1929 Auckland Rugby League season
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The 1929 Auckland Rugby League season was its 20th. One of the key events of the season was the tour of the South Sydney side.
The First Grade Championship was won by Ponsonby who defeated Devonport in the final 5â0. Marist won the Thistle Cup for competition points accrued during the second round of matches where they went undefeated. They also won the Roope Rooster trophy after defeating Ponsonby in the final 17â9. They weren't finished yet, defeating the same opponent to win the Stormont Shield 28â14. This was the second consecutive year that they won both of those trophies.
Richmond entered a team into the B Grade which was arguably the first ever 'reserve grade' team in Auckland club rugby league. The B Grade competition was won by Point Chevalier who defeated Otahuhu in the final 13 points to 10. This earned Point Chevalier the right to playoff with Ellerslie who had come last in the A Grade championship losing all 14 of their matches. Ellerslie won the match by 5 points to 0 to remain in A Grade for 1930. Otahuhu beat Point Chevalier 11â0 to win the Stallard Cup which had previously been a knockout competition for the B Grade, however this season a full round robin was played before the final.
Season news and summary
Club teams by grade participation
| Team | 1st | B Div. | 2nd | 3rd Open | 3rd Int. | 4th | 5th | 6th A | 6th B | Schools | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond Rovers | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
| Devonport United | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| Kingsland Athletic | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Ponsonby United | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| City Rovers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Point Chevalier | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Marist Old Boys | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Newton Rangers | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Ellerslie United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Otahuhu Rovers | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Mount Albert United | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Newmarket | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Glen Lynn | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Akarana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.5 | 4.5 |
| Remuera | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Mount Wellington | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| MÄngere United | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Parnell | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 1.5 |
| Papatoetoe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Onehunga Convent (St Joseph's School) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 85 |
Auckland Rugby League management
The annual report for the completed 1928 season revealed that £3272 was taken in gate receipts from club matches alone at Carlaw Park. The total from all matches was £4573 with £517 paid to injured players. A further £609 1s 3d was spent on maintenance and improvement at Carlaw Park. Clubs were also granted £326 18s 5d and charitable causes received £142 10s 4d. League assets including Carlaw Park were reported as £10,569 16s 4d, with a consolidated fund of £9810 11s 9d.[1]
It was stated prior to the season that Auckland Rugby League would be concentrating much more on the club game and that no representative games would be played during it. This was in response to the 1928 season where a large representative program had been played along with the hosting of the touring England team. The Senior B competition was weakened considerably after the Kingsland team amalgamated with Grafton Athletic and moved up into the A Grade. The Senior B league was also âlowered in statusâ with several of the stronger players moving into A grade sides.
On 23 April The New Zealand Herald published a lengthy summary of rugby league in Auckland from its beginnings in 1909 to the present day (1929).[2]
The Otahuhu Trotting Club wrote to the Auckland Rugby League advising them that the league could make use of two playing grounds on its property on Tennessee Avenue in Mangere East.[3]
New clubs and mergers
On 2 April a new club was formed in Papatoetoe after a meeting was held in their town hall. It was decided to field three junior teams though ultimately they only fielded one team in the 6B Grade.[4] This was not the Papatoetoe Panthers club which was formed at a much later date.
At a meeting of the Grafton Athletic and Kingsland Rovers League Football Clubs it was decided to amalgamate and become known as Kingsland Athletic. The meeting was attended by 80 members. They decided that their colours would be a maroon jersey with a blue and gold shield.[5] They requested to be placed in the Senior A Grade. A lengthy discussion was held at a management committee meeting before they agreed to accept the team in the A Grade. This made the number of teams in the grade 8.[6] Their senior team was coached by former New Zealand captain Bert Avery who had been a playing member of Maritime/Grafton Athletic.
Rule changes
A rule change brought in for the beginning of the season was to make each half 40 minutes in length rather than 45 minutes. Another rule change occurred prior to round 5 with alterations to the play-the-ball rule. The idea was the prevent players from playing the ball to the side. Players had been allowed to turn their body and pass the ball from the foot to their own team. âOn occasions the ball travelled but a few feet, which invariably resulted in players of both teams fighting for possessions on the ground. It must be said that too much of the game is wasted with players lying on the ball. Now it is necessary to play the ball, forwards or backwards, past the opposing player. Should it be kicked to the side, all players must stand outside the five yards limit before the ball can be handled by themâ.[7]
Player losses
An ongoing issue for club league in Auckland, and indeed New Zealand were the continuing losses of top players to English clubs. Over three seasons nine players left to join professional English sides. Wigan signed Lou Brown, Ben Davidson and Len Mason, while Wilson Hall played for Leeds, and Roy Hardgrave, Trevor Hall, and Lou Hutt all joined St. Helens. Trevor Hanlon of the Richmond club signed for Broughton Rangers club late in the season.[8]
Improvements to Carlaw Park
After a series of very wet matches played at Carlaw Park and many requests for improved changing and washing conditions the Auckland Rugby League met to discuss the matter. They planned to âincrease the showers and add hot water installationsâ. The Devonport delegate said âhis club now shared the expense of a bus, and the team went to the Tepid Baths after each match. Another delegate said that hot water provision was required for curtain-raiser and other teams, which did not desire to leave the groundâ. The league decided to begin with the work and complete it by Saturday week.[9]
On 9 October the Management Committee met regarding the improvement of accommodation at Carlaw Park. Chairman Mr. George Rhodes said that an extra stand with dressing rooms would cost £12,000 which was money that the league did not have. The existing stand was taken up with 800 vice-presidents who gained free entry and so there was little revenue to be gained by adding to this area. He did however say that they were âkeen to assist players in providing better dressing rooms and offices where the League could centralise its business.[10]
South Sydney tour
South Sydney became the first ever Australian club to tour New Zealand. They played three matches. Two were played against Marist Old Boys at Carlaw Park on consecutive Saturdays and a midweek game was played against Huntly in Huntly. They were defeated in the first match 10â9, before winning the return match 21â5. In their loss to Marist Charles Gregory scored all the Marist points through two tries, a conversion and a penalty. For South Sydney Jack Why scored their only try in the first game against Marist, while in their second game which they won Benny Wearing, Carl Eggen, Harry Eyers, and Alf Binder all scored.
| 12 October | Marist | 10â9 | South Sydney | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Charles Gregory 2 Con: Charles Gregory Pen: Charles Gregory |
[11] | Try: Jack Why Con: Alf Blair Pen: Benny Wearing, Oscar Quinlivan |
Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Arthur Harlock |
| 19 October | Marist | 5â21 | South Sydney | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: George Batchelor Pen: Charles Gregory |
[12] | Try: Benny Wearing, Carl Eggen 2, Harry Eyers, Alf Binder Con: Benny Wearing Pen: Benny Wearing 2 |
Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Les Bull |
Monteith Shield (first grade championship)
The Round 6 match between Richmond and Kingsland was postponed as Richmond had travelled to Hikurangi to play against the local team which was in its second season.
Monteith Shield standings
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ponsonby United | 15 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 276 | 116 | 25 |
| Devonport United | 15 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 236 | 113 | 23 |
| City Rovers | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 171 | 153 | 18 |
| Marist Old Boys | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 206 | 157 | 17 |
| Newton Rangers | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 144 | 223 | 14 |
| Kingsland Athletic | 14 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 143 | 209 | 11 |
| Richmond Rovers | 14 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 105 | 161 | 6 |
| Ellerslie United | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 86 | 235 | 0 |
Monteith Shield fixtures
Pre-season fixture
On April 20 several pre-season matches were played at Carlaw Park involving first grade teams and senior B sides. Newton Rangers defeated Richmond Rovers by 10 points to 0 with Roy Hardgrave scoring a try and kicking a penalty and converting W. Johnstone's try. Ellerslie United surprised Devonport United with a 5-5 draw. Marist Old Boys beat City 5-0, Kingsland Athletic beat Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers 13-8, and Mount Wellington and Parnell played out a 0-0 draw. The senior B teams involved were Kingsland-Athletic, Parnell, Mount Wellington, and Northcote.
