1933 Auckland Rugby League season

George Rhodes announced his resignation of the chairmanship due to business commitments which would require him leaving Auckland regularly. He died suddenly near the end of the season and was buried at Waikumete Cemetery. His successor was Mr. G, Grey Campbell, who was a well known member of the City Council, the Transport Board, and other institutions. Rhodes had been chairman of the league for six and a half years. Mr. R. Doble said Mr. Rhodes deserved to be honoured with life membership for his many years service. This was endorsed by several members. Rhodes started out as a groundsman at Carlaw Park in 1921 before becoming the ground superintendent.[2] At the league AGM it was reported that revenue for the year totalled £2,573, of which £1,791 came from gate receipts, £416 from ground rents, £68 from advertising and £45 from subscriptions. The profit was £754 9/3, with £572 1/3 distributed in grant to clubs. After other spending the total profit for the year was £182 8/. J. Carlaw presided over the meeting where over 100 people were in attendance. Mr. J. B. Donald was elected patron, Mr. J. F. W. Dickson was elected vice-president.[3] At the ARL Board of Control meeting prior to the commencement of the season the chairman Mr. G. Grey Campbell said the policy of granting gate percentages to senior clubs should be retained. He said that it was up to the clubs to produce a high standard of play and the percentage to senior clubs would be an incentive.[4]

Near the conclusion of the season the Auckland Rugby League met and Mr. Campbell said “the gate receipts to date had been in excess of those last season. Clubs had benefited considerably from the percentage granted, and most senior clubs were now in a position to assist their players next season”. The intention was to carefully manage the finances of the league and “to improve the stand accommodation and give players better dressing facilities”.[5]

The New Zealand Herald printed an article ‘reviewing’ the season where they wrote of the visiting St George team and the standard of play in Auckland. They also discussed the possibility of Auckland teams touring Australia.[6]

At the annual general meeting of the Auckland Rugby League Junior Management Committee on 21 March the annual report (in reference to the 1932 season) was submitted. It stated that there were 1,008 registered players compared with 1,224 the previous season, and 63 teams took the field. The reason for the decline in numbers was put down to the fact that large numbers of people had left Auckland in search of work during the trying economic times. The report then went on to congratulate teams who had won various trophies in the Junior grades in the 1932 season.[7]

It was decided prior to the season that the reserve grade games would be played before their respective senior teams. This had been requested by clubs as it would help them ensure they had players available for their top side at all times. In spite of this there were no changes ultimately made at all to the scheduling with all senior matches played at Carlaw Park apart from rare exceptions. One reserve grade match was played at Carlaw Park most weekends with the other matches usually played at the nearby Auckland Domain.

The Auckland Rugby League decided at a meeting following the first round of the Roope Rooster competition that a new competition for senior teams spread over 5 weeks would take place. With the senior competition having reverted to 6 teams 2 seasons earlier the round robin was over relatively quickly leaving more time later in the season than had previously existed. The matches were to be unique in that they would be of 40 minutes duration with no interval. Most weeks two of the games would be played prior to an inter-provincial match. In the event of a tie the team that had the best for and against record would be declared the winners and a special trophy would be awarded.

It was also decided that force downs in teams own in goal and kicks that went dead in goal would be worth points in order to speed up the games. These rules were used in an annual competition in Sydney when there were no representative games on.[8] Newton ultimately won this round and it was a key factor in them being given the opportunity to play against the touring St George team.

In September the St George team from Sydney toured the upper North Island. St George had finished runner up in the 1933 NSWRFL. Their first match was against the Auckland champion Devonport United team who they defeated 19–8. They then played a midweek match with Richmond Rovers who they lost to 8–13 and then Marist Old Boys who they also lost to 11–25.

Marist v St George

Following this they departed on a tour of Rotorua to see the geothermal sites before playing South Auckland in Huntly where they won by 17 points to 5.[9] They then travelled to New Plymouth where they had a 22 points to 14 win over Taranaki.[10]

St George returned to Auckland to complete their tour where they played Newton Rangers in a midweek match which they won 30 points to 23, followed by a return match with Richmond on the Saturday. There had been some debate as to who the last match would be played against. Newton had had a solid season putting in some strong performances and they were arguably the most improved side in Auckland. They had also been the first club to request a match with the touring side however the strongest performing sides had all been matched up with St George first and this last match of the tour was only confirmed at the end of the tour.[11] Following the match with Newton the St George team was entertained by the New Zealand Rugby League at a dinner. Tribute was paid to the “sporting spirit” that the team had shown and a “hand-some engraved shield” was presented to the team by H Wamsley who had made it himself. The shield was to be played for in an annual competition between clubs from Sydney and the Auckland Province.[12] Whilst in Auckland several members of the team along with the manager Mr. J. H. Mostyn visited Sacred Heart College where Mr. Mostyn gave an address to the students on football.[13] Following their last match the team departed for Sydney on the Wanganella Ship at 5pm which meant that the match with Richmond kicked off at the earlier time of 2:45pm. Richmond won the match by 5 points to 3. Prior to the match a running race was held between Len Brennan and Bernard Martin of the touring side and several members of local clubs. It was run from try line to try line and Martin won the race by a foot from Adams (Devonport) in a time of 12.15 seconds with Brennan finishing third.[14] Brennan was killed ten years later in 1943 when the plane he was in was shot down over Italy during World War II.

At a meeting of the Auckland Rugby League in the week prior to the start of the season there were several suggestions put forward in regard to Carlaw Park. These were, that the No. 2 ground be available for practice regardless “of the weather, that the stone wall at the end of No. 2 ground beside the terraces should be covered to protect players; that the scoreboard should be raised; that people should be stopped from jumping the terrace fence at the conclusion of the main match; that the transport Board be asked to extend the penny section from the railway station to the Stanley Street stop...”. It was also decided to issue tickets for the admission of unemployed to Carlaw Park, with the official co-operation of the Auckland Provincial Unemployed Association.[20] After it was found that this system was being abused with the tickets being on sold it was decided to charge the unemployed but at a reduced rate of sixpence. Those trying to enter under this system had to produce their unemployment levy book containing an official stamp and a special turn-style was to be used to admit them. All school children up to 14 years of age would be admitted for free.[21]

In early August it was reported that the overhead bridge from Stanley Street to Carlaw Park would be completed by Saturday, 5 August.[8]

As was often the case at Carlaw Park numerous events were held there in the rugby league off season. A whippet race meeting was held in early December along with cycling races, while on 15 December there was a sports carnival involving cycling, running, and wood chopping events.[22] The wood chopping featured W. M. Johnstone, the champion tