1931 Auckland Rugby League season

Fox in the back row, 3rd from the left in the 1912 North Shore second grade side.

It was the first season where the premier senior teams had competed for the Fox Memorial Shield. Prior to 1931 the trophy awarded was the Monteith Shield (1920–1930), and before that the Myers Cup (1910–14) (there were no trophies awarded during WW1 despite the first grade championship being competed for each season). The donor of the Monteith Shield had written to the league asking permission to withdraw the trophy from club competition and that the league play for a new trophy named after Edward Vincent Fox who had passed away the season previous and who had been heavily involved in Auckland Rugby League for a long period of time. The new trophy was being donated by friends of Fox.[2] The trophy was finished and presented to the league in September. It was described thus; "measuring 27 inches across by 22 inches deep, the base is a handsome sample of polished rimu, with overlay of contrasting pūriri, on which is an ornate centrepiece in oxidised silver depicting an incident of play in the New Zealand v Australia match of 1926". The donators of the trophy even went to the extent of sending the silver piece to England to have it effectively reproduced.[3]

The Auckland City Council Parks Committee designated the following of its grounds to the league code: Auckland Domain (2), Outer Domain (1), Victoria Park, Auckland (1), Walker Road (2), Western Springs Reserve (1), Grey Lynn Park (1), and 1 additional ground at Grey Lynn to alternate between rugby and league.[4]

The annual report to be filed at the annual general meeting showed that the league had a £9,711 5/9 surplus with total assets of £10,534 19/4. As there were smaller crowds in 1930 the gate receipts were £2,282 12/, down from £3,465 10/5 in 1929. The Junior Management Committee reported that the number of juniors registered was 1,930 compared with 984 the previous year, and 63 teams took the field.[5] At the annual general meeting Mr. James Carlaw said that "this is a very important meeting, as we have now reached our twenty-first birthday, and have developed from childhood to manhood". Mr. Phelan presented trophies to the various winners from the previous season.[6] At the Devonport annual meeting Mr. A. Ferguson who was a member of the New Zealand Council and who was presiding over the meeting said that the league game in New Zealand needed to follow the Australian model. He stated that they "demonstrated the value of physical fitness, which was produced by intensive, scientific training".[7]

A management committee meeting which also included the special committee setup the previous year to look into the restructuring of the Senior A and Senior B competitions adjusted their original plans. It had been decided at the end of the 1930 season to reduce the Senior A competition from eight teams to six, thus forcing teams into merging with one another. After the meeting this was adjusted to seven teams. The teams would be Devonport, Richmond Rovers, Ellerslie-Otahuhu (which also included the Mangere club, who could then choose their own name),[8] Marist Old Boys, City, Newton, and Ponsonby United. The Kingsland team which had been removed from the A grade asked for permission to join with the Marist Old Boys. While the Parnell League Football Club amalgamated with City Rovers.

The B grade (essentially the second division which had run from 1925–1930) was still to be eliminated. The league would encourage B grade players to try out for the reserve grade teams in the A grade clubs.[9]

In a major development for the rugby league game in Auckland the special committee recommended that winning teams would be granted 12.5% of the net gate takings each weekend with losing teams sharing a "trifle less". The league would also enforce a rule where every Senior A club must field a reserve grade team "of sufficient calibre to satisfy the management committee". If they failed to do so they would be vulnerable to being removed from the A grade. The league also reserved the right to set the two lowest teams together at the end of the season against each other in a match and eliminating the losers, or compelling them to improve their standard of play or withdraw from the league.[10]

In mid October the Eastern Suburbs club team from Sydney toured New Zealand. They began their tour with a match against Northland in Whangarei before meeting the Auckland championsDevonport at Carlaw Park the very next day. They then travelled to Hamilton where they played South Auckland while also fitting in a trip to see the sights of Rotorua. Eastern Suburbs then travelled back to Auckland where they played against a combined Marist-Devonport team who inflicted the touring sides only defeat with a 14-13 defeat before a crowd of 15,000. Their final match was against and an Auckland Colts side which included several current or future New Zealand internationals, namely Ted Mincham, Len Scott, Dick Smith, Wilf Hassan, Bert Leatherbarrow, and Ed St George before returning home with 4 wins and a loss.

