1915 Auckland Rugby League season

The 1915 season, and 7th of Auckland Rugby League saw the First Grade competition begin on 8 May featuring the same 6 senior clubs who had competed in 1914.

The First World War was in full effect by the time the 1915 season began. War had been declared just as the 1914 rugby league season was concluding in August 1914. As a result, several efforts were made during the 1915 season by the Auckland Rugby League to raise funds for Auckland Hospital Ship and Wounded Soldiers Relief Fund.

On 12 June, a seven-a-side tournament was arranged to be played at Victoria Park to raise money for the Auckland Hospital Ship and Wounded Relief Fund. In total £200 was raised with "almost 1,000 people" in attendance. All senior clubs entered teams and the final was played between North Shore Albions and City Rovers though the match was not completed owing to the fact that some earlier matches went to extra-time and the final saw an injury requiring a stoppage. As it had become dark it was decided to call the game off with North Shore leading by 3pts. A further £35 was raised from the 19 June round of matches at Victoria Park for the same cause.

Grafton Athletic were crowned First Grade champions for the first time after defeating City Rovers 10–5 in the championship final at Victoria Park in front of 4,000 spectators.

The Beginning of the Roope Rooster

A trophy which is still played for today saw its beginnings in the 1915 season. Namely the Roope Rooster trophy which was donated by Mr. R Roope. It was a knockout competition with one round of matches before semi-finals were played. With the semi-final between Newton and Grafton being drawn (after North Shore received the bye) the management committee decided rather than replaying a match between the same teams there would be more interest in a match between Grafton and North Shore, with Newton progressing to the final. The second semi-final was played at Victoria Park and saw both teams wearing white armbands in memory of 3 men killed in action at the Dardanelles who had played club rugby league in Auckland (Charles Savory from Ponsonby United, Charles James Hally from Otahuhu, and William Moeki from City Rovers). A charge was made for the semi-final between North Shore and Grafton with the proceeds going to the Door of Hope, the Salvation Army Maternity and Rescue Homes, Sister Esther's Relief Work, and the St John Ambulance Brigade. The final was played on 11 September at Victoria Park between North Shore Albions and Newton Rangers, with North Shore winning 10 points to 7.

Obituaries

Charles Savory

Charles Savory was born on 23 March 1889 and grew up in Auckland. In 1910 he was suspended from playing rugby for two years for kicking an opponent and he switched to rugby league where he joined the Ponsonby team. Savory played for Ponsonby United from 1911 to 1914 and scored 16 tries and kicked 13 goals. For Auckland he played 4 times, scoring 3 tries and kicking 11 goals all in the 1914 season. He had made a quick impression after switching codes and was selected to play for the touring New Zealand side on their visit to Australia. He was then selected for the 1911–12 tour of the United Kingdom for the Australasian side. In 1912 he was sent off in a club match versus Newton which meant he was unable to tour with the New Zealand team to Australia. In 1913 he was accused of injuring a player from Manukau and was banned for life however on appeal the New Zealand Council refused to confirm the ban and ultimately sacked the entire Auckland Rugby League board and selected a new one. Savory was also an outstanding boxer and in 1914 he became the National Amateur Heavyweight Boxing champion. In 1915 he enlisted in the army and on 8 May 1915 he was killed by a shell to the head before he reached shore at the Dardanelles aged 26.

William Moeki

William Moeki was born at Port Awanui on the East Coast. He was also known as Wātene Moeke and William Moeke. He played for the City Rovers from 1911 to 1914 in the forwards and scored 8 tries. He joined the Auckland Infantry Battalion and embarked for Suez, Egypt on 16 October 1914. William Moeki was killed in action at the Dardanelles on 25 April 1915. In a letter back to New Zealand by well known Auckland boxer Private Alfred Gault, Moeki was said to have last been seen in a bayonet charge. His name is memorialised on the Lone Pine Memorial, at Lone Pine Cemetery in Anzac Cove, Turkey and at Tikitiki Church's War Memorial. He was awarded the 1914–1915 Star, and British War & Victory Medals.