Round 1
During the season Craddock Dufty who had starred for Auckland and New Zealand for several seasons fell out with the Newton club and asked for a transfer to Ellerslie. The Management Committee eventually granted the transfer.In the match between Newton and Marist Roy Hardgrave was concussed and had to leave the field. G Rhodes was also concussed later in the match and was taken to the hospital. For City in their match with Kingsland, William McLaughlin broke his nose and had to leave for treatment. Cyril Brimble had moved to Newton from the Manukau rugby club. Cyril moved to Canterbury where he played representative for that province and then after moving to Wellington did the same there before his untimely death in his 40s after a vehicle accident. His younger brother Ted Brimble would follow in the following season to Newton. And then in 1935 younger brother Wilfred would also join the ranks of Newton. Another brother Walter played for Manukau league club and all three (Walter, Ted, and Wilfred), would all go on to represent New Zealand.
| 27 April | Devonport | 20â8 | Ponsonby | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Coughlan, Len Scott, J Beattie, Ernest Ruby Con: Alf Scott 3 Pen: Allan Seagar |
[13] | Try: Schofield, Cyril Thompson Con: Frank Delgrosso |
Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Les Bull |
| 27 April | Newton | 21â20 | Marist | Carlaw Park 2 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: M Little 2, Cyril Brimble 2, Stanley Francis Con: Roy Hardgrave, C Rhodes Pen: Butterworth |
[13] | Try: Jim O'Brien, Jock Graham 2, D Duane Con: Owen Cronin 2, George Batchelor Pen: George Batchelor |
Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Percy Rogers |
| 27 April | City | 21â6 | Kingsland | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 1:45 | Try: James Everson 2, C Reynolds 2, J L Cocks Con: Laurie Barchard 3 |
[13] | Try: Angelo, Claude List | Attendance: 5,000 Referee: T Chernside |
| 27 April | Ellerslie | 8â22 | Richmond | Ellerslie Reserve | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Ivan Littlewood, Hubert Crewther Pen: Ivan Littlewood |
[13] | Try: Colebrook, McKinnon 2, Ted Mincham, Coote 2 Con: Ted Mincham, Trevor Hanlon |
Referee: A McKubrey |
Round 2
The game between Ponsonby and Newton was the 50th time the teams had met in senior games. Following this game Ponsonby had won 30, Newton 18, with 2 draws.
| 4 May | Richmond | 9â8 | Marist | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Ted Mincham Con: Ted Mincham Pen: Ted Mincham 2 |
[14] | Try: Dick Moisley Con: Charles Gregory Pen: Charles Gregory |
Referee: Les Bull |
| 4 May | Ponsonby | 8â3 | Newton | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 1:45 | Try: Winters Con: Frank Delgrosso Pen: Frank Delgrosso |
[14] | Try: Roy Hardgrave | Referee: Percy Rogers |
| 4 May | City | 11â8 | Ellerslie | Carlaw Park 2 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Joe Hadley, Lawrence, George Perry Con: Laurie Barchard |
[14] | Try: Bob Crewther, Hobbs Pen: J Hemingway |
Referee: Vic Simpson |
| 4 May | Devonport | 29â7 | Kingsland | Devonport Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Trevor O'Leary 2, Stanley Rule 2, Alf Scott, S Casey, C Rhodes Con: Alf Scott 2, Ernest Ruby, J Beattie |
[14] | Try: Angelo Con: Frank Herring Pen: Frank Herring |
Referee: A McKubrey |
Round 3
| 11 May | Ponsonby | 14â10 | Marist | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Bert Payne, Cyril Thompson Con: Frank Delgrosso 2 Pen: Frank Delgrosso |
[15] | Try: Monty McDonald, Phil Brady Con: Alan Clarke 2 |
Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Percy Rogers |
| 11 May | City | 15â12 | Richmond | Carlaw Park 2 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Frank Townsend, George Perry, C Reynolds Con: Laurie Barchard, Wilson Hall Pen: Laurie Barchard |
[15] | Try: Ted Mincham, McKinnon Pen: Ted Mincham, Joseph Hamilton 2 |
Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Bertie Emirali |
| 11 May | Newton | 12â10 | Kingsland | Auckland Domain 2 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Roy Hardgrave, Hammond Con: Cyril Brimble Pen: Cyril Brimble 2 |
[15] | Try: Ralph Longville, Robert Carter Con: Ralph Longville Pen: Ralph Longville |
Referee: Freeman Thompson |
| 11 May | Ellerslie | 12â16 | Devonport | Ellerslie Reserve | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Ivan Littlewood, Johnson Con: J Hemingway Pen: J Hemingway 2 |
[15] | Try: P Masefield, McCarthy, J Beattie, Len Scott Con: Allan Seagar 2 |
Referee: T Chernside |
Round 4
Puti Tipene Watene debuted for City after transferring from the Manukau rugby union club and kicked two penalties. He went on to play for them until 1935 before moving to the Manukau club and represented New Zealand from 1930 to 1937. Watene later became an MP for the Labour Party from 1963 to 1967 when he died of a heart attack during a meeting. His great grandson is Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
| 18 May | Devonport | 8â4 | City | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Len Scott 2 Pen: Alf Scott |
[16] | Pen: Steve Watene 2 | Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Les Bull |
| 18 May | Ponsonby | 15â10 | Richmond | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 1:45 | Try: A McIntyre 3 Con: Frank Delgrosso 2 Pen: Frank Delgrosso |
[16] | Try: Bill Davis Con: Ted Mincham 2 Pen: Joseph Hamilton |
Attendance: 10,000 Referee: A McKubrey |
| 18 May | Newton | 15â7 | Ellerslie | Carlaw Park 2 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Roy Hardgrave 2, Cyril Brimble Con: Craddock Dufty Pen: Craddock Dufty Drop: Craddock Dufty |
[16] | Try: Ivan Littlewood Con: Ivan Littlewood Pen: J Hemingway |
Attendance: 10,000 Referee: G McGowatt |
| 18 May | Marist | 18â18 | Kingsland | Carlaw Park 2 | ||
| 1:45 | Try: Norm Campbell, Jock Graham 2, Wilf Hassan Con: Norm Campbell, H Hickey Pen: Norm Campbell |
[16] | Try: Bob Carter 2, Longfield, McLaughlin Con: Longfield 2 Pen: Longfield |
Attendance: 10,000 Referee: T Chernside |
Round 5
The Devonport win over Richmond was their 100th first grade win in their 20th consecutive year in first grade. To this point they had a 100 win, 12 draw, and 85 loss record. Bill Davis, the Richmond halfback was unavailable after being in a car accident after their game the previous Saturday which hospitalised him.
| 25 May | Devonport | 15â7 | Richmond | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Trevor O'Leary 2, C Rhodes Con: Lindsay Simons 2 Pen: Lindsay Simons |
[17] | Try: Trevor Hanlon Pen: Ted Mincham 2 |
Attendance: 10,000 Referee: T Chernside |
| 25 May | Newton | 17â12 | City | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 1:45 | Try: Roy Hardgrave, M Little, Rhodes Con: Craddock Dufty 3 Pen: Craddock Dufty |
[17] | Try: Steve Watene, C Reynolds Con: Steve Watene Pen: Steve Watene 2 |
Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Les Bull |
| 25 May | Ponsonby | 41â10 | Kingsland | Carlaw Park 2 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Lou Hutt, Winters, Schofield 2, Bert Payne, Dooley Moore, A McIntyre 2, Cyril Thompson Con: Frank Delgrosso 6 Pen: Frank Delgrosso |
[17] | Try: Robert Carter, Ralph Longville Con: Ralph Longville |
Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Bertie Emirali |
| 25 May | Marist | 19â16 | Ellerslie | Carlaw Park 2 | ||
| 1:45 | Try: Phil Brady 4, George Batchelor Con: Norm Campbell Pen: Alan Clarke |
[17] | Try: Cook, Chapman, Leslie Olliff Con: Cook, Leslie Olliff |
Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Arthur Rae |
Round 6
Alan Clarke was sent off in the Marist v City game for questioning the referee. Richmond's game against Kingsland was postponed as many members of the club were travelling to Hikurangi in Northland to play in a seven a side tournament there. The Richmond senior team won the final 8-5 over the local Hikurangi side. Patrick McCarthy was unable to play in the Devonport forwards as he had a boxing match at the Auckland Town Hall the same night.
