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1917 Auckland Rugby League season

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The 1917 Auckland Rugby League season was its 9th. Due to the large number of players now serving in the First World War it was agreed to relax transfer rules to allow players from stronger teams to join weaker teams to even the competition.[1] It was noted how many men from various clubs had been killed in battle by the beginning of 1917. They were Cecil Walker, Doug Dawson, T Marshall (Grafton Athletic), Charles Savory, T McWhirter, G Cook, N Vause, V McCollum, Alf Gault, T Lambert, E Tiernan, F Stubbs, W. G. Handle (Ponsonby United), B Hart, F Gladding, A Powley, Chas Mann (North Shore Albions), William Moeki, G Jones, W Harris, S Magee, S Greer (City Rovers), A Miller, C Sinton, and L O'Leary (Sunnyside). City Rovers had sent ninety men to war by this time and twenty-one had been wounded and five killed. The Sunnyside club had only nine members left and one of those who had gone to the war (W Shaughnessey) said that in the trenches he had made a list of league players from various clubs which totaled 120. All three of the Sunnyside secretaries had enlisted and the executive was also gone. Ponsonby had also had over eighty of its member join the war effort.[2]

Preceded by 9th Auckland Rugby League season
1917 		Succeeded by

Thirty three teams entered the six grades. This was down on previous seasons due to the number of men who had gone to fight. In the senior grade there were still six teams entered, with five second grade teams, five third grade teams, nine fourth grade teams, six fifth grade teams, and four sixth grade teams. The season was notable for the fact that Otahuhu was forced to drop out of the first grade competition after round 4 as it struggled to field senior players. Grafton Athletic also fell by the way-side soon after for the same reason.

Ponsonby United won the first grade championship for the first time in their history. They also won the Roope Rooster trophy for the first time with a 12–6 win over City Rovers in the final. By winning both competitions they became the second Auckland senior club to win multiple trophies in the same season following on the footsteps of City Rovers who had won both titles the year prior.

Representative season

At the season end rather than a strong representative program which had been a feature of earlier years several charity and exhibition matches were played instead. These included a match versus the victorious Auckland Rugby Union club champions Railway. The team in its entirety switched to the rugby league code. They played matches with Ponsonby United and City Rovers at the end of the season. The team would go on to struggle for numbers itself in 1918 before eventually amalgamating with Grafton Athletic.

Victoria Park

In 1916 the fence around Victoria Park had been removed by the council which made it very difficult to collect gate revenue. The league had however secured land which would be developed as Carlaw Park with the aim being to secure the ground and gain revenue from ticket sales in the future.

First grade championship

Twenty three first grade season matches were played which was less than previous seasons but owing to the fact that both Otahuhu and Grafton Athletic were forced to drop out of the competition due to a lack of players as a result of so many leaving to join the war effort. After their Round 4 default to North Shore where only two Otahuhu players turned up they decided to amalgamate senior teams with Grafton.[3] This was short lived however as Grafton themselves only lasted until Round 7 when they themselves defaulted a week later. Ponsonby United were crowned champions for the first time in their existence.

Final standings and fixtures

Team Pld W D L F A Pts
Ponsonby United 8 7 0 1 109 51 14
Newton Rangers 9 6 0 3 153 77 12
City Rovers 9 6 0 3 110 71 12
North Shore Albions 9 4 0 5 84 91 8
Grafton Athletic 7 0 0 7 21 144 0
Otahuhu 4 0 0 4 12 55 0

Round 1

19 May Ponsonby 12–8 Newton Victoria Park 1  
3:00 Try: S Jones, D McCarthy
Con: A Cross 2
Pen: A Cross 		[4] Try: R Lovett, Wally Somers
Con: C Potier 		Referee: A Ferguson


19 May North Shore 14–4 Grafton Devonport Domain  
3:00 Try: Pullen, Stewart, Stan Walters, L Boon
Pen: Neighbour 		[4] Pen: Karl Ifwersen 2 Referee: Murray