At the Management Committee meeting prior to the start of the season it was decided to adhere to the latest rules, where a team forcing the ball in their own in goal area would take a drop kick from the 25-yard line as opposed from their own try line. There was an adjustment to the weight allowance from the fourth grade down, and sixth grade players should be under 18 and a half on 1 May.[16] At a following Management Committee meeting it was reported that the English Rugby League had advised that at scrum put in's the loose head would be transferred from the defending team to the attacking team.[17]

On 15 August a referee was assaulted by a player after a match between the City and Newmarket Fourth Grade teams at Western Springs Stadium. He had ordered off a player from each team. The City player came back on the field and his team refused to remove him so the referee called the match off. He was then harassed by a number of players and one of them then fought with him, "the pair rolled on the ground fighting for a few minutes, the referee holding his own until some spectators intervened and separated" them.[18]

On March 26 the Papakura Rugby League club was formed with 60 players enrolling.[19] They applied to the Papakura Town Board for use of the reserve at Papakura. This was granted as the entire club had switched over from Rugby Union meaning they had no competition for the field. The council said that if a representative rugby game was being played on the field then the league team could use Prince Edward Park (which later became their home ground and remains so to this day).[20] On Saturday, 18 April they played a practice match with Mount Wellington at Papakura.[21] The match was won by Mount Wellington by 8 points to 5. Papakura's points came from an unconverted try to Johnstone, and I. Wilson kicked a penalty goal.[22] They held their first social on the evening of Wednesday 22 April at the Paragon Theatre.[23]

The Kingsland Athletic club joined with Marist Old Boys meaning their senior players would join those of Marist. Kingsland were already an amalgamated club involving Kingsland Rovers and Grafton Athletic (originally named Maritime and not to be confused with the Grafton Athletic club which existed from 1914 to 1922). This placed Marist as one of the early favourites to win the Senior Grade. This was discussed in an article on the prospects of all the teams in the New Zealand Herald.[24]

The Ellerslie United, Otahuhu Rovers, and Māngere United clubs combined to form a senior team with the Māngere Senior B team being regraded to first junior (2nd grade) with the team playing as part of the Ellerslie-Otahuhu side.[25] However Māngere United then sent a deputation to a Management Committee meeting asking to be able to play as a separate institution as a junior club rather than be a part of the Ellerslie-Otahuhu amalgamation.[26] They wished to be affiliated under their own name rather than amalgamate with Ellerslie. Several speakers from Māngere they said that they wished to play league football but maintain their own identity as a Māori team. The League said that there should be a conference with Ellerslie and in the meantime they would play for one week with Ellerslie.[27] At a league meeting on 27 May the league decided to uphold their earlier ruling and enforce the amalgamation with the decision reviewed at the end of the season. It was expressed that the Māngere players were willing to play as the league suggested. Mr. Jim Rukutai suggested that Māngere be granted permission to retain their identity for twelve months, subject to all transfers being through the Ellerslie-Otahuhu United Club. The chairman of the league said "he did not think that there was any objection to Māngere playing as the Māngere section of the amalgamated club, but it was the duty of the League to uphold Ellerslie-Otahuhu Club". In the meantime he thought "moral suasion should be used by the members and the position would right itself".[28] At the Management Committee meeting on 10 June it was reported by the chairman that the Māngere and Ellerslie clubs had reached a satisfactory agreement and that "the Māori senior team,… was willing to continue playing the league code. It was intended that Māngere should apply for the resignation of its players who had already played for Ellerslie" The matter would be deferred for one week.[29]

It was announced at a City Rovers club meeting that the Parnell club had amalgamated with them. They would enter teams in the senior, reserve senior, first junior, third intermediate, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh grades, and also in the primary school competition.[30] Ten of the Parnell senior B players were regraded to first class juniors and would play for that particular City Rovers side.[31]

In June a new club was registered in the Glen Eden district and was named Glenora. They entered a team in the third grade intermediate.[32]

The Senior Grade was reduced from 8 teams to 7 for the 1931 season. Each team had to field a reserve side and their matches were to be played prior to the A team's matches at the same venue.[33]

Round 1

Casey (Devonport) being tackled by Kerr (City). Simpson (Devonport) is on the ground having been tackled by Hadley.