Charles James Hally

Charles James Hally was born on 18 May 1889 in Cambridge, New Zealand. Hally was also an outstanding sprinter and in 1913 was runner-up in the 100 and 220-yard championships of New Zealand. In 1914 he had moved to Auckland and played for the Otahuhu senior team where he scored 2 tries. He had moved to Morrinsville where he was farming before enlisting in the army soon after the outbreak of the war on 11 August 1914. He was injured in battle on 8 May in an attack on the Daisy Patch at Gallipoli and recovered on Hospital Ship Franconia and at Cairo once ashore. He again joined the battle on the attack at Courtnays Post, Gallipoli serving in the Hauraki Company of the Auckland Infantry however this time he was wounded more seriously in the lungs and legs and succumbed to his injuries on 26 July 1915. He was buried at sea off Gaba Tepe. Like William Moeki he is commemorated at the Lone Pine Memorial in Anzac, Turkey.

First Grade Championship

Twenty eight matches were played in the first grade competition. Nine full rounds were played followed by the final. Victoria Park was the main ground used, with matches also played at the Auckland Domain, Devonport Domain, and Otahuhu.

Final Standings

Team Pld W D L F A Pts Grafton Athletic 10 7 1 2 118 70 15 City Rovers 10 6 1 3 93 63 13 Ponsonby United 9 5 1 3 93 63 11 North Shore Albions 9 4 1 4 76 83 9 Newton Rangers 9 3 0 6 80 118 6 Otahuhu 9 1 0 8 48 111 2 First Grade Fixtures Round 1 8 May City 15–0 Newton Auckland Domain   3:00 Try: V Bachard, Harold Denize, Brooks, Jim Rukutai, Davidson Referee: Vance 8 May Ponsonby 2–11 Grafton Victoria Park   3:00 Pen: Charles Webb Try: A McGregor Con: Karl Ifwersen Pen: Karl Ifwersen 2 & a mark Referee: J Fielding 8 May Otahuhu 3–4 North Shore Otahuhu   3:00 Try: McManus Pen: Jack Paul 2 Round 2 15 May Ponsonby 4–0 City Victoria Park   3:00 Pen: F McWhirter 2 marks Referee: A Ferguson 15 May North Shore 24–3 Newton Devonport Domain   3:00 Try: Stan Walters 2, Jack Paul, Stewart, Chatfield, Nicholson Con: Jack Paul 2 Pen: Jack Paul Try: Jim Bennett Referee: Murray 15 May Otahuhu 0–10 Grafton Otahuhu   3:00 Try: Karl Ifwersen, Brook Con: Karl Ifwersen Pen: Karl Ifwersen Referee: Nield Round 3 22 May Grafton 7–7 North Shore Victoria Park   3:00 Try: Owen Pen: Karl Ifwersen 2 Try: Stan Walters Con: Jack Paul Pen: Jack Paul Referee: J Nield 22 May Ponsonby 14–2 Newton Auckland Domain   3:00 Try: Jones 3, Pahi Con: Thomas McClymont Pen: Jim Bennett Referee: Tyson 22 May Otahuhu 2–0 City Otahuhu   3:00 Pen: Farrelly Referee: Hempsey Round 4 In the match between Ponsonby and Otahuhu following a penalty being awarded to Ponsonby Arthur Hardgrave threw the ball and it struck the referee. It was unclear if this was accidental or deliberate according to the NZ Herald reporter of the time. 29 May Ponsonby 19–9 Otahuhu Victoria Park   3:00 Try: W Edwards, Thomas McClymont, R Longbottom Con: A Cross 3 Pen: A Cross 2 Try: Richardson Con: Farrelly Pen: Farrelly 2 Referee: Calthorpe 29 May Grafton 15–11 Newton Auckland Domain   3:00 Try: Karl Ifwersen 2, Collins Con: Karl Ifwersen 2 Pen: Karl Ifwersen Try: Clark, Alan Blakey, Len Farrant Con: Clark Referee: Whitley 29 May North Shore 8–15 City Devonport Domain   3:00 Pen: Jack Paul 2 & 2 marks Try: Albert Asher 3 Con: Ernie Asher 3 Referee: Fielding Round 5 19 June City 16–10 Grafton Victoria Park # 1   3:00 Try: George Asher 