| 1 June | Devonport | 24â9 | Newton | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Alf Scott, J Beattie 2, Trevor O'Leary, Allan Seagar, Les O'Leary Con: Lindsay Simons, Allan Seagar 2 |
[18] | Try: Stanley Francis Pen: Craddock Dufty 3 |
Attendance: 7,000 Referee: Percy Rogers |
| 1 June | Ponsonby | 24â5 | Ellerslie | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 1:45 | Try: A McIntyre, Lou Hutt, Winters, Cyril Thompson Con: Frank Delgrosso 4 Pen: Frank Delgrosso 2 |
[19] | Try: Leslie Olliff Con: Leslie Olliff |
Attendance: 7,000 Referee: T Hill |
| 1 June | City | 5â3 | Marist | Carlaw Park 2 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: James Everson Con: Laurie Barchard |
[20] | Try: H Hickey | Attendance: 7,000 Referee: A McKubrey |
| 1 June | Richmond | PPD | Kingsland | |||
| [18] |
Round 7
In the match between Marist and Devonport both Courtney (Marist) and Ernest Ruby (Devonport) were sent off for fighting late in the match. For Newton Craddock Dufty refused to play in protest against the non-selection of Wally Somers. As a result Newton cancelled his registration with the club. Somers also decided to retire at this point though he ultimately joined the Ellerslie team for the 1930 season where Dufty moved to.[21][22] Dufty then signed with Ellerslie where he had moved to earlier in the year. Cook was sent off in Ellerslieâs match for arguing with a referring decision.
| 8 June | Ponsonby | 37â11 | City | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Winters, Schofield 3, Frank Delgrosso, Lou Hutt, Leonard Riley 2, Cyril Thompson Con: Frank Delgrosso 4 Pen: Frank Delgrosso |
[23] | Try: William McLaughlin, Bill Hamilton, Lawrie Barchard Con: William McLaughlin |
Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Bertie Emirali |
| 8 June | Marist | 13â13 | Devonport | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 1:45 | Try: Charles Gregory, Jim Johnson, Phil Brady Con: Charles Gregory 2 |
[23] | Try: Ernest Ruby Con: Lindsay Simons Pen: Lindsay Simons 4 |
Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Percy Rogers |
| 8 June | Newton | 13â10 | Richmond | Carlaw Park 2 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Trevor Hall, Roy Hardgrave, Page Con: Roy Hardgrave 2 |
[23] | Try: Coote 2 Con: Joe Hamilton Pen: Joe Hamilton |
Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Vic Simpson |
| 8 June | Kingsland | 17â5 | Ellerslie | Carlaw Park 2 | ||
| 1:45 | Try: Bob Carter, Claude List 2 Con: Ralph Longville 2 Pen: Ralph Longville 2 |
[23] | Try: Cooke Con: Selby Crewther |
Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Arthur Rae |
Round 8
| 15 June | Devonport | 10â5 | Ponsonby | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: S Casey, Patrick McCarthy Con: Allan Seagar 2 |
[24] | Try: Lou Hutt Con: Frank Delgrosso |
Attendance: 12,000 Referee: Les Bull |
| 15 June | City | 13â8 | Kingsland | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 1:30 | Try: Joe Hadley, George Perry 2 Con: Steve Watene 2 |
[24] | Try: Herbert Ramm, Claude List Con: Ralph Longville |
Attendance: 12,000 Referee: Billy Mincham |
| 15 June | Marist | 20â19 | Newton | Carlaw Park 2 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Phil Brady, McDonald 2, Jim Johnson Con: Norm Campbell 3 Pen: Norm Campbell |
[24] | Try: C Rhodes, Roy Hardgrave 2, Trevor Hall, Cyril Brimble Con: Roy Hardgrave Pen: Cyril Brimble |
Attendance: 12,000 Referee: A McKubrey |
| 15 June | Richmond | 10â5 | Ellerslie | Carlaw Park 2 | ||
| 1:30 | Try: Ralph Jenkinson, Ted Mincham Pen: Joseph Hamilton, Ted Mincham |
[24] | Try: Hobbs Pen: Craddock Dufty |
Attendance: 12,000 Referee: Wilfred Simpson |
Round 9
During the week Roy Hardgrave of Newton signed with the St Helens club in England as did Lou Hutt of Ponsonby. Hardgrave scored Newton's only points in their heavy loss to Hutt's Ponsonby's side. Hardgrave had played for New Zealand against England on their 1928 tour as did Hutt. Hardgrave would play 5 seasons with St Helens, playing 212 games, scoring 173 tries before returning to New Zealand and then signing with York and later Toulouse before returning to New Zealand for good where he finished his career at Mt Albert and later coaching Newton. Lou Hutt played 2 seasons for St Helens before returning to New Zealand and carrying on his career at Ponsonby before a final season in 1936 with Newton.
| 22 June | Ponsonby | 42â3 | Newton | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Cyril Thompson, Frank Delgrosso 2, Winters, Schofield 2, A McIntyre 2, Bill Skelton 2 Con: Frank Delgrosso 4, George Gardiner 2 |
[25] | Try: Roy Hardgrave | Referee: Vic Simpson |
| 22 June | Devonport | 19â8 | Kingsland | Carlaw Park 2 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Les O'Leary 3, Ernest Ruby, Trevor O'Leary Con: Allan Seagar 2 |
[25] | Try: Robert Carter, Harold Christmas Pen: Railey |
Referee: G McCowatt |
| 22 June | Richmond | 9â11 | Marist | Grey Lynn Park | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Ralph Jenkinson Pen: Ted Mincham 3 |
[25] | Try: H Hickey, Jim O'Brien, Bulcraig Pen: Norm Campbell |
Attendance: 600 Referee: Bertie Emirali |
| 22 June | Ellerslie | 0â10 | City | Ellerslie Reserve | ||
| 3:00 | [25] | Try: George Perry, Laurie Barchard Con: Laurie Barchard 2 |
Referee: Percy Rogers |
Round 10
| 29 June | Ponsonby | 10â10 | Marist | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: A McIntyre, Leonard Riley Con: George Gardiner Pen: George Gardiner |
[26] | Try: Jock Graham, Jim Johnson Con: Charles Gregory Pen: Charles Gregory |
Referee: Percy Rogers |
| 29 June | City | 24â0 | Richmond | Carlaw Park 2 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: George Perry, Laurie Barchard 2, William McLaughlin, Joe Hadley, James Everson Con: Puti Tipene Watene 3 |
[26] | Referee: Les Bull |
| 29 June | Kingsland | 14â10 | Newton | Auckland Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Robert Carter, G Simms 2, McLaughlan Con: Railey |
[26] | Try: Ken Peckham, Ferguson Con: Cyril Brimble 2 |
Referee: Bertie Emirali |
| 29 June | Devonport | 19â5 | Ellerslie | Devonport Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Len Scott 2, Allan Seagar, Stanley Rule, Les O'Leary Con: Lindsay Simons 2 |
[26] | Try: Robert Crewther Con: Leslie Olliff |
Referee: G McCowatt |
Round 11
Another large crowd of 10,000 was in attendance at the Carlaw Park matches. City secured an upset 17-8 win over competition leaders Devonport. For the Devonport side veteran forward Ernest Ruby broke his nose in a collision. George Perry for City played at outstanding game at five eighths for City in their win. Ray Lawless made his debut in the forward pack for Richmond as a promoted junior but did not become a regular in the senior side for 2 more season. Lou Brown was in attendance, back in New Zealand for a break before returning to England to continue playing for Wigan. He was said to be impressed with the City performance. Hector Cole made a rare performance for Ponsonby, replacing Cyril Thompson at five eighth. He had only played 3 games in 1927 and 4 in 1928 following his 15 appearances for New Zealand on their 1926-27 tour of England. The team was short in the backline and he was asked to play having had no training but played well.