In Round 1 Marist won after time however the play was continued erroneously. Time was up but the time keeper allowed additional tackles and did not ring the bell until after the winning try had been scored.[34] Richmond protested the result and after multiple meetings it was eventually decided by the league Management Committee to replay the match.[35]

	2 May	Devonport	23–18	City	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: Alf Scott, Allan Seagar, Trevor O’Leary, J Harding, O’Donnell Con: Alf Scott, Allan Seagar 3	[36]	Try: C Reynolds, George Perry, Ben Davidson 2 Con: Kerr 3	Referee: Les Bull

	2 May	Marist	11–10*	Richmond	Carlaw Park 2
	3:00	Try: Gordon Campbell 2, Claude List Con: L Riley	[37]	Try: Stan Prentice, Bill Telford Con: G Davis 2	Referee: Percy Rogers

	2 May	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	5–5	Newton	Ellerslie Reserve
	3:00	Try: Hickey Pen: Craddock Dufty	[38]	Try: Charles Allan Pen: Claude Dempsey	Referee: E McCall

Round 2

In the match between Marist and Ponsonby, Lunn (Ponsonby) left the field in the 2nd half with a broken rib.

	9 May	Marist	20–9	Ponsonby	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: Phil Brady, George Batchelor, Hec Brisbane, Claude List Con: George Batchelor, Railey Pen: Alan Clarke Drop: Claude List	[39]	Try: L Winters, A Schofield, Cyril Thompson	Referee: Percy Rogers

	9 May	Richmond	28–15	City	Carlaw Park 2
	3:00	Try: Stan Prentice, Pell 2, Ray Lawless, Ritchie, Patterson Con: G Davis 4 Pen: G Davis	[40]	Try: G Munce, Joe Hadley Con: Ben Davidson Pen: Ben Davidson	Referee: Arthur Rae

	9 May	Devonport	26–0	Newton	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: Len Scott, Allan Seagar, Horace Hunt, Les O’Leary 2, E Scott Con: Allan Seagar 2, Les O’Leary 2	[41]		Referee: Vic Simpson

Round 7

Marist and Devonport met in a top of the table match with Devonport first with a 5-0 record and Marist second with a 4-1 record. Marist's win saw them draw level.

	20 June	Marist	11–4	Devonport	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: George Batchelor 2, Pat Meehan Pen: Alan Clarke	[55]	Pen: Lindsay Simons, Allan Seagar	Referee: E McCall

	20 June	Richmond	2–2	Ponsonby	Carlaw Park 2
	3:00	Pen: Ted Mincham	[56]	Pen: E Friend	Referee: Percy Rogers

	20 June	City	20–2	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	Auckland Domain 1
	3:00	Try: William McLaughlin 2, Laurie Barchard 2 Con: Steve Watene 2 Pen: Steve Watene 2	[57]	Pen: Hickey	Referee: Bertie Victor Emirali

Round 13

The Round 13 matches were played in terrible conditions which saw the cancellation of almost all league in Auckland. The match between Marist and Ellerslie-Otahuhu played at Papatoetoe was abandoned at halftime due to the north-westerly squalls making playing conditions impossible. The score of 21–3 in favour of Marist was declared the final score. City was severely understrength with 5 of its regular players absent, while in the Ponsonby-Devonport match Lou Hutt of Ponsonby was ordered off near the end of the match.

	1 August	Devonport	13–0	Ponsonby	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: A Smith, Allan Seagar, Ernest Ruby Con: Dick Smith Pen: Dick Smith	[74]		Referee: Percy Rogers

	1 August	Newton	23–10	City	Carlaw Park 2
	3:00	Try: Ferguson, Ray Middleton, A Pope, Ed St George 2 Con: Ray Middleton 2, Arnold Porteous Pen: Ray Middleton	[75]	Try: William McLaughlin, Len Barchard Con: Laurie Barchard 2	Referee: Wilfred Simpson

	1 August	Marist	21–3	Ellerslie-Otahuhu	Papatoetoe
	3:00	Try: P Young, Charles Gregory, Alan Clarke, Claude List, George Batchelor Con: Charles Gregory 3	[76]	Try: Hickey	Referee: Vic Simpson

It was a very quiet year on the representative team front. There was a match played between North Island and South Island, but the Auckland team's only match was against Northland. In a surprise result Northland had defeated South Auckland to lift the trophy. Auckland played Northland but the match was not for the Northern Union Shield and so they decided to play several young players including future Kiwi Albert Laing who had not yet even played a first grade match and could only manage a 19 all draw. Auckland junior teams played two matches and a colts side played against the touring Eastern Suburbs team from Sydney who were the recently crowned premiers of the New South Wales Rugby League competition.