19 May Otahuhu 2–14 City Otahuhu 1  
3:00 Pen: Martin [4] Try: McAubrey 1, Tom Sheehan
Con: Bill Davidson 		Referee: Fielding

Round 2

26 May City 18–16 North Shore Victoria Park 1  
3:00 Try: Tom Sheehan, Bill Davidson, H Lunn, George Paki
Con: Ernie Asher 3 		[5] Try: L Boon, Nicholson, Stan Walters, George Seagar
Pen: Neighbour, Jim Griffen 		Referee: Benson


26 May Newton 43–0 Grafton Victoria Park 2  
3:00 Try: Bill Williams 2, Len Farrant 3, George Iles 3, McSweeney 2, C Potier
Con: Phil Castles, Len Farrant, C Potier 2, Wally Somers 		[6] Referee: Stan Weston


26 May Otahuhu 5–13 Ponsonby Otahuhu  
3:00 Try: P Higgins
Con: G Martin 		[7] Try: Bill Walsh, A Cross, A Rae
Con: A Cross 2 		Referee: T Hill

Round 3

2 June Ponsonby 15–6 North Shore Victoria Park 1  
3:00 Try: S Jones, Thomas McClymont 2
Con: A Cross
Pen: A Cross (and 1 mark) 		[8] Try: L Boon, Nicholson Referee: Fielding


2 June City 20–3 Grafton Victoria Park 2  
3:00 Try: Tom Sheehan, R Clarke, Bill Davidson 2, Ernie Asher, R Clark
Pen: Ernie Asher 		[8] Try: Les Bull Referee: A Ball


2 June Newton 28–5 Otahuhu Victoria Park 3  
3:00 Try: unknown x 1, George Iles, Bill Williams 2, Phil Castles, Len Farrant
Con: C Potier 3, Phil Castles
Pen: Phil Castles 		[8] Try: King
Pen: G Martin 		Referee: Vause

Round 4

9 June Newton 15–13 City Victoria Park 1  
3:00 Try: George Iles, Tobin 2
Con: C Potier 1
Pen: C Potier 		[9] Try: Hastedt, R Clarke 2
Con: Ernie Asher 2 		Referee: Stan Weston


9 June Ponsonby 37–3 Grafton Victoria Park 2  
3:00 Try: W Henderson 2, S Jones 2, A Rae 2, A Cross, Jim Clark, L Martin
Con: A Rae, A Cross 2, J Winters
Pen: A Cross 		[9] Try: unknown x 1 Referee: Tyson


9 June North Shore WBD-LBD Otahuhu Devonport Domain  
2:00 [9] Referee: T Thompson

Round 5

16 June Ponsonby 15–11 City Victoria Park 1  
3:00 Try: S Jones, A Rae 2
Con: A Cross
Pen: A Cross 2 		[10] Try: J Sutton, R Clarke, Bill Davidson
Con: Bill Davidson 		Referee: Murray


16 June North Shore 13–20 Newton Devonport Domain 1  
3:00 Try: Nicholson, Neighbour, Ernie Bailey
Con: W Matthews
Pen: W Matthews 		[10] Try: George Iles, Phil Castles, Bill Cloke, Bill Williams
Con: C Potier 2
Pen: C Potier 2 		Referee: A Ferguson

Round 6

30 June Ponsonby 10–7 Newton Victoria Park 1  
3:00 Try: S Jones, Jim Clark
Con: A Cross 2 		[11] Try: Lang
Con: C Potier
Pen: C Potier 		Referee: Stan Weston


30 June North Shore 11–8 Grafton Victoria Park 2  
3:00 Try: Matthews, Stan Walters, Kirk
Pen: Stan Walters 		[11] Try: Parks, Marshbank
Pen: Martin 		Referee: Hill

Round 7

Grafton continued to struggle to put out a competitive team and played 3 men short against Newton.