| 6 July | City | 17â8 | Devonport | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Laurie Barchard 2, William McLaughlin, Norman Pascoe, George Perry Con: Laurie Barchard |
[27] | Try: Les O'Leary, Len Scott Con: Alf Scott |
Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Vic Simpson |
| 6 July | Ponsonby | 21â16 | Richmond | Carlaw Park 2 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Winters 2, Schofield, Leonard Riley, Bert Payne Con: Frank Delgrosso 3 |
[27] | Try: Ted Mincham, Bill Davis, Stan Prentice, Arthur Lennie Con: Ted Mincham 2 |
Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Bert Emirali |
| 6 July | Marist | 25â10 | Kingsland | Auckland Domain 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Jim Johnson, George Batchelor, McDonald 2, Phil Brady Con: Charles Gregory 4 Pen: Charles Gregory |
[27] | Try: Claude List, Robert Carter Pen: Ralph Longville 2 |
Referee: William Mincham |
| 6 July | Ellerslie | 5â7 | Newton | Ellerslie Reserve | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Tooman Con: Craddock Dufty |
[27] | Try: M Little Con: Ken Peckham Pen: Ken Peckham |
Referee: Stuart Billman |
Round 12
William Shortland, an ex-Maori All Black transferred to City Rovers and made his debut for them. He had previously represented North Auckland at the halfback position. Shortland was said to have played a âsterling game, demonstrating that the thirteen-a-side code suited his particular type of playâ.[28] He went on to play for them until the end of the 1930 season and played 21 games. Pat Skelton also transferred from rugby where he had been playing five eighth for the Grammar Old Boys club. He joined the Ponsonby side and scored a try on debut and also set up their second try for Bill Skelton (no relation). Bill played 35 games from 1929 to 1932, while Pat played 29 games and scored 20 tries, and kicked 8 goals and 3 drop goals from 1929 to the start of the 1932 season when he left the club. Their match was originally scheduled to be played on the number one field as a curtain-raiser but was transferred to the number two field as the former was in a poor condition however the number two ground âsoon became a sea of mudâ. The Marist and Ellerslie match at the Auckland Domain was postponed as the field was deemed unfit for play. The condition of Carlaw Park was so bad that it was discussed at the management committee meeting later in the week and it was decided that conditions needed to be improved for players immediately.
| 13 July | Devonport | 14â0 | Richmond | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Len Scott, Patrick McCarthy 2, J Beattie Con: Lindsay Simons |
[29] | Referee: Les Bull |
| 13 July | City | 16â6 | Newton | Carlaw Park 2 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: William Perry, C Reynolds, Joe Hadley, George Perry Con: Lawrie Barchard Pen: Lawrie Barchard |
[29] | Try: George Cammick, Stanley Francis | Referee: Wilfred Simpson |
| 13 July | Ponsonby | 9â0 | Kingsland | Carlaw Park 2 | ||
| 1:30 | Try: Pat Skelton, George Gardiner, Bill Skelton | [30] | Referee: Vic Simpson |
| 13 July | Marist | Abandoned | Ellerslie | Auckland Domain 2 | ||
| 3:00 | [29] | Referee: Stuart Billman |
Round 13
The Minister of Education, Hon. Harry Atmore was present at the Carlaw Park games. In Newton's loss to Devonport their forward Ferguson collided with the goalpost in trying to tackle S Casey as he scored and was taken off with a suspected broken rib. A good crowd gathered at Ellerslie Reserve to watch the local team play Ponsonby on a heavy ground. At Devonport the Newton side arrived with just nine players but managed to use some lower grade players to increase their numbers. They had lost the services of ex-internationals Craddock Dufty, Wally Somers, Trevor Hall, and Roy Hardgrave in recent weeks. Devonport almost took pity on them towards the end of the game and declined to take the conversion attempt to one of their tries. R.D. Revell transferred from Ponsonby to Kingsland during the week and debuted for his new side in their win over Richmond.
| 20 July | Marist | 13â7 | City | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Jock Graham, Dick Moisley, Phil Brady Con: Charles Gregory 2 |
[31] | Try: William McLaughlin Con: Puti Tipene Watene Pen: Puti Tipene Watene |
Referee: Percy Rogers |
| 20 July | Devonport | 35â3 | Newton | Devonport Domain | ||
| 3:00 | Try: J Beattie 2, C Rhodes, Len Scott 2, Stanley Rule, Allan Seagar, S Casey 2, Con: Lindsay Simons 4 |
[31] | Try: McLeod | Referee: Stuart Billman |
| 20 July | Kingsland | 6â0 | Richmond | Auckland Domain 2 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Claude List, H Christmas | [31] | Referee: Wilfred Simpson |
| 20 July | Ellerslie | 3â20 | Ponsonby | Ellerslie Reserve | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Grogan | [31] | Try: Dooley Moore 2, Bill Skelton, Victor Fagan, Pat Skelton, George Gardiner Con: Frank Delgrosso |
Referee: W Weston |
Round 14
Trevor Hanlon, who had played fullback for Richmond since 1924 was signed by Broughton Rangers in England. He was due to depart on the Ruahine on August 21. He played 21 games for Broughton in the 1929-30 season scoring 4 tries. He ended up not being selected in their senior side at all the following season and fell on hard times in England needing financial assistance from Auckland rugby league to return home the following season.[32] Richmond was held scoreless for the third consecutive match. The match at Mt Wellington was the first ever senior match played there making it the 23rd venue for senior rugby league matches in Auckland since 1908.
| 3 August | Marist | 10â6 | Devonport | Carlaw Park 2 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Phil Brady, Jim Johnson Con: Charles Gregory 2 |
[33] | Try: J Beattie 2 | Referee: Les Bull |
| 3 August | Ponsonby | 17â5 | City | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 1:30 | Try: Pat Skelton 2, Cyril Thompson Con: Frank Delgrosso 2 Pen: Frank Delgrosso 2 |
[33] | Try: George Perry Con: Laurie Barchard |
Referee: Bert Emirali |
| 3 August | Newton | 6â0 | Richmond | Auckland Domain 2 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: M Little 2 | [33] | Referee: Arthur Rae |
| 3 August | Kingsland | 19â7 | Ellerslie | Mt Wellington (Westfield) | ||
| 3:00 | Try: N York 3, Angelo, G Simms Con: E Lucas Drop: Claude List |
[33] | Try: Robert Crewther Con: Hemingway Pen: Hemingway |
Referee: Stuart Billman |
Postponed round 12 match
With their win at the Auckland Domain, Marist won the Thistle Cup which was awarded to the team with the best record in the second round of the championship. Aside from that trophy the game was of no real consequence and there was talk of not playing it but Ellerslie turned out with several juniors. They competed quite well in the first half but in the second half were getting routed before the match was ended early. Dick Moisley who generally played in the forwards turned out at fullback for them with Hec Brisbane and Charles Gregory partnered in the five eighths, outside halfback Wilf Hassan. Ellerslie fielded new players Scott at fullback and brought up their third grade hooker, Arthur, to compete with future New Zealand hooker, Gordon Campbell. He was said to have performed well under the circumstances.
| 10 August | Marist | 26â0 | Ellerslie | Auckland Domain | ||
| 2:00 | Try: McDonald 2, Charles Gregory, Jim Johnson, Wilf Hassan 2 Con: Charles Gregory 4 |
[34] | Referee: Bert Emirali |
Postponed round 6 match
The Round 6 match which was postponed saw Richmond default to Kingsland.
| 10 August | Kingsland | WBD-LBD | Richmond | Carlaw Park 2 | ||
| 3:30 | [34] | Referee: Arthur Rae |
Championship Final
An enormous crowd of 11,000 turned out to watch the final. Typically the championship was decided without the need for a final but with the teams level one was required to find the winner. It was played in sunshine and intermittent rain but the players were in ankle deep mud. Frank Delgrosso captained the Ponsonby side from first five eighth to their fifth championship. Devonport had been seeking to go back to back after winning the 1928 title which was their third. George Gardiner played a strong game for the winners and scored their only try.
| 10 August | Ponsonby | 5â0 | Devonport | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: George Gardiner Pen: Frank Delgrosso |
[34] | Attendance: 11,000 Referee: Les Bull |
Roope Rooster knockout competition
Marist won the Roope Rooster for the second consecutive year after defeating Ponsonby 17â9 in the final.