Inter island match

	15 August	North Island	52–23	South Island	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: Pat Meehan 4, Claude List 3, Edwin Abbott 2, Hec Brisbane 2, Alan Clarke Con: Pat Meehan, Claude List, Alan Clarke 5 Pen: Alan Clarke	[128]	Try: Falgar 2, Jorgensen, Johnny Dodds, Jonas Masters Con: Johnny Dodds	Referee: Les Bull

Auckland v Northland

	26 September	Auckland	19–19	Northland	Carlaw Park 1
	3:15	Try: Ted Mincham 2, Allan Seagar, Pat Meehan 2 Con: Ted Mincham, Allan Seagar	[129]	Try: Ted Meyer, C Payne, Eddie O'Callaghan Con: Rod Hamilton, C Hamilton 2	Referee: Percy Rogers

• Auckland Rugby League held their annual general meeting in the Chamber of Commerce, Swanson Street on Thursday 16 April.[130] At a later meeting they voted to adopt the motion whereby its grading of referees and appointments of them for matches would be done by a group of three, consisting of two of its members and a representative of the Auckland Rugby League.[131] Tenders were requested for the lease of the Carlaw Park Refreshment Stall, and for the rights of the Rugby League Gazette.[132]

• Auckland Rugby League Junior Management Committee held their annual meeting at the Grey Buildings on Tuesday, 31 March.[133] After the reports were given by club delegates the prospect was for a record season in terms of team and player numbers. Mr. C. Adamson was elected Chairman, with his deputy Mr. W. Lusty.[134] During the season the Junior Management Committee became dissatisfied with their chairman Mr. C. Adamson because he voted contrarily to their position at an Auckland Rugby League meeting. They subsequently voted him out of the position. Mr. George Rhodes, chairman of the senior management committee attended a later meeting to say that Adamson was on the senior board as an independent representative, not as a representative of the Junior Management Committee and their dismissal of him was unjustified. A vote was then held over who should be chairman with Mr. J. H. Eddowes nominated along with Mr. Adamson and the former won by 10 votes to 6.[135]

• Auckland Rugby League Primary School Management Committee
• Auckland Rugby League Referees Association annual meeting was held at the League Rooms, Grey Buildings on 30 March. The report stated that membership had increased and the standard of refereeing was maintained at a high level.[136]

• Akarana Rugby League Football Club held their annual general meeting at Carlaw Park on Thursday 9 April.[137]

• Avondale League Football Club held their annual meeting at Hick's Tearooms, Avondale on Wednesday 25 March.[138] There was an attendance of about twenty players and the cash credit was £7 10/8. The club voted to thank Mr. H. P. Burton for the use of his ground where the majority of their matches were played in 1930.[139]

• City Rovers annual meeting was held at Carlaw Park on Sunday 22 March to discuss the annual report, balance sheet, general business and to elect officers. Seventy five people attended the meeting where the annual report showed a balance of £33 10/6. They stated that their chances of winning the title the year before was spoiled by the fact that they lost four players to the New Zealand team which toured Australia. They were aiming to have teams in all of the junior grades.[140]

• Devonport United Football Club annual general meeting was held in the Labour Rooms (above Hellaby's), Devonport on Monday 30 March regarding the election of officers and general business.[141] About fifty members attended and the balance sheet showed a credit of £9 7/2.[142]

• Ellerslie United League Football Club held their annual general meeting at the Club's Training Shed, Ellerslie on Monday 23 March. They requested that everybody attend as it would be their final meeting due to the league enforced merger with Otahuhu.[143]

• Ellerslie-Otahuhu United League Football Club held their first general meeting at the Ellerslie club's training shed opposite the railway station on Monday 30 March.[144] They had practice for all grades on Saturday 18 April to make final arrangements for all teams as there was a merger of Ellerslie, Otahuhu and Mangere.[145]

• Glen Lynn League Football Club held their annual general meeting at the Delta Theatre on Monday 23 March.[146] The Glen Lynn club wrote a letter to the New Lynn Borough Council asking for assistance in acquiring a playing area. The council intended to give the club details of an existing league football area on Great North Road in New Lynn which had been used by the New Lynn club prior to the joining of New Lynn and Glen Eden.[147]

• Kingsland Athletic Rugby League Football Club held their annual meeting at Liberty Luncheon Rooms at the top of Symonds Street on Monday 30 March to discuss the annual report and balance sheet.[148] They held a further Special General Meeting on Thursday 16 April at Donovan's Gym, Parnell with all juniors requested to roll up.[149] The Kingsland club amalgamated with the Marist club after they lost Senior A grade status.