2, Albert Asher 2 Con: Ernie Asher Pen: Ernie Asher Try: J McGregor 2 Pen: Karl Ifwersen & 1 mark Referee: R Benson 19 June Newton 18–6 Otahuhu Victoria Park # 3   3:00 Try: Bowen, Jim Bennett, Biggs, Potier Con: Jim Bennett 2 Pen: Tobin Try: Fisher, Spence Referee: Ferguson 19 June Ponsonby 18–0 North Shore Victoria Park # 2   3:00 Try: V McCallum 2 Con: A Cross 2 Pen: A Cross 3, S Jones Referee: Vause Round 6 26 June Grafton 10–5 Ponsonby Victoria Park   3:00 Try: Rogers, Dougie McGregor Pen: Karl Ifwersen & 1 mark Try: S Jones Con: A Cross Referee: Ferguson 26 June City 16–13 Newton Auckland Domain   3:00 Try: V Barchard 2, George Asher, Jim Rukutai Con: Ernie Asher 2 Try: P Roope, Clark, Len Farrant Con: Clark Pen: Clark Referee: Fielding 26 June North Shore 11–10 Otahuhu Devonport Domain   3:00 Try: Perritt, T Paul, McDonald Con: Jack Paul Try: Fisher, Spence Con: Stanaway, Bert Farrelly Referee: Murray Round 7 In the match between Newton and North Shore both Kiwi international Stan Walters, and Roope were sent off for "rough play". 10 July Ponsonby 3–3 City Victoria Park # 1   3:00 Try: S Jones Try: V Barchard Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Fielding 10 July Grafton 21–3 Otahuhu Victoria Park # 2   3:00 Try: Rogers, J McGregor 3, George Iles Con: Karl Ifwersen 2, Dougie McGregor Try: Wrightson Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Whitley 10 July Newton 5–3 North Shore Victoria Park # 3   3:00 Try: Biggs Con: Clarke Try: Wynyard Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Calthorp Round 8 17 July Newton 19–10 Ponsonby Victoria Park   3:00 Try: Clark 2, Jim Bennett, Potier, Rope Con: Clark Pen: Clark Try: S Jones, Danrell Con: A Cross Pen: A Cross Referee: Murray 17 July North Shore 12–9 Grafton Devonport Domain   3:00 Try: Wynyard, Nicholson Con: Jack Paul Pen: Jack Paul 2 Try: Warner Con: Karl Ifwersen Pen: Karl Ifwersen 2 Referee: A Ferguson 17 July City 10–6 Otahuhu Auckland Domain   3:00 Try: V Barchard, Albert Asher Con: Ernie Asher Pen: Ernie Asher Try: Spence, Donohue Round 9 24 July Grafton 15–9 Newton Victoria Park # 3   3:00 Try: Karl Ifwersen, Bob Mitchell Pen: Karl Ifwersen 2 (and 1 mark) Try: Jim Bennett Pen: Clarke 2 (and 1 mark) Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Whitley 24 July City 13–7 North Shore Victoria Park # 2   3:00 Try: Jim Rukutai Con: Ernie Asher Pen: Ernie Asher 2 (and 2 marks) Try: Nicholson Con: Jack Paul Pen: Jack Paul Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Murray 24 July Otahuhu 9–18 Ponsonby Otahuhu   3:00 Try: Fisher Con: Bert Farrelly Pen: Bert Farrelly 2 Try: S Jones, V McCallum, W Edwards, unknown x 1 Con: A Cross Pen: A Cross 2 Referee: Hill Championship Final 31 Jul Grafton 10–5 City Victoria Park   3:00 Try: Karl Ifwersen, Warner Con: Karl Ifwersen 2 Try: Mincham Con: Ernie Asher Attendance: 4,000 Referee: A Ferguson Roope Rooster Knockout competition Newton, Grafton and North Shore were round 1 victors and North Shore received a bye meaning they should have advanced to the final directly. However Grafton and Newton played out a 2–2 draw in their semi-final. Rather than play a replay the league decided to have a second semi-final match between Grafton and North Shore, with Newton progressing to the final. North Shore beat Grafton and then defeated Newton in the final to win the inaugural Roope Rooster trophy which is still played for today. Round 1 