Round 1
Arnold Berridge joined Richmond after transferring from rugby where he had been an Auckland representative player. Berridge played 16 games for Auckland from 1927 to 1929 and then moved back to rugby union the following season and played 12 more times for Auckland from 1930 to 1933. He kicked 4 penalties on debut against Devonport in a 17â12 victory. For Richmond, the 28 year old representative soccer player Albert Whowell also took the field and basically said that he didn't know much about the league game but said he'd "give it a fly". In the match between Ponsonby and Newton, Harvey White (the Ponsonby fullback) had to leave the field with a broken collarbone early in the second half and was taken to Auckland Hospital by Ambulance. Hammond then left the field with an injured neck and went to hospital and Ken Peckham followed him soon after, also injured and needing to go to hospital. At the end of the match the well known Ponsonby forward Dooley Moore dislocated his knee. Ken Peckham's brother Tim Peckham debuted for Richmond when he came on for Agnew before halftime who was injured. Puti Tipene Watene arrived late for City but came on after quarter of an hour to play in their backline bringing their number to 13. A player named Smith was promoted for Devonport from their juniors to play at fullback and was said to have struggled. It was most likely this was 18 year old Dick Smith who (officially) debuted for their senior side two years later and would go on to represent New Zealand.
| 31 August | Marist | 9â3 | Kingsland | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Hec Brisbane, Phil Brady, George Batchelor | [35] | Try: Lou Wilson | Referee: Wilfred Simpson |
| 31 August | Richmond | 17â12 | Devonport | Carlaw Park 2 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Patterson 2, George Surtees Pen: Arnold Berridge 4 |
[35] | Try: Les O'Leary, Allan Seagar Con: Allan Seagar 2 Pen: Allan Seagar |
Referee: K Menzies |
| 31 August | Ponsonby | 31â24 | Newton | Carlaw Park 2 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Pat Skelton 2, Bill Skelton, George Gardiner, Schofield, Dooley Moore, A McIntyre Con: Frank Delgrosso 4 |
[35] | Try: M Little, Hill, Stanley Francis 2, Cyril Brimble, Arthur Mansill Con: Kenneth Peckham 2 |
Referee: Arthur Rae |
| 31 August | City | 18â9 | Ellerslie | Mt Wellington | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Stan Clark, Laurie Barchard, George Perry, James Everson Con: Laurie Barchard 3 |
[36] | Try: Robert Crewther Con: Hemingway Pen: Hemingway, Craddock Dufty |
Referee: Stuart Billman |
Semi final
For Marist, their winger McDonald scored one of their five tries. He was an ex-Poverty Bay rugby representative. City rallied well to tie the scores at 7-7 before Marist ran away with it. George Batchelor the Marist winger scored a spectacular try from halfway rounding several City backs and then swerved infield to score under the posts. For City, Joe Hadley went off with a sprained ankle and then 25 year old William Shortland, a well known MÄori rugby player from Northland who had joined the side during the year was concussed and left the field. He was taken to Auckland Hospital by ambulance but his condition was not serious. For Marist Wilf Hassan at halfback played very well. As well as going on to represent New Zealand he became the two time New Zealand diving champion in the early 1930's.
| 14 September | Marist | 23â7 | City | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:15 | Try: Phil Brady, McDonald, Jim O'Brien, George Batchelor, Jock Graham Con: Charles Gregory 2, Jim O'Brien Pen: Charles Gregory |
[37] | Try: Joe Hadley Pen: Steve Watene Drop: William McLaughlin |
Referee: Les Bull |
| 14 September | Ponsonby | 23â0 | Richmond | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 2:00 | Try: Pat Skelton, Winters, A McIntyre, Leonard Riley, Schofield Con: Pat Skelton, Frank Delgrosso, Dooley Moore Pen: Frank Delgrosso |
[37] | Referee: Vic Simpson |
Final
It was charity day at Carlaw Park and despite there being other attractions on a significant crowd of 7,000 turned up at Carlaw Park for the Roope Rooster final. Marist won their second consecutive Roope Rooster trophy following their 1928 win which was their first. Their current and future internationals Charles Gregory, Jim O'Brien, Alan Clarke, Wilf Hassan scored their tries along with centre Phil Brady. Ponsonby scored three unconverted tries in response. After George Gardiner scored early in the second half Frank Delgrosso missed and easy conversion and then Ponsonby winger Scholfield scored to level the scores with Pat Skelton missing the conversion to give them the lead. Marist then retook the lead with a try to Alan Clarke with Wilf Hassan rounding things off with another try. Of the eight tries scored only one conversion was landed. Delgrosso was said to have played an uncharacteristically poor game at fullback after being injured early in the game. Towards the end he transferred up to the five eighths. Also late in the game tempers began to flare between the teams and Dooley Moore, the versatile Ponsonby player, today at halfback, was said to have pulled H Duane around and when Duane retaliated by throwing punches Duane was sent off.
| 21 September | Marist | 17â9 | Ponsonby | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Charles Gregory, Jim O'Brien, Phil Brady, Alan Clarke, Wilf Hassan Con: Jim O'Brien |
[38] | Try: Winters, George Gardiner, Schofield | Attendance: 7,000 Referee: Percy Rogers |
Stormont Memorial Shield
Frank Delgrosso the Ponsonby captain went off in the second half with an injured knee which he had suffered the previous week in their Roope Rooster final loss. He was replaced in the position by Dooley Moore who left the forward pack. When Charles Gregory saw that Moore had moved to the position he repeatedly kicked deep and Moore struggled to get to the ball. George Batchelor the Marist winger scored four tries, one of which was a penalty try after he was held back by Winters. In this era such tries were awarded to the obstructed player. A McIntyre, the Ponsonby halfback injured his ankle and required treatment after the game. Marist also suffered from injuries and regular players Hec Brisbane, Jock Graham, and Dick Moisley all were unavailable. The only Ponsonby player who had been unavailable was Bill Skelton through injury. Jim Johnson made a return to the Marist forward pack after an absence and he was joined by Fleet, a Ponsonby rugby senior who had played 6 games for them during the year.
| 28 September | Marist | 28â14 | Ponsonby | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Jim Johnson, George Batchelor 4, Norm Campbell Con: Charles Gregory 3, George Batchelor Pen: Charles Gregory |
[39] | Try: A McIntyre, Skelton Con: Skelton, George Gardiner Pen: George Gardiner 2 |
Attendance: 9,000 Referee: Vic Simpson |
Top try scorers and point scorers
Top try and point scorers for A Division, Roope Rooster and Stormont Shield matches. Phil Brady of Marist Old Boys (Saints) was the top try scorer with 13 closely followed by A. Schofield and A.S. McIntyre of Ponsonby who both scored 12.
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B grade standings and results
The Round 5 match between Northcote and MÄngere resulted in a win to the former team but the actual score was not stated. The standings include the final played between ÅtÄhuhu and Point Chevalier, won by the latter by 13 points to 10.
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Point Chevalier | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 108 | 61 | 19 |
| Otahuhu Rovers | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 223 | 44 | 17 |
| Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 66 | 77 | 10 |
| Richmond Rovers B | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 89 | 87 | 8 |
| Parnell | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 112 | 145 | 4 |
| MÄngere United | 10 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 50 | 232 | 0 |
Senior B grade fixtures
In the first round of the season MÄngere began their match with ÅtÄhuhu with just ten players, though had reached thirteen near halftime. It was the first time league had been played on the newly acquired MÄngere Domain.
On 8 May at the Management Committee meeting Northcote requested that the opening round match in the Senior B competition be awarded to them on account of Richmond B defaulting. However the league said that the match would be replayed at the end of the season if it would affect the outcome of the competition.
The Round 8 match between Otahuhu and Point Chevalier was held at Papatoetoe at the Papatoetoe Recreation Ground which was the first senior match played in the area. Around 1,000 spectators turned up to watch the match. Otahuhu won a close fought match 10â6.
After Round 10 was completed the Auckland Rugby League decided that the match between Point Chevalier and Otahuhu would decide the championship. The match was played on Carlaw Park and saw Point Chevalier win by 13 points to 10.