• Marist Brothers Old Boys League Football Club annual meeting held at Donovan's Gymnasium, Parnell on Monday 30 March.[150]

• Mangere Rugby League Football Club held a meeting in the Strand Theatre Hall, Onehunga on Wednesday, 29 April.[151]

• Mt. Albert United Rugby League Football Club held their annual meeting at the King George Hall in Mount Albert on Thursday, 5 March to discuss the annual report, balance sheet, election of officers, and general business.[152] There first practice was held at the club's grounds on Springleigh Avenue on Saturday, 11 April.[153] At a Management Committee meeting on 22 April Mount Albert applied to have its Senior B team (who had played in the Senior B Grade – effectively the 2nd division of senior teams in 1930) regraded to first junior.[154]

• Mt Wellington Rugby League Football Club annual meeting was held at the Abattoir, Westfield on Tuesday 24 March to discuss the annual report and balance sheet, the election of officers, and general business. Players and intending players were requested to attend.[155]

• Newmarket Rugby League Football Club annual meeting was held at the Club Room 235, Khyber Pass, Thursday 26 March. All players and intending players were invited to attend.[156]

• Newton Rangers Football Club annual meeting was held at the Y.M.C.A on Wellesley St. East on Monday 23 March. All vice presidents, members and intending members were invited to attend including late Senior B players (players from Senior B clubs who no longer had senior teams).[157] There was a large attendance with Mr. W. Badley presiding over the meeting and Mr. W. Monteith was elected patron[158]..

• Northcote and Birkenhead Ramblers Football Club annual general meeting was held at the Foresters' Hall, Birkenhead on Thursday 12 March to discuss "business important".[159] They donated £2 2s to the Mayors fund for Napier Earthquake fund.[160] The annual meeting of the Northcote and Birkenhead Ramblers Football Club was their 21st. The president of the club was Mr. A. E. Greenslade who was also the mayor of Northcote. The club report stated that they had a membership of 115 and fielded six teams in the league competition, and that this made them the fourth largest club in Auckland.[161]

• Otahuhu Rugby League Football Club were given use of the Sturges Park and Princes Street playing grounds in a shared arrangement with rugby by the Otahuhu Borough Council.[162]

• Papakura Rugby League Football Club The Papakura Rugby Club had decided to disband and play league instead.[163] They held their first ever meeting in the Parish Hall, Papakura on Thursday, 26 March. Officials of the Auckland Rugby League were present. All members, intending members, players and supporters were invited to attend.[164] Following the meeting a club was formed with 60 players enrolling.[165]

• Papatoetoe Rugby League Club held their annual meeting in mid April. There was a large attendance and it was decided to nominate five teams for the season, namely third grade open, fourth grade, fifth grade, sixth grade, and a schoolboys.[166] The club held its annual ball in the Papatoetoe Town Hall on 24 July. The venue was decorated in the club's colours of blue and gold.[167]

• Point Chevalier League Football Club held their annual meeting at the Sailing Club's Hall on Thursday 19 March to discuss business, balance-sheet, and election of officers.[168]

• Ponsonby United Football Club held their annual meeting at Leys Institute, Ponsonby on Monday 30 March to receive their annual report and balance sheet, elect officers, and general business.[169] 80 members attended the meeting and the report referred to how successful the club had been, especially with the senior side winning the Monteith Shield, Roope Rooster, and Thistle Cup. The third grade open team was particularly good and the schoolboy team consisted of players from Ponsonby, Curran Street, and Bayfield Schools.[170]

• Richmond Rovers Football Club annual meeting was held in the Gaiety Hall, Surrey Crescent on Friday 20 March to discuss the annual report and statement of accounts, and general business.[171] About 100 members were in attendance. The report showed that the club had fielded 12 teams in 1930 with four winning the championship. Trophies were presented as follows – Lauder Cup, fourth grade; Milicich Cup, seventh grade A team; Walker Shield: second grade; and a trophy to the schoolboys who tied for first place.[172] They held an additional meeting for all prospective Senior, Senior B, and Second Grade players at Grey Lynn Park on Wednesday, 8 April.[173] On 16 May the Richmond club performed the notable feat of having all eight of its A teams winning their matches, although its Seventh Grade B team was defeated, and the 5th Grade team's victory was by default.[174] Prior to the start of the season the Third Grade captain for Richmond, Mr. George Williams drowned in a fishing accident in Breaker Bay, Wellington.[175][176]

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• Auckland Rugby League Official Site