9 August Grafton 13–9 Ponsonby Victoria Park # 1   3:00 Try: Karl Ifwersen 3 Con: Karl Ifwersen 2 Try: D Corby, S Jones, F McWhirter Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Calthorpe 9 August North Shore 16–8 City Devonport Domain # 1   3:00 Try: T Paul 2, Fife, Anderson Con: Jack Paul 2 Try: B Tresize, Avery Con: Albert Asher Referee: Fielding 9 August Otahuhu 9–24 Newton Otahuhu # 1   3:00 Try: Eustace, Fisher, O’Connell Try: Clark 3, Rope 2, unknown x 1 Con: Clark 3 Referee: Herrick Semi-final 14 August Newton 2–2 Grafton Victoria Park   3:00 Drop: Potier Pen: Owen (mark) Referee: A Ferguson Semi-final 21 August North Shore 17–13 Grafton Victoria Park   3:00 Try: Ernie Bailey, Nicholson, Mason Con: Jack Paul 2 Pen: Jack Paul Try: Dougie McGregor 2, Collins Con: Karl Ifwersen Pen: Karl Ifwersen (mark) Attendance: 3,500 Referee: Murray Final 11 September North Shore 10–7 Newton Victoria Park   3:00 Try: Morgan, Stan Walters Con: Jack Paul Pen: Jack Paul Try: Jim Bennett Pen: Jim Bennett, Clark Referee: Murray Top Try Scorers and Point Scorers The following point scoring lists include both Senior Championship matches and the Roope Rooster competition. Unlike in previous seasons where there were several matches with incomplete scoring lists the 1915 season was well reported by the New Zealand Herald and only two tries were unattributed (one for Pnsonby and one for Newton). For the second year in a row the outstanding Karl Ifwersen easily topped the point scoring lists. Rank Player Team Tries 1 Karl Ifwersen Grafton Athletic 8 1 S Jones Ponsonby United 8 3 Clark Newton Rangers 7 4 Albert Asher City Rovers 6 5 V Barchard City Rovers 5 5 Jim Bennett Newton Rangers 5 5 J McGregor Grafton Athletic 5 8 Fisher Otahuhu 4 8 Nicholson North Shore Albions 4 8 Stan Walters North Shore Albions 4 Rank Player Team Tries Con Pen Mark Points 1 Karl Ifwersen Grafton Athletic 8 11 12 4 78 2 Jack Paul North Shore Albions 1 11 13 0 51 3 Clark Newton Rangers 7 7 5 1 47 4 Ernie Asher City Rovers 0 10 4 2 32 4 A Cross Ponsonby United 0 8 8 0 32 6 S Jones Ponsonby United 8 0 1 0 26 7 Jim Bennett Newton Rangers 5 2 2 0 23 8 Albert Asher City Rovers 6 0 0 0 18 9 V Barchard City Rovers 5 0 0 0 15 9 J McGregor Grafton Athletic 5 0 0 0 15 Charity Carnval Then on 3 July a "Patriotic Carnival" was held involving the Auckland Hockey Association, Auckland Rugby League, Auckland Rugby Union, and the Auckland Football Association. In addition there was a golf competition and a school basketball competition. Over 15,000 people crammed into the Auckland Domain to watch the matches. In the league matches Grafton Athletic defeated City Rovers by 15 points to 10, in the second grade match City Rovers beat Mangere 8 points to 3, and in the fourth grade match the Manukau Rovers defeated Ponsonby United by 8 points to 3 also. Charity Seven-A-Side Tournament Results Date Score Score Venue Notes First round 12 June Newton Rangers 10 Grafton B 0 Victoria Park – – Ponsonby United A 8 City Rovers B 8 Victoria Park * City Rovers won in extra-time – – Grafton Athletic A 17 Otahuhu B 0 Victoria Park – – City Rovers A 8 Otahuhu A 0 Victoria Park - – – North Shore Albions 5 Ponsonby B 0 Victoria Park - Second round – Newton Rangers 15 City Rovers B 10 Victoria Park Won in extra-time with a converted try Semi-final – City Rovers A 8 Grafton Athletic A 5 Victoria Park – Semi-final – North Shore Albions 3 