD". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Vol. LI, no. 15641, 22 JUNE 1914. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
- "NEW ZEALAND HERALD". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Vol. LI, no. 15653, 6 JULY 1914. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
- "NEW ZEALAND HERALD". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Vol. LI, no. 15659, 13 JULY 1914. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
- "NEW ZEALAND HERALD". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Vol. LI, no. 15665, 20 JULY 1914. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
- "Fancy Dress Carnival". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LI, no. 15707. 7 September 1914. p. 8. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
- "NEW ZEALAND HERALD". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Vol. 1, no. 15695, 24 AUGUST 1914. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
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- "North Shore's Easy Win". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LI, no. 15629. 8 June 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- "City Defeats Ponsonby/North Shore's Easy Win/Otahuhu Beaten by Grafton". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LI, no. 15629. 8 June 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- "Grafton's Surprising Win". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LI, no. 15635. 15 June 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
- "Victory for Ponsonby". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LI, no. 15635. 15 June 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
- "Otahuhu Again Defeated". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LI, no. 15635. 15 June 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
- "Ponsonby Defeats North Shore". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LI, no. 15641. 22 June 1914. p. 3. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- "Ponsonby Defeats North Shore/Wins for City and Newton". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LI, no. 15641. 22 June 1914. p. 3. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
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- "Newton V City". The New Zealand Herald, 29 June 1914. 29 June 1914. p. 8. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
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- "North Shore Defeats City". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LI, no. 15653. 6 July 1914. p. 10. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
- "Otahuhu's First Win". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LI, no. 15653. 6 July 1914. p. 10. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
- "Ponsonby V Grafton". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LI, no. 15653. 6 July 1914. p. 10. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
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- "Football - England V Auckland". Ngā Taonga. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
- "English Team's Tour/First Match in Auckland/Weather Conditions Unfavourable". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LI, no. 15671. 27 July 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- "Auckland's Double Victory/Waikato and Rotorua Beaten". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LI, no. 15683. 14 August 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
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- "Cup Remains in Auckland". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. 1, no. 15695. 24 August 1914. p. 3. Retrieved 10 August 2019.