7 July North Shore 15–11 City Victoria Park 1  
3:00 Try: Nicholson, George Seagar, Jim Griffen
Con: Nicholson 3 		[12] Try: Bill Davidson, unknown x 1, T Sheehan
Con: Ernie Asher 		Referee: F Thompson


7 July Newton 19–3 Grafton Victoria Park 2  
3:00 Try: George Iles 3, James, R Clarke
Con: George Iles 2 		[12] Try: Phil Castles Referee: Aughton

Round 8

The unknown try for Ponsonby in their win over North Shore was described in the New Zealand Herald match report as “a fierce combined rally resulted in the pack taking the ball over for a try”. Grafton defaulted their match with City and this ended their season as they were unable to field a side for any further competitive matches.

14 July Ponsonby 7–6 North Shore Victoria Park 1  
3:00 Try: Unknown x 1
Con: Bill Walsh
Pen: Bill Walsh 		[13] Try: Stan Walters, George Seagar Attendance: 3,500
Referee: W Murray


14 July City WBD-LBD Grafton Victoria Park 2  
3:00 [13] Referee: Clow

Round 9

21 July City 18–5 Newton Victoria Park 1  
3:00 Try: Ernie Asher, Bill Davidson, Hogan 2
Con: Ernie Asher 2, Bill Davidson 		[14] Try: Browne
Pen: C Potier 		Referee: T Fielding

Round 10

28 July City 5–0 Ponsonby Victoria Park 1  
3:00 Try: C Mitchell
Con: Bill Davidson 		[15] Referee: A Ferguson


28 July Newton 8–3 North Shore Victoria Park 1  
1:45 Try: Albert Ivil, George Iles
Con: George Iles 		[15] Try: L Boon Referee: A Ball

On 21 July Ponsonby played a match versus the Waterside Workers after both Otahuhu and Grafton had left the competition. Ponsonby won the match by 14 points to 3.

Roope Rooster knockout competition

After both Otahuhu and Grafton Athletic had dropped out of the senior grade there were only 4 senior teams left. However the Waterside Workers formed a team and played a match versus Ponsonby during the season, and they also played in the first round of the Roope Rooster.

Following the conclusion of the Roope Rooster competition on 25 August a benefit match was played between City Rovers and Newton Rangers at Victoria Park. It was won by City 31 points to 11.[16] On 1 September City defeated Ponsonby in another exhibition match, described as “one of the fastest and most exciting matches this season” by 13 points to 12 at Victoria Park.[17]

Round 1

4 August Newton 24–6 North Shore Victoria Park 1  
3:00 Try: George Iles 2, Tobin, Bill Williams, Bill Cloke, Thomas
Con: C Potier
Pen: C Potier
Drop: C Potier 		[18] Try: Nicholson, Neighbour Referee: Stan Weston


4 August City 13–7 Waterside Workers Victoria Park 2  
3:00 Try: A Eustace, McAubrey, Bill Davison
Con: Ernie Asher 2 		[18] Try: Tierney
Con: Len Farrant
Pen: Curtis 		Referee: Vause

Semi final

11 August Ponsonby 15–6 Newton Victoria Park 1  
3:00 Try: A Rae, Bill Walsh, Sam Lowrie
Con: Bill Walsh, A Cross
Pen: A Cross 		[19] Pen: C Potier 2 (+ 1 mark) Referee: T Fielding

Final

18 August Ponsonby 12–6 City Victoria Park  
3:00 Try: Thomas McClymont, A Maddison
Con: A Cross
Pen: A Cross 2 		[20] Pen: Ernie Asher 3 Referee: Murray

Top try scorers and point scorers

The following point scoring lists include both Senior Championship matches and the Roope Rooster competition.

Senior exhibition and charity matches

Mackrell Memorial

On 8 September a combined match was played between Ponsonby-Shore and Newton-City with the proceeds devoted to a memorial to the late William Mackrell. This was a premonition of the future with City and Newton several decades later actually combining clubs.

8 September Ponsonby-North Shore 22–3 City-Newton Victoria Park 1  
3:00 Try: Bill Walsh 2, Thomas McClymont 2, Nicholson, Stewart
Con: A Cross 2 		[21]

[22]

Try: Bill Davidson Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Murray

Gala match in the Auckland Domain

On 15 September a gala day was held with Rugby League and Football (“Association”) played to raise money for the RSA. It was declared a success and 200 pounds was raised. The match was played between Ponsonby United who had won the league championship and a combined team from the remainder of the clubs in the senior grade (City Rovers, Newton Rangers, and North Shore Albions). The combined team won by 26 to 21. The day also featured a sprint race between 6 players from the senior teams. It was won by Nicholson of the North Shore Albions. A ‘house match’ was also played between Hobson Hotel and Thompson and Hill's which Hobson Hotel won by 23 points to 3[23] .[24]

15 September Combined Team 26–21 Ponsonby Auckland Domain  
3:00 Try: Thomas 2, Nicholson, Phil Castles, George Seagar, Ernie Bailey
Con: Bill Davidson 4 		[25]

.[26]

Try: D McCarthy 2, Sam Lowrie, Iles, Artie Rae
Con: A Cross 3 		Attendance: 5,000

Exhibition matches

City and Ponsonby United played an exhibition match on 24 September at Victoria Park.[27] On 29 September a very controversial cross code match was played between Railway (a combination of Marist Brothers Old Boys and City) who were the winners of the Auckland Rugby Union competition, and Ponsonby, the Auckland Rugby League club champions. The match was not sanctioned by the Auckland Rugby Union as Railway was also scheduled to play an annual charity rugby union match versus University on the same day. The Railway team playing the league code had “gone over to the Northern Union game”.[28] They played a further match against City Rovers which they lost by 18 points to 6 before moving to the Auckland Rugby League full-time in 1918. They would eventually amalgamate with Grafton Athletic and in 1919 they would reform as the Marist Rugby League Old Boys club”.[29]


22 September City 16–6 Ponsonby Victoria Park 1  
3:00 Try: Bill Davidson, Harry Francis 2, Hogan
Con: Bill Davidson 		[30] Try: Artie Rae 2 Attendance: 4,000


29 September Railway 12–3 Ponsonby Victoria Park 1  
3:00 Try: Dacre, Simpson, James Hing, Courtnenay [31] Try: W Henderson Attendance: 2,000


6 October City 18–6 Railway Victoria Park 1  
3:00 Try: I Hogan, Stanaway, Bill Davidson, Jim Rukutai, A Eustace, C Mitchell [32] Try: Barclay, James Hing Attendance: 3,500

Other club matches and lower grades

Lower grade clubs

Manukau, Remuera and Riverhead did not field teams in any grades in 1917. Richmond were being named as Richmond Rovers in the newspaper reports for the first time.

Representative fixture

Auckland played a match against a Military Representative side representing the Trentham, Featherston, and Tauherenikau camps at the Auckland Domain on 13 October. A large crowd attended and the total proceeds of the game were devoted to the Red Cross.

Auckland v Military Representatives

13 October Auckland 23–20 Military Camps Auckland Domain  
3:00 Try: Bill Davidson 2, Thomas McClymont, Thomas, Mitchell, Sam Lowrie, Maurice Wetherill
Con: A Cross 		[33] Try: Clark 2, Guiney, Hickey
Con: Clark 2, McPhee
Pen: Clark 		Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Leonard Nield

Auckland matches played and scorers

No Name Club Team Play Tries Con Pen Points
1 Bill Davidson City Rovers 1 2 0 0 6
2 Thomas McClymont Ponsonby United 1 1 0 0 3
2 Thomas Newton Rangers 1 1 0 0 3
2 C Mitchell City Rovers 1 1 0 0 3
2 Sam Lowrie Ponsonby United 1 1 0 0 3
2 Maurice Wetherill City Rovers 1 1 0 0 3
7 A Cross Ponsonby United 1 0 1 0 2
8 Stewart North Shore Albions 1 0 0 0 0
8 J Hogan City Rovers 1 0 0 0 0
8 Jim Rukutai City Rovers 1 0 0 0 0
8 R Clarke City Rovers 1 0 0 0 0
8 George Seagar North Shore Albions 1 0 0 0 0
8 George Paki City Rovers 1 0 0 0 0

References

  1. ^ "Prospects for the Season". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16529. 3 May 1917. p. 8. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  2. ^ "At the Front/Footballers Distinguish Themselves". Auckland Star. Vol. XLVIII, no. 107. 5 May 1917. p. 6. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Otahuhu V North Shore". Auckland Star. Vol. XLVIII, no. 140. 13 June 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "Opening of the Season/Newton V Ponsonby/North Shore V Grafton/City V Otahuhu". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16544. 21 May 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Competitions Continued/City V North Shore". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16550. 28 May 1917. p. 8. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Competitions Continued/Newton V Grafton". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16550. 28 May 1917. p. 8. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Competitions Continued/Ponsonby V Otahuhu". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16550. 28 May 1917. p. 8. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  8. ^ a b c "Ponsonby Beats North Shore/Ponsonby V North Shore". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16556. 4 June 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  9. ^ a b c "Newton Beats City/Ponsonby V Grafton". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16562. 11 June 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Ponsonby Beats City/Ponsonby V City/Newton V North Shore". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16568. 18 June 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  11. ^ a b "Ponsonby Defeats Newton/Ponsonby V Newton/North Shore V Grafton". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16580. 2 July 1917. p. 3. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  12. ^ a b "North Shore Beat City/North Shore V City". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16586. 9 July 1917. p. 8. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  13. ^ a b "Ponsonby Beats North Shore/Ponsonby V North Shore". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16512. 16 July 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  14. ^ "City Defeats Newton/City V Newton/Ponsonby V Waterside Workers". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16598. 23 July 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  15. ^ a b "City Defeats Ponsonby/City V Ponsonby". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16604. 30 July 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  16. ^ "City Defeats Newton". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16628. 27 August 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  17. ^ "City Defeats Ponsonby". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16634. 3 September 1917. p. 2. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  18. ^ a b ""Roope's Rooster" Tourney/Newton V North Shore/City V Waterside Workers". Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 187. 7 August 1917. p. 8. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  19. ^ "Ponsonby Beats Newton/Ponsonby V Newton". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16616. 13 August 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  20. ^ "Roope Rooster Final/Ponsonby the Winners". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16622. 20 August 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  21. ^ "Mackerell Memorial". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16640. 10 September 1917. p. 3. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  22. ^ "The Mackerell Memorial". Auckland Star. Vol. XLVIII, no. 216. 10 September 1917. p. 6. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  23. ^ "Ponsonby V Combined Team/The Cup Winners Beaten". Auckland Star. Vol. XLVIII, no. 222. 17 September 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  24. ^ "League 'and Association, Gala in Domain". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16646. 17 September 1917. p. 2. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  25. ^ "Ponsonby V Combined Team/The Cup Winners Beaten". Auckland Star. Vol. XLVIII, no. 222. 17 September 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  26. ^ "League 'and Association, Gala in Domain". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16646. 17 September 1917. p. 2. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  27. ^ "City Defeats Ponsonby". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16652. 24 September 1917. p. 2. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  28. ^ "A Test of Strength". Auckland Star. Vol. XLVIII, no. 234. 24 September 1917. p. 6. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  29. ^ John Coffey & Bernie Wood (2009). "Auckland 100 Years of Rugby League: 1909–2009". Huia Publishers. p. 53.
  30. ^ "Northern Union/City V Ponsonby". Auckland Star. Vol. XLVIII, no. 228. 24 September 1917. p. 3. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  31. ^ "Railway V Ponsonby/League Champions Defeated". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16658. 1 October 1917. p. 6. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  32. ^ "Under League Rules/City V Railway/Union Champions Defeated". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16664. 8 October 1917. p. 6. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  33. ^ "Auckland V Military Reps/Local Team Successful". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 16670. 15 October 1917. p. 3. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
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