1920 Auckland Rugby League season

The Auckland Rugby League was in its 12th season.

On 25 March, North Shore Albions held a meeting to discuss whether they should amalgamate with Sunnyside League Football Club, who were also based in Devonport. At a meeting between members of the two clubs the following week they agreed that they would indeed merge. After some debate they decided that the club name would be 'Devonport United' and they would wear green and white broad bands.[1] In addition Grafton and Richmond Rovers amalgamated, while new clubs were also formed in Kingsland (Kingsland Rovers), and at Point Chevalier.[2]

First grade games continued to regularly draw large crowds, especially matches involving the likes of Maritime, City Rovers, and Ponsonby United. The round 6 match between Maritime and Ponsonby drew what was thought to be a record crowd for a club Rugby League match in Auckland of 9,000.[3] Maritime would go on to win the first grade title for the first time after a strong season where they won nine games and were only defeated twice. They were awarded the Monteith Shield at the 1921 annual general meeting while Newton Rangers won the Roope Rooster for the second year in a row by defeating Maritime in the final.

The highlight of the year was clearly the match between Auckland and the touring England team on 24 July. A crowd of 30,000 packed into the Auckland Domain to witness an Auckland win by 24 points to 16.[4]

Carlaw Park site found

At the end of the season an inspection was made of the site where Carlaw Park would emerge. It was decided that the ground would be named ‘Carlaw Athletic Park’. The land had been purchased years earlier. It was noted that the site was “excellently situated for the purpose for which it is intended, and provides sufficient space for two playing grounds. Natural slopes on two sides will give room for a large number of spectators…”.[5]

Preceded by
1919
12th Auckland Rugby League season
1920
Succeeded by
1921

Monteith Shield (first grade championship)

Maritime won the first grade title with City Rovers finishing in second position. Three grounds were used for the competition, Victoria Park, the Auckland Domain, and the Devonport Domain. Thirty eight matches were played which was the most in the competitions history to this point. Unlike in previous seasons all clubs were able to survive until the end of the season and fulfill the majority, or all, of their fixture obligations.

Final standings

Team Pld W D L F A Pts
Maritime 119021689318
City Rovers 1280427013116
Marist Brothers Old Boys 117*131027915
Newton Rangers 1161413313213
Devonport United 124*269815110
Ponsonby United 112271251606
Grafton Athletic 111010**782282
  • Two of Grafton's defeats were by default, while one of Marist's wins and one of Devonport's wins were by default.

First grade fixtures

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

The match between City and Grafton had the score reported by both the Auckland Star and the New Zealand Herald but had no match report and scoring. The Observor had a brief description of the match where they described one of Karl Ifwersen's "tries" indicating he scored at least 2.

Round 6

Arthur Cadman was sent off in the Maritime match versus Ponsonby for kicking a Maritime player, while the Auckland Star suggested in their match reports that the 9,000 in attendance was possibly the largest ever Auckland Club Rugby League crowd to attend a match to this point.

Round 7

2 Players were ordered off in the 2nd half of the Maritime versus Newton match. While in the Grafton v Ponsonby match Grafton had two players ordered off including H Neal, and had another injured meaning they finished the match with just 10 players on the field.

Round 8

Round 9

Round 10

Round 11

The City v Grafton match resulted in a 66–13 win to City but the Auckland Star and New Zealand Herald did not report any of the scoring details. Grafton were missing Karl Ifwersen, J Bennett, and Charles Woolley who were on representative duty and could only field 11 players.

Round 12

Round 13

Roope Rooster knockout competition

The Roope Rooster began on 28 August with 3 first round matches and Ponsonby United receiving a bye. Newton Rangers defeated Maritime in the final for the second consecutive year.