| Date | Score | Score | Venue | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | 28 April[40] | Point Chevalier | 11 | Parnell | 10 | Carlaw Park # 1, 1:45pm | |
| â | 28 April | Mangere | 0 | Otahuhu | 48 | Mangere Domain, 3pm | |
| Round 2 | 4 May[41] | Otahuhu | 20 | Richmond B | 7 | Carlaw Park # 2, 1:45pm | |
| â | 4 May | Mangere | 6 | Parnell | 29 | Mangere, 3pm | |
| â | 4 May | Point Chevalier | 10 | Northcote | 3 | Point Chevalier, 3pm | |
| Round 3 | 11 May[42] | Northcote | 11 | Parnell | 2 | Victoria Park, 3pm | |
| â | 11 May | Point Chevalier | 5 | Otahuhu | 5 | Point Chevalier # 2, 3pm | |
| â | 11 May | Mangere | 0 | Richmond B | 32 | Mangere, 3pm | |
| Round 4 | 18 May[43] | Northcote | 3 | Otahuhu | 2 | Northcote, 3pm | |
| â | 18 May | Point Chevalier | 14 | Mangere | 6 | Point Chevalier, 3pm | |
| â | 18 May | Richmond B | 13 | Parnell | 10 | Grey Lynn, 3pm | |
| Round 5 | 25 May[44] | Richmond B | 0 | Point Chevalier | 6 | Grey Lynn, 3pm | |
| â | 25 May | Otahuhu | 22 | Parnell | 0 | Mangere, 2pm | |
| â | 25 May | Mangere | L | Northcote | W | Mangere, 3:15pm | |
| Round 6 | 1 June[18] | Richmond B | 19 | Northcote | 11 | Carlaw Park # 2, 1:45pm | |
| â | 1 June | Point Chevalier | 10 | Parnell | 7 | Point Chevalier, 3pm | |
| â | 1 June | Otahuhu | 40 | Mangere | 0 | Sturgess Park, Otahuhu, 3pm | |
| Round 7 | 8 June[45] | Otahuhu | 13 | Richmond B | 0 | Otahuhu Reserve, 3pm | |
| â | 8 June | Parnell | 33 | Mangere | 14 | Auckland Domain #2, 3pm | |
| â | 8 June | Northcote | 5 | Point Chevalier | 8 | Stafford Park, Northcote, 3pm | |
| Round 8 | 15 June[46] | Otahuhu | 10 | Point Chevalier | 6 | Papatoetoe Recreation Ground, Papatoetoe 3pm | 1,000 |
| â | 15 June | Richmond B | 8 | Mangere | 13 | Grey Lynn, 3pm | |
| â | 15 June | Northcote | 16 | Parnell | 10 | Victoria Park, 3pm | |
| Round 9 | 22 June[47] | Otahuhu | 21 | Northcote | 5 | Otahuhu, 3pm | |
| â | 22 June | Mangere | 5 | Point Chevalier | 17 | Mangere, 3pm | |
| â | 22 June | Richmond B | 10 | Parnell | 6 | Point Chevalier # 2, 3pm | |
| Round 10 | 29 June[48] | Point Chevalier | 8 | Richmond B | 0 | Point Chevalier, 3pm | |
| â | 29 June | Northcote | 11 | Mangere | 6 | Northcote, 3pm | |
| â | 29 June | Otahuhu | 32 | Parnell | 5 | Papatoetoe, 3pm | |
| Final | 6 July[49] | Point Chevalier | 13 | Otahuhu | 10 | Carlaw Park # 1, 1:30pm | |
Senior A/Senior B promotion-relegation match
Ellerslie had come last in the A Grade for the second year in a row. Though unlike the previous season where they had won 3 matches in 1929 they were winless after battling injuries and the loss of players. However they managed to defeat Point Chevalier, who had won the B Grade by 5 points to 0 and thus remain in the A Grade for the 1930 season. McPherson, a forward for Point Chevalier suffered a leg injury with an artery said to be severed but he was later discharged from Auckland Hospital. For Ellerslie Craddock Dufty played his first game for about a month and kicked a penalty. The only try of the game was scored by Ellerslie's Arthur.
| 24 August | Ellerslie | 5â0 | Point Chevalier | Carlaw Park | ||
| 1:30 | Try: Arthur Pen: Craddock Dufty |
[50] | Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Percy Rogers |
Stallard Cup competition
| Date | Score | Score | Venue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | 13 July[51] | Northcote | 5 | Parnell | 2 | Victoria Park, 3pm |
| â | 13 July | Mangere | 17 | Richmond B | 3 | Sturgess Park, Otahuhu , 3pm |
| â | 13 July | Otahuhu | 5 | Point Chevalier | 0 | Mangere Racecourse, 3pm |
| Round 2 | 20 July[52] | Northcote | 9 | Mangere | 5 | Victoria Park, 3pm |
| â | 20 July | Point Chevalier | 5 | Richmond B | 3 | Carlaw Park # 1, 1:30pm |
| â | 20 July | Otahuhu | 24 | Parnell | 0 | Auckland Domain # 5, 3pm |
| Round 3 | 3 Aug[33] | Northcote | 6 | Richmond B | 0 | Outer Domain, 3pm |
| â | 3 Aug | Point Chevalier | 11 | Parnell | 8 | Auckland Domain # 6, 3pm |
| â | 3 Aug | Otahuhu | 12 | Mangere | 8 | Victoria Park, 3pm |
| Round 4 | 10 Aug[34] | Point Chevalier | 13 | Mangere | 0 | Carlaw Park # 1, 1:30pm |
| â | 10 Aug | Parnell | PPD | Richmond | PPD | Auckland Domain, 3pm |
| â | 10 Aug | Otahuhu | 7 | Northcote | 3 | Victoria Park, 3pm |
| Round 5 | 31 Aug[53] | Richmond B | 11 | Otahuhu | 8 | Carlaw Park # 2, 1:30pm |
| â | 31 Aug | Parnell | Loss by Forfeit | Mangere | Won by Forfeit | Auckland Domain # 2, 3pm |
| â | 31 Aug | Point Chevalier | 3 | Northcote | 2 | Victoria Park, 3pm |
| Final | 7 Sep[54] | Otahuhu | 11 | Point Chevalier | 0 | Carlaw Park # 2, 1:30pm |
Lower grades and exhibition games
Lower grades
Richmond won the Davis Shield for lower grade points accumulated once again. They would dominate this trophy throughout the 1920s and 30s.
Lower grade competitions
Second Grade
Devonport won the championship after sealing it in round 14 with a 12-0 win over Kingsland. Mount Albert finished runner up just 1 point behind. Mount Albert won the knockout competition when they defeated Devonport on September 28. Mangere had entered a team in the competition but withdrew after defaulting their first two games. The amalgamated New Lynn and Glen Eden club (Glen Lynn) entered a team in the knockout competition, drawing with Newton 6-6, before losing to Ponsonby 18-0. [55] The knockout competition was won by Mount Albert United.
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devonport United | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 152 | 41 | 21 |
| Mount Albert United | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 141 | 37 | 20 |
| Ponsonby United | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 93 | 64 | 15 |
| Mount Wellington | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 77 | 90 | 14 |
| Remuera | 12 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 38 | 103 | 6 |
| Newton Rangers | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 44 | 100 | 4 |
| Kingsland Athletic | 11 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 19 | 127 | 2 |
Third grade open (Hayward Shield)
Richmond won the championship after they beat Glen Lynn in the final by 2 points to 0 a Carlaw Park on August 17. Richmond also won the knockout competition with a 18-0 win over Ellerslie in the final on September 21. They had beaten Ponsonby B by default a week earlier while Ellerslie had upset Kingsland 11-5 in the other. Ellerslie had surprisingly made it to the final after only winning two matches during the championship. The majority of the results were reported and the final standings were published in the newspaper which was very unusual in these early decades.
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond Rovers | 13 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 285 | 17 | 23 |
| Ponsonby United B | 13 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 190 | 48 | 20 |
| Glen Lynn | 13 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 84 | 35 | 18 |
| Kingsland Athletic | 13 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 95 | 73 | 17 |
| Ponsonby United A | 12 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 44 | 137 | 6 |
| Ellerslie United | 13 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 24 | 203 | 6 |
| Point Chevalier | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 42 | 183 | 4 |
| Devonport United | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 74 | 0 |
Third grade intermediate
The championship was won by Devonport, 3 points ahead of Akarana. The knockout competition was won by Newmarket 7 to 6 on September 28, though the score was also reported as 10-6. Devonport had beaten City by default in one semi final while Newmarket won the other semi final 12-2 against Akarana. Newton entered a team in the competition but they withdrew without playing a game, while Mount Albert withdrew after 10 rounds having only played 7 games.