Newton Rangers 2 Victoria Park - Final – North Shore Albions 3 City Rovers 0 Victoria Park Match Abandoned due to darkness Lower Grades Other clubs competing in lower grades (second, third, fourth, and fifth grades) included Thames Old Boys (made up of players who had settled in Auckland), Northcote Ramblers, Sunnyside, Remuera, Richmond (who were affiliated with the Eden Ramblers), Manukau, and Mangere. Representative season Due to World War I having broken out and the large number of players who had gone to fight the representative season was far reduced from previous years. The Auckland Rugby League did however decide to play 3 fixtures at the end of the season to support fledgling country leagues. Auckland had seen the death of a representative player already when Charles Savory died of his wounds at Gallipoli. The first representative match of the season was played on 28 August when Auckland defeated Thames by 27 points to 16 at Victoria Park with over 4,000 in attendance. In the return match a week later Thames won 25–13. The following weekend saw Auckland lose to Waikato in Huntly, though they had several new combinations and the first ever Roope Rooster club final was played at the same time in Auckland. A junior representative fixture was played as the curtain-raiser with Auckland winning by 16 points to 3 over a Lower Waikato team. Representative Fixtures Auckland v Thames 28 August Auckland 27–16 Thames Victoria Park   3:00 Try: Dougie McGregor, S Jones, J Cross, Stan Walters, Rodgers 2, Jim Rukutai, F McWhirter Con: J Cross 2, Stan Walters Try: V Ryan 2, A Lomas 2 Con: J Winder Drop: V Ryan Attendance: 4,000 Referee: L Nield Auckland v Thames In the return match 350 Auckland supporters made the journey on board the Wakatere and were entertained by the Onehunga Brass Band. 4 September Thames 25–13 Auckland Dodd's Paddock, Parawai (Thames)   3:00 Try: Smith, Tookey 3, Ryan Con: Maddison 3 Pen: Maddison 2 Try: F Collins, Clark 2 Con: Stan Walters Pen: Clark Referee: E T Price Auckland v Lower Waikato 11 September Lower Waikato 19–6 Auckland Huntly   3:00 Try: D Bookham 2, A Cook, George Paki, H Johnson Con: H Peckham, F Littlewood Try: Spence, Forsyth Referee: R Nield Auckland Representative Matches Played and Scorers No Name Club Team Play Tries Con Pen Points 1 Jim Clark Ponsonby United 1 2 0 1 8 2 Stan Walters North Shore Albions 2 1 2 0 7 3 F Rogers Grafton Athletic 2 2 0 0 6 4 J Cross Ponsonby United 2 1 0 0 4 5 Dougie McGregor Grafton Athletic 1 1 0 0 3 5 S Jones Ponsonby United 2 1 0 0 3 5 Jim Rukutai City Rovers 2 1 0 0 3 5 F McWhirter Ponsonby United 2 1 0 0 3 5 F Collins Grafton Athletic 1 1 0 0 3 5 Spence Otahuhu 1 1 0 0 3 5 Forsyth ? 1 1 0 0 3 12 George Asher City Rovers 2 0 0 0 0 12 Joe Bennett Newton Rangers 2 0 0 0 0 12 Boylan City Rovers 2 0 0 0 0 12 H Wynyard North Shore Albions 2 0 0 0 0 12 W Walsh Ponsonby United 2 0 0 0 0 12 Albert Asher City Rovers 1 0 0 0 0 12 Thomas McClymont Ponsonby United 1 0 0 0 0 12 M Stanaway Otahuhu 1 0 0 0 0 12 F Tresize City Rovers 1 0 0 0 0 12 J McGregor Grafton Athletic 1 0 0 0 0 12 Mincham City Rovers 1 0 0 0 0 12 McCallum Ponsonby United 1 0 0 0 0 12 Francis Ponsonby United 1 0 0 0 0 12 Fisher Otahuhu 1 0 0 0 0 12 R Longbottom Ponsonby United 1 0 0 0 0 12 Richardson Otahuhu 1 0 0 0 0 12 McGee City Rovers 1 0 0 0 0 12 Wrightson Otahuhu 1 0 0 0 0 References External links Auckland Rugby League Official Site