Round 1

Semi finals

Final

Top try scorers and point scorers

The following point scoring lists include Senior Championship matches and the Roope Rooster competition matches only. The lists are extremely incomplete for players from the City Rovers club who had no scoring whatsoever for their 24–17 win over Grafton Athletic, and their 66–13 win over the same opponents. In total the City team was missing the scorers of 112 of its points. Likewise Devonport United was missing scorers for 7 points, Newton Rangers for 13, Maritime for 3, Marist Old Boys for 15, and Grafton Athletic for 30 (from the two matches with City). In addition to this a number of teams featured brothers and often there was no distinction made as to which of the Grey brothers of Maritime it was. H Grey scored 4 tries, while C grey was credited with 3, along with 2 conversions, however "Grey" was credited with 8 tries, 1 conversion, 1 penalty, and a drop goal which could have been either of the aforementioned players in each instance. Also Ponsonby had a try and conversion credited to McGregor but they could have been scored by either E McGregor or Dougie McGregor.

Bill Davidson replicated the feat of his younger brother George of the previous season by leading the point scoring while playing for Maritime. George had qualified for the Antwerp Olympics where he ran 5th in the 200m final and did not play in the Auckland Rugby League competition at all in 1920. He was to return and join his brothers in the City Rovers team from the 1921 season onwards.

Thacker Shield

Ponsonby United defended the Thacker Shield from Federal (of Christchurch) at Victoria Park in front of 10,000 spectators. They had won the shield from Sydenham in Christchurch two years earlier. They had been unable to arrange a defence in the 1919 season. Eventually the shield was to be returned to Christchurch and played for amongst teams in the South Island.

Other club matches and lower grades

Exhibition and benefit matches

List of Matches
Date Score Score Venue Attendance
Exhibition match 29 May [53] King Country6Marist Old Boys12Taumaranui
Exhibition match 3 July [54] Maritime31Lower Waikato20Ngaruawahia2,000
Exhibition match 10 July [55] King Country0Devonport United15Taumarunui
Exhibition match 14 Aug [56] Hamilton3Ponsonby United2Hamilton
Exhibition match 25 Sep [57] Devonport United8King Country13Devonport Domain

Lower grade teams and clubs

There were 5 lower grades in 1920. Clubs with only lower grade teams were:

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

  • Second Grade: City Rovers, Ponsonby, Mangere, Northcote, Newton, Maritime, Thames Old Boys, Devonport, Devonport B, Marist Old Boys
  • Third Grade: Manukau, Newton, Devonport B, Devonport A, Kingsland, Point Chevalier
  • Fourth Grade: City Rovers, Manukau, Ponsonby A, Devonport United, Northcote, Maritime, Otahuhu, Kingsland, Richmond, Ellerslie
  • Fifth Grade: Manukau, Maritime, Devonport, City, Ponsonby, Northcote, Richmond-Grafton B, Otahuhu, Richmond A.
  • Sixth Grade: Manukau, City, Ponsonby, Devonport, Maritime

Representative fixtures

Auckland played a Rest of New Zealand team as part of the selection process for the New Zealand team to play England. They trounced them by 54 points to 0. They later played a trial match between and A and B team before the Auckland side was selected to play England. The match was played at the Auckland Domain in front of 30,000 spectators. Unfortunately the English halfback fractured his tibia[58] in the first few minutes and they were forced to play with 12 for the remainder of the game as the rules at the time did not allow for substitutions of injured players.

Auckland v Rest of New Zealand

Auckland trial match

Auckland v England

Auckland representative matches played and scorers

NoNameClub TeamPlayTriesConPenPoints
1Bill DavidsonCity Rovers2312033
2Bill ClokeNewton Rangers241012
2Stan WaltersDevonport United240012
4Wally SomersNewton Rangers22006
5Charles WoolleyGrafton Athletic21003
5Thomas McClymontPonsonby United21003
5Billy GhentMarist Old Boys11003
5Bert AveryMaritime21003
9J BrienMaritime10000
9Eric GreyMaritime20000
9J BennettGrafton Athletic10000
9A ThomasCity Rovers10000
9J TaitMarist Old Boys10000
9Karl IfwersenGrafton Athletic10000
9Clarrie PolsonNewton Rangers10000
9Bill StormontMarist Old Boys10000
9F WilsonCity Rovers10000
9Nelson BassNewton Rangers10000
9Ivan StewartCity Rovers10000

