1925 New Zealand rugby league season
Sports season
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 1925 New Zealand rugby league season was the 18th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand.
| 1925 New Zealand rugby league season |
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International competitions
New Zealand toured Australia. They lost their first two matches, to New South Wales and Universities, in close games before defeating Newcastle. New Zealand then defeated New South Wales in back-to-back matches. They defeated Lismore to finish the first leg of the tour before heading to Queensland. They lost to Queensland 43â19 in the first match before going down to Ipswich 22â21. They lost the second match against Queensland 29-20 before losing to the Toowoomba Clydesdales 16â14. New Zealand finished the tour with another victory over New South Wales.[1] On their return New Zealand defeated Auckland 41â17 in front of 18,000 fans at Carlaw Park.[2] They were captained by Bert Laing.[2]
New Zealand then hosted a return tour by Queensland. Queensland played 11 matches losing only one and with a match against Auckland drawn. Queensland played two games against the New Zealand side, losing one 24-25 and winning the other convincingly 35â14. The Maroons also had big wins over West Coast and Otago.[1] Queensland defeated Canterbury 57â15 at Monica Park. The curtain raiser saw Bill Devine lead South Canterbury to a 15â11 win over Canterbury B.[3] Canterbury Combined then lost 10â58 to Queensland in Timaru. Queensland also defeated Auckland Province 54â14. Auckland Province included George Raynor, B Johnston, George Gardiner, A Jackson, Frank Delgrosso, Brian Riley, Bill Peckham, Jim O'Brien, Alf Townsend, Ernie Herring, Joe Menzies, Arthur Singe and Bert Avery. Replacements; Bill Te Whata and Len Mason.[2]
New Zealand were coached by Charlie Pearce.
National competitions
Northern Union Cup
Auckland held the Northern Union Cup at the end of the season after they defeated South Auckland 24â16 in Auckland. They then defeated South Auckland 36â19 in the Waikato.
Auckland included Charles Gregory, Ivan Littlewood, Frank Delgrosso, Lou Brown, Jack Kirwan, Maurice Wetherill, Stan Webb, Jim O'Brien, Neville St George, Jim O'Brien, Ernie Herring, Arthur Singe, captain Bert Avery, Ben Davidson, Clarrie Polson and George Gardiner.[2]
Inter-island competition
The first inter-island match was held between the North Island and South Island.[4] Bert Avery played for the North Island while Charles Fitzgerald played for the South Island.[5]
Inter-district competition
Canterbury defeated Auckland 6â5 at Monica Park on 12 September.[3] This was the last time Canterbury defeated Auckland for 37 years. The same Auckland side defeated the West Coast 22â15 in Greymouth.[2] Canterbury also defeated the West Coast 48â3 in a record win.
Canterbury included; Ted Fitzgerald, Jim Parkes, Tony Green, Frank Henry and captain Lou Petersen.
Auckland included Bill Te Whata.
Club competitions
Auckland
City won the Auckland Rugby League's competition.[6] Ponsonby won the Roope Rooster while Ellerslie won the Norton Cup.
Bill Stormont fell ill in June and died, aged just 26. His family donated the William Stormont Memorial Shield to the Auckland Rugby League. Ponsonby defeated City 35â3 to become the first holder of the Stormont Shield.[2]
Jim O'Brien played for Marist while Jim O'Brien played for Devonport.
Wellington
Hutt won the Wellington Rugby League's Appleton Shield.[6]
Canterbury
Marist won the Canterbury Rugby League's McKeon Cup.[6] Addington won the Thacker Shield.
Joseph Ward opened the Canterbury Rugby League's new Monica Park on 18 April. The League had paid 6,000 pounds for the land.[3]