1911 Auckland Rugby League season

The 1911 Auckland Rugby League season was the second full organised club season in Auckland following the 1910 Auckland Rugby League season. City Rovers won the title again after winning it in the competitions inaugural year.

Preceded by
1910
3rd Auckland Rugby League season
1911
Succeeded by
1912

The club season commenced on 20 May, with the start of the competition for the Myers Cup. City Rovers were crowned champions after defeating Ponsonby United in the final 36–15 which was required due to both teams being within 2 points of each other as the competition entered its closing stages. The competition at the time and for decades to come often did not complete full round robins. When a team had an unassailable lead over their nearest rivals the competition was often concluded at that point. Ponsonby and City had already met twice during the season but rather than conclude the round robin with round 10. In round 10 Ponsonby would have had a bye and City would likely have gained an easy win over wooden spooners, Eden Ramblers so the Auckland Rugby League decided to have the two top teams play off for the title a week early rather than prolong the competition.

The City side featured Albert Asher, Alex Stanaway, Jim Rukutai, and Bob Mitchell, while Ponsonby had Charlie Savory, Charles Dunning and Arthur Carlaw.

Venues

Unlike in 1910 when only two venues were used, there were 5 venues used. They were Victoria Park, Takapuna Racecourse, 'Avondale', Auckland Domain, and Eden Park (which was the venue for the club final between City Rovers and Ponsonby United.

Eden Ramblers formed

The senior competition saw the addition of the Eden Ramblers who had been formed in April. A meeting was held at the Avondale Public Hall on Wednesday 26 April with Mr John Bollard, MP presiding over it. He was elected president and chairman, and the name Eden Ramblers was chosen along with the colours or green and gold. The following officers were selected: Hon Secretary, Mr B Boone; Management Committee, W. A. Cummings, J Eddoes, W Fairweather, M Morrow, and J Denyer. The membership was close to 50 and they were to begin their training for the season ahead on 29 April with a join practice with Ponsonby at Victoria Park.[1]

Rugby union converts

At the start of the season George Gillett, Arthur Francis, Alan Blakey, and Frank Morse all switched codes. Gillett and Francis had both played for the All Blacks for several seasons and were joining the Newton Rangers along with Blakey who was a well known Auckland rugby player. Morse was joining the City Rovers. Gillett, Francis, and Morse would all go on to represent the Kiwi's.[2]

Representative season

It featured a representative program in August and September where Auckland played nine matches including two against the New Zealand side. They won eight and lost one. Their first match saw them lose to New Zealand however they rattled off consecutive wins against New Zealand (6 weeks later), Wellington, Lower Waikato, Hawke's Bay, Nelson, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay Māori, and a Country team from Waihi & Rotorua.

Myers Cup (first grade championship)

Eighteen regular season matches were played before the final on 16 September where City Rovers defeated Ponsonby United 36 to 15 to retain the title which they had won in 1910.

Final standings

Team Pld W D L F A Pts
City Rovers 87011647014
Ponsonby United 970220511714
North Shore Albions 730480686
Newton Rangers 7106511382
Eden Ramblers 7106421492

The second round did not feature the final round of matches hence Ponsonby playing an extra match (when they were due to have a bye), while the table also includes the final played between City and Ponsonby.

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Round 8

Round 9

Final

Top scorers

The Ponsonby v Eden match in Round 2 had 23 unattributed points for Ponsonby (5 tries and 4 goals) and 5 for Eden (1 try and 1 goal), while the Round 4 match between Newton and Eden saw a try to Newton unattributed. As such the following lists are likely to omit tries and points for players from those sides.

Lower grades

Grades were made of the following teams with the winning team in bold:

Representative season

The season began with a match against the New Zealand team which was about to depart for its Australian tour. The touring side won by two points but when they returned from their tour they played again only this time Auckland were the victors by 11 points to 3.

Auckland v New Zealand

Auckland v New Zealand

Auckland v Wellington (Northern Union Cup)

Auckland v Lower Waikato

J Kay had the distinction of playing for Auckland one week, and then turning out against them the following week for Waikato. Occasionally players from the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions would represent Auckland. Kay played 3 matches for Auckland in this season. The Auckland Star credited a conversion to Jim Griffen while the New Zealand Herald reported that Charles Dunning kicked all 3 goals. As the Auckland Star's match report was more detailed that is the record reported below.

Auckland v Hawke's Bay (Northern Union C.C.)

Auckland v Nelson (Northern Union C.C.)

For Nelson Dave Mason scored a try, while Oscar Cederman who was later killed in action in Belgium during World War I scored a try and kicked a conversion.

Auckland v Taranaki (Northern Union C.C.)