References

  1. "Two Clubs Amalgamate". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17436). 5 March 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  2. "The Auckland League". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17447). 17 March 1920. p. 8. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  3. "Maritime Again Victorious/Defeats Ponsonby in Hard Forward Play". Auckland Star. LI (141). 14 June 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  4. "English Team Beaten/Opening Match of Tour/Auckland Scores 24-16/Good Display By Forwards/Visitors Play One Man Short". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17532). 26 July 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  5. "Carlaw Park Inspected". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17592). 4 October 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  6. "Opening of the Season/Ponsonby 21, Marist 14". Auckland Star. LI (105). 3 April 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  7. "Opening of the Season/Newton Beats Grafton". Auckland Star. LI (105). 3 April 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  8. "Opening of the Season/City's Big Win". Auckland Star. LI (105). 3 April 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  9. "Three Senior Games". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17466). 10 May 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  10. "Three Senior Games". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17466). 10 May 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  11. "Three Senior Games". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17466). 10 May 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
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  13. "/Maritime 16, Marist 11/Maritime V Marist Brothers". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17472). 17 May 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
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  20. "Maritime's Comfortable Win". Auckland Star. LI (129). 31 May 1920. p. 10. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
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  22. "Marist Catches City Napping and Easily Beats Them". Auckland Star. LI (141). 14 June 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  23. "Grafton Defaults". Auckland Star. LI (141). 14 June 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
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  27. "Marist Defeats Ponsonby/Marist V Ponsonby". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17514). 5 July 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  28. "Newton Wins from Grafton/Newton V Grafton". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17514). 5 July 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
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  32. "Marist Too Good for Newton". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17520). 12 July 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
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  41. "First Grade Championship". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17550). 16 August 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  42. "Marist Old Boys Defeat City/Marist Old Boys V City". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17556). 23 August 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  43. "Maritime 26, Ponsonby 10/Maritime V Ponsonby". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17556). 23 August 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  44. "Devonport V Grafton". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17556). 23 August 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  45. "Roope Rooster Competition/Wins for Maritime, City and Newton". Auckland Star. LI (207). 30 August 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  46. "Roope Rooster Competition/Wins for Maritime, City and Newton". Auckland Star. LI (207). 30 August 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  47. "Roope Rooster Competition/Wins for Maritime, City and Newton". Auckland Star. LI (207). 30 August 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  48. "Roope Rooster Semi-Final/Maritime 11, Ponsonby 5/Maritime V Ponsonby". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17574). 13 September 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  49. "Roope Rooster Final/Newton Defeat Maritime/Marist 21, Hamilton 14/Newton V Maritime". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17580). 20 September 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  50. "Roope Rooster Final/Newton Defeat Maritime/Newton V Maritime". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17580). 20 September 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  51. "Thacker Shield Match/Trophy Retained by Ponsonby". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17568). 4 September 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  52. "Marist V. Hamilton". New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17580. p. 7. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  53. "Marist Old Boys Win". Auckland Star. LI (129). 31 May 1920. p. 10. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  54. "Maritime at Ngaruawahia". Auckland Star. LI (159). 5 July 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  55. "King Country Match". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17520). 12 July 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  56. "Hamilton Beats Ponsonby". Auckland Star. LI (195). 16 August 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  57. "King Country V Devonport". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17586). 27 September 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  58. "Football Match Injuries/League Patron's Opinion/Roger's Fractured Leg". Auckland Star. LI (177). 26 July 1920. p. 4. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  59. "A Decisive Defeat/Under Ugly Conditions/Auckland 54, Southern Reps Nil". Auckland Star. LI (150). 24 June 1920. p. 8. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  60. "Local Players Chosen". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17523). 15 July 1920. p. 4. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  61. "English Team Beaten/Opening Match of Tour/Auckland Scores 24-16/Good Display By Forwards/Visitors Play One Man Short". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17532). 26 July 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
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