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devonport United | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 140 | 20 | 23 |
| Akarana | 13 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 191 | 40 | 20 |
| Newmarket | 13 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 112 | 41 | 16 |
| City Rovers | 13 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 108 | 42 | 14 |
| Richmond Rovers | 11 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 71 | 89 | 10 |
| Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers | 13 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 15 | 125 | 6 |
| Glen Lynn | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 26 | 133 | 4 |
| Mount Albert United | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 170 | 1 |
Fourth grade (Hospital Cup)
Devonport won the championship undefeated with 16 wins from 16 games, scoring 356 points and only conceding 32. Richmond were runners up 9 further points back. Devonport reportedly won the knockout competition when they beat Richmond 12-5 in the final on October 19. Devonport had won their semi final 6-0 over Akarana, while Richmond beat Kingsland 7-6 in the other semi final. However the Sun newspaper reported that Akarana won the knockout competition on March 29, 1930. Mt Wellington withdrew from the championship after 9 rounds while Remuera withdrew also after playing 9 games but in the 12 rounds having defaulted for 3 weeks.[56]
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devonport United | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 356 | 32 | 32 |
| Richmond Rovers | 14 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 168 | 28 | 23 |
| Kingsland Athletic | 15 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 150 | 44 | 19 |
| Akarana | 15 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 200 | 52 | 18 |
| City Rovers | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 118 | 114 | 18 |
| Remuera United | 11 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 69 | 19 | 9 |
| Ponsonby United | 15 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 55 | 130 | 9 |
| Mount Albert United | 14 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 42 | 237 | 7 |
| Otahuhu Rovers | 16 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 28 | 399 | 2 |
| Mount Wellington | 9 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 25 | 147 | 1 |
Fifth grade (Endean Shield)
Richmond won the championship and also the knockout competition. They defeated Marist 14-9 in the knockout final on 21 September following a semi final win over Point Chevalier by 14 points to 4 while Marist had beaten Kingsland in the other semi final. Otahuhu had initially entered a side but failed to take the field and withdrew after round 1. A table was published in the newspapers after 7 rounds however many of the results in the second half of the season were not reported so the final standings are incomplete.
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond Rovers | 16 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 233 | 19 | 28 |
| Newmarket | 14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 147 | 64 | 19 |
| Point Chevalier | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 83 | 65 | 18 |
| Marist Old Boys | 15 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 112 | 59 | 16 |
| Akarana | 15 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 24 | 88 | 7 |
| Devonport United | 15 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 44 | 73 | 5 |
| Kingsland Athletic | 14 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 54 | 111 | 4 |
| City Rovers | 15 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 20 | 237 | 1 |
Sixth grade A (Walker Shield)
Richmond won the championship ahead of Otahuhu and Marist. Otahuhu won the knockout competition when they beat Richmond 11-6 in the final on October 12. Otahuhu had beaten City in one semi final while Richmond beat Kingsland 11-0 in the other semi final. The standings were reported after 8 rounds but the final standings were not reported and many results were also not reported so the following table is incomplete.
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond Rovers | 17 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 203 | 29 | 22 |
| Otahuhu Rovers | 15 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 147 | 105 | 21 |
| Marist Old Boys | 17 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 207 | 95 | 19 |
| Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers | 16 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 87 | 82 | 16 |
| Kingsland Athletic | 18 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 55 | 124 | 11 |
| City Rovers | 17 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 53 | 88 | 10 |
| Devonport United | 17 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 71 | 93 | 10 |
| Point Chevalier | 16 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 54 | 128 | 8 |
| Newmarket | 15 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 141 | 2 |
| Akarana | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 44 | 0 |
Sixth grade B (Myers Cup)
Richmond B won the championship with a remarkable point scoring record of 657 points scored with the majority of their wins coming at 0 points conceded. They also won the Milicich knockout final when they beat Northcote 16-2 on September 28. They had beaten Newton 5-3 in their semi final, while Northcote defeated Point Chevalier 2-0 in the other semi final. The championship standings were reported after 8 rounds and again at the conclusion of the season. The team featured future New Zealand international Noel Bickerton.
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond Rovers B | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 657 | 8 | 32 |
| Marist Old Boys | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 97 | 61 | 24 |
| Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers | 16 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 135 | 74 | 23 |
| Newton Rangers | 15 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 168 | 50 | 15 |
| Richmond Rovers A | 15 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 45 | 180 | 13 |
| Papatoetoe | 14 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 140 | 215 | 11 |
| Ellerslie United | 16 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 43 | 245 | 11 |
| Glen Lynn | 16 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 96 | 170 | 10 |
| Point Chevalier | 16 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 3 | 26 | 397 | 1 |
Schoolboys competition
Newmarket won the championship. They also won the knockout competition when they beat Mangere 25-5 in the final on October 12. At the end of the season in early November a seven team knockout tournament was held at Carlaw Park with proceeds going to the purchase of jerseys. Newmarket defeated Mangere in the final by 6 points to 0 to complete a remarkable season for the side.[57]
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newmarket Primary School | 17 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 272 | 21 | 28 |
| Newton Primary School | 17 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 116 | 86 | 21 |
| Onehunga Convent (St Joseph's School) | 17 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 121 | 78 | 17 |
| Parnell/Akarana | 19 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 90 | 85 | 16 |
| Richmond Road School | 17 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 89 | 63 | 13 |
| Otahuhu Schools | 17 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 70 | 128 | 12 |
| Papatoetoe Primary School | 19 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 91 | 170 | 11 |
| Mangere Primary School | 17 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 46 | 76 | 10 |
| Ellerslie Primary School | 17 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 44 | 79 | 9 |
| Devonport Primary School | 18 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 32 | 75 | 7 |
| Mt Albert Primary School | 18 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 37 | 147 | 3 |
Exhibition and junior representative matches
The Auckland Junior representative side that played South Auckland included future Kiwi Albert Laing, and Auckland representative cricket wicket keeper Horace Hunt. The full side was as follows: Albert Laing (Devonport), B. Munroe (Mount Albert), G Jacobs (Mount Wellington), H. Tate (Devonport), T Davis (Richmond), C. Dunn (Richmond), F. Martin (Kingsland), Harvey White (Ponsonby), D. Kirwan (Mount Albert), Horace Hunt (Devonport), Herb Lunn (Ponsonby), H. Forbes (Kingsland), J. Hawkes (Devonport). Reserves: J. Ragg (Newton), C. Jamieson, K. Sheddon (Remuera), F. Joy (Newton), F. Hemmingson (Grey Lynn).[58]
Kamo and Athletic Combined v Richmond Juniors
| 30 March | Kamo and Athletic Combined | 9-23 | Richmond Juniors | Kamo Recreation Ground | ||
| 3:00 | Try: McDonald 2, Connelly | [59] | Try: Deason, Patterson 2, Main 2, Goldwater, Carey Con: Verrall |
Referee: F Little |
Other Matches
| Date | Score | Score | Referee | Venue | Scoring | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior Inter-Provincial | 27 July [60] | Auckland Juniors | 15 | South Auckland Juniors | 8 | - | Carlaw Park # 1, 1:30pm | - |
| Exhibition | 10 Aug [34] | Huntly | 23 | City | 13 | R.T. Hill | Huntly | Unknown Scoring |
| Exhibition | 17 Aug [61] | Northcote | 18 | Hamilton B | 9 | - | Northcote Municipal Recreation Ground (Stafford Park), Northcote | - |
| Exhibition | 17 Aug [62] | Huntly | 16 | Parnell | 21 | - | Huntly | - |
| Schoolboy Inter-Provincial | 5 Sep [63] | North Auckland Schools | 2 | Auckland Schoolboys | 17 | - | Whangarei | - |
| Schoolboy Match | 6 Sep | Hikurangi | 4 | Auckland Schoolboys | 6 | - | Hikurangi Recreation Ground | - |
| Schoolboy Exhibition | 14 Sep [64] | Huntly | 20 | Devonport | 8 | R.T. Hill | Huntly, 3pm | Unknown Scoring |
Representative season
The selectors for the season were the same as last year, Edwin V. Fox, Ernie Asher, and Bert Avery. The Auckland team played three matches and defended the Northern Union Challenge Cup against South Auckland, Northland, and Canterbury. Auckland played three matches between July 27 and August 24, all for the Northern Union Challenge Cup. They saw them defeat South Auckland in a hard-fought 11â8 result, the newly formed Northland representative team by a narrow 22â19 margin, and Canterbury comfortably by 47 points to 18. The representative season was finished with a match between the North Island and South Island won by the latter 22 to 13. Unlike in previous years the North Island team featured several players from outside of Auckland, mainly from the Waikato region.
Representative fixtures
Auckland v South Auckland (Northern Union Cup)
W. Shortland had been named to play for Auckland but was left out of the side at the last minute as he was not eligible to play. The reason being that he had only recently switched codes and had not played 3 matches yet for his club. Huatahi Paki (who is pictured) broke his ribs during the match. Lindsay Simons, who was on debut for Auckland at fullback went off injured with Frank Delgrosso moving into that position and Ted Mincham coming on in his Auckland debut. Auckland won the match narrowly by 11 points to 8 before a crowd of 10,000 at Carlaw Park.
| 27 July | Auckland | 11â8 | South Auckland | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Hec Brisbane 2, Len Scott Con: Frank Delgrosso |
[65] | Try: George Tittleton Con: Tom Timms Pen: Tom Timms |
Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Les Bull |
Auckland v Northland (Northern Union Cup)
The Northland team was coached by Maurice Wetherill and included Ted Meyer as captain who went on to become a New Zealand representative in 1930. He had previously played rugby union for North Auckland and the North Island. Puti Tipene (Steve) Watene was on debut for Auckland. Victor Fagan, the Ponsonby forward also made his one and only appearance for Auckland. His son Jack Fagan was Kiwi #401 and played 17 tests for New Zealand from 1961 to 1965.
| 17 August | Auckland | 22â19 | Northland | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Robert Carter, Frank Delgrosso 2, Claude List, Allan Seagar, Gordon Campbell Con: Frank Delgrosso 2 |
[66] | Try: L Grogan, Dick Cunningham, T Bergan, N Dunn 2 Con: L Grogan 2 |
Referee: Vic Simpson |
Auckland v Canterbury (Northern Union Cup)
The Canterbury side was coached by former Ponsonby, Auckland, and New Zealand player, Thomas McClymont.
| 24 August | Auckland | 47â18 | Canterbury | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Claude List, Hec Brisbane, Robert Carter, Frank Delgrosso, Allan Seagar, Norman Pascoe, Jim O'Brien, Bert Payne 3, Stanley Francis Con: Frank Delgrosso 4, Jim O'Brien, Charles Gregory, Stanley Francis |
[67] | Try: E Spillane, Jim Amos, A O'Connor, T Green Con: Jim Sanders, A O'Connor 2 |
Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Billy Mincham |
Inter island match
Len Scott was injured during the match and replaced by Allan Seagar for the North Island while for the South Island Jim Sanders was injured and replaced by Doogan. In past years the North Island team was dominated by players from the Auckland competition however the North Island team on this occasion featured players from outside Auckland such as Dick Trautvetter, Bob Stephenson, Joe Menzies and Tom Timms from the Waikato (South Auckland) side, and Ted Meyer and T Bergan from Northland.
| 7 September | North Island | 13â22 | South Island | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
| 3:00 | Try: Bill Hamilton, Ted Meyer, Frank Delgrosso Con: Charles Gregory, Frank Delgrosso |
[68] | Try: Alf Townsend, Johnny Dodds, Norm Griffiths, Mick O'Brien Con: Bond 2 Pen: Bond 3 |
Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Percy Rogers |
Auckland representative matches played and points scored
| No | Name | Club Team | Played | Tries | Con | Pen | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frank Delgrosso | Ponsonby | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 23 |
| 2 | Hec Brisbane | Marist | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 2 | Albert (Bert) Payne | Ponsonby | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 4 | Claude List | Kingsland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 | Allan Seagar | Devonport | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 6 | Robert (Bob) Carter | Kingsland | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 7 | Stanley Francis | Newton | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 8 | Jim O'Brien | Marist | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 9 | Len Scott | Devonport | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | Gordon Campbell | Marist | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 11 | Charles Gregory | Marist | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | Lyndsay Simons | Devonport | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | A McIntyre | Ponsonby | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Alf Scott | Devonport | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Bill Skelton | Ponsonby | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Ernest Ruby | Devonport | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Dick Moisley | Marist | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Norman Pascoe | City | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Bill Hamilton | City | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Puti Tipene Watene | City | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | William (Willie) Shortland | City | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Ralph Jenkinson | Richmond | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Ted Mincham | Richmond | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Victor Fagan | Ponsonby | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Annual general meetings and club news
- Akarana Rugby League Football Club held at Carlaw Park on Sunday 24 March.[69] It was noted that the club had assets totally £36 3s 5d. They had also sent a team on tour in each of its 3 seasons. The tour to Christchurch had cost £115 which had been raised at social functions during the season.[70]
- Auckland Rugby League annual general meeting held at the Chamber of Commerce, Swanson Street on Thursday 4 April.[71]
- Auckland Rugby League Referees Association held at the League Rooms on Monday 25 March.[72]
- City Rovers Football Club held at Carlaw Park on Sunday 17 March.[69] The City team acquired the services of W. Shortland, the North Auckland and MÄori representative rugby halfback. He moved to live in Auckland and surprised followers of both codes by playing for City in their Round 12 match.
- Devonport United Football Club held at Fordâs Tea Rooms on Monday 19 March.[73]
- Ellerslie United League Football Club held at the club's training shed, Ellerslie on Monday 25 March.[72]
- Grafton Athletic held at Buffaloes Hall, St. Benedictâs St., near Newton Rd, on Sunday 24 March.[73] It was decided at a later meeting to amalgamate with the Kingsland Rovers club.
- Junior Management Committee held at the Auckland Rugby League Rooms, Grayâs Buildings, on Tuesday 19 March.[73]
- Kingsland Rovers Football Club held at Buffalo Lodge Rooms, St Benedicts St on Sunday 24 March.[74] It was decided at a later meeting to amalgamate with the Grafton Athletic club. The vice-president Mr. Edward Thomas Avery died in a fall from a ladder while at his work at the Auckland Gas Company. His son was Bert Avery, who had captained the New Zealand team in England.[75]
- Mangere United Football Club held in Cookâs Hall, Onehunga, Tuesday 9 April.
- Marist Brothers Old Boys League Football Club held at Donovanâs Gymnasium, Parnell on Thursday 14 March.[69]
- Mt. Albert United Rugby League Football Club held at King George Hall, Mt Albert Terminus on Thursday 7 March.[76]
- Mt Wellington Rugby League Football Club request players to get in touch with Secretary W.E. Frost.[73]
- New Lynn League Football Club held at the Forestersâ Hall, New Lynn, on 13 March.[77] The New Lynn and Glen Eden teams played as one in 1929 under the name of Glen Lynn.
- Newmarket Rugby League Football Club held at No. 8 Melrose St., Newmarket, Thursday 28 February.[78]
- Newton Rangers Football Club held at Y.M.C.A Buildings, Wellesley St. East, on Monday 18 March.[69] Newton complained after 3 rounds to the Management Committee that it was impossible for members of their team to play early matches at Carlaw Park as its players had to travel long distances at a heavy expense.
- Northcote and Birkenhead Ramblers League Football Club held at Forestersâ Hall, Birkenhead on Monday.[79] The Northcote Borough Council met on 21 May. It was decided that both rugby union and soccer had to pay for the use of the municipal football ground but league did not on account of it providing the use of its own large mower and labour to cut the grass when required. All clubs had to make their own arrangements for marking out the ground and removing the goal posts after play each Saturday.
- Otahuhu Rugby League Football Club held at the Gas Companyâs Hall, Otahuhu, Monday 4 March.[80] At the end of the season Otahuhu held a reunion where the B Grade team was congratulated on winning the Thistle Cup, and the schoolboys team was presented with the Davis Cup.[81]
- Parnell League Football Club held at Donovanâs Gymnasium, Parnell, on Thursday 14 March.[69]
- Papatoetoe Rugby League Club held at Papatoetoe Town Hall on Tuesday 2 April. They decided to form three teams and ask the council for permission to play on any of its grounds.[4] They requested assistance from the Auckland Rugby League in the purchase of jerseys.
- Point Chevalier League Football Club held at the Sailing Club Hall on Wednesday 20 March.[69] 60 members were present and it was decided to enter 6 teams across the various grades.
- Ponsonby United Football Club held at Leys Institute, Ponsonby, on Monday 18 March.[69]
- Remuera Rugby League Football Club held at Mr. Whiteâs Residence, 1a Clonbern Road, on Monday 11 March.[69]
- Richmond Rovers Football Club held at the Gaiety Hall, Surrey Crescent on Thursday 14 March.[69] Richmond was granted £10 by the Auckland Rugby League towards their trip to Hikurangi to play there. Richmond lost the services of T. Hanlon who signed to play for Broughton Rangers Club in England. He was set to leave on the Ruahine Ship on 21 August. Near the end of the season the league gave Prentice, a Richmond player for several seasons a sum of money to recognise his efforts over the years. He had suffered âa good deal of adversityâ, including a broken nose... and has been put to a good deal of medical expense, but has never at any time made a claim upon the insurance fund provided by the Leagueâ.[82]
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