Auckland v Hawke's Bay Māori

Auckland v Country (Waihi & Rotorua)

A month after Auckland's match with Hawke's Bay Māori an exhibition game was arranged in Waihi against a 'Country' team from that area, including Rotorua players. It was the first ever rugby league match and was played on the Waihi Domain in front of a "fairly large crowd". Despite a few regular forwards not making the trip Auckland still took a strong side to Waihi and ran out winners 20-10. For the Country side Rukingi Reke kicked 2 conversions.

Auckland representative matches played and scorers

RankNameClubPlayTriesConPenMarkPoints
1Joe BennettNewton Rangers79---27
2Charles DunningPonsonby United6-121-26
3Albert AsherCity Rovers761--20
4Jim GriffenNorth Shore Albions841--14
5Harry FrickerPonsonby United74---12
5Jim RukutaiManukau Rovers74---12
7Frank MorseCity Rovers5211-10
7George SeagarNorth Shore Albions422--10
9Arthur CarlawPonsonby United63---9
9J KayKomakorau (Ngaruawahia Comp.)33---9
11Alfred JacksonNorth Shore Albions92---6
11Bob MitchellCity Rovers62---6
11George HarrisonNorth Shore Albions22---6
11Stan WaltersNorth Shore Albions22---6
11E RobinsonCity Rovers72---6
16Alf ChorleyPonsonby United31---3
16C LinkhornNewton Rangers21---3
16Reg SpragueLower Waikato (Ngaruawahia)11---3
16George HuntCity Rovers21---3
20S ColePonsonby United1-1--2
21Harry ChildsCity Rovers7-----
21C DillamorePonsonby United2-----
21Don KenealyEden Ramblers3-----
21Stan WestonNorth Shore Albions1-----
21S HoughtonPonsonby United1-----
21J CummingsEden Ramblers1-----
21J O’SullivanCity Rovers1-----
21Ernie AsherCity Rovers1-----
21Ronald MacDonaldNorth Shore Albions1-----
21Roy DenizeCity Rovers1-----
21Henry BettisPonsonby United1-----

References

  1. "Eden Ramblers Club". The New Zealand Herald. XLVIII (14666). 28 April 1911. p. 4. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  2. "None". Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 124. 26 May 1911. p. 7. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  3. "Ponsonby v Newton". Auckland Star. XLII (120). 22 May 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  4. "City v North Shore". Auckland Star. XLII (120). 22 May 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  5. "Newton v City". Auckland Star. XLII (126). 29 May 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  6. "Ponsonby United v City Rovers". Auckland Star. XLII (132). 5 June 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  7. "North Shore v Eden Ramblers". Auckland Star. XLII (132). 5 June 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  8. "Newton v Eden". Auckland Star. XLII (144). 19 June 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  9. "Ponsonby v North Shore". Auckland Star. XLII (144). 19 June 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  10. "City v Eden". Auckland Star. XLII (150). 26 June 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  11. "North Shore Albions v Newton Rangers". Auckland Star. XLII (150). 26 June 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  12. "City v North Shore/City's Tough Tussle". Auckland Star. XLII (156). 3 July 1911. p. 7. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  13. "Ponsonby v Newton/Walk Over for Ponsonby". Auckland Star. XLII (156). 3 July 1911. p. 7. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  14. "City v Newton". Auckland Star. XLII (162). 10 July 1911. p. 7. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  15. "Ponsonby v Eden". Auckland Star. XLII (162). 10 July 1911. p. 7. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  16. "City v Ponsonby". Auckland Star. XLII (168). 17 July 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  17. "Eden v North Shore". Auckland Star. XLII (168). 17 July 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  18. "Ponsonby v North Shore". Auckland Star. XLII (174). 24 July 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  19. "Eden v Newton". Auckland Star. XLII (174). 24 July 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  20. "Senior Championship/Won by City Rovers". The New Zealand Herald. XLVIII (14788). 18 September 1911. p. 9. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  21. "New Zealand v Auckland/Win for Dominion Team". Auckland Star. XLII (138). 12 June 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  22. "New Zealand v Auckland". Auckland Star. XLII (180). 31 July 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  23. "First Challenge Match/Wellington v Auckland". Auckland Star. XLII (186). 7 August 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  24. "Auckland v Lower Waikato". Auckland Star. XLII (192). 14 August 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  25. "Auckland Retains the Cup/Hawke's Bay Beaten/An Exciting Contest". The New Zealand Herald. XLVIII (14764). 21 August 1911. p. 9. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  26. "Auckland Win Again/Victory Over Nelson". The New Zealand Herald. XLVIII (147680). 28 August 1911. p. 9. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  27. "Interprovincial Cup/Auckland Beats Taranaki/A Record Attendance". The New Zealand Herald. XLVIII (147686). 4 September 1911. p. 9. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  28. "Hawke's Bay Natives v Auckland". Auckland Star. XLII (216). 11 September 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  29. "Northern Union Game/Auckland V. The Country". Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 246. 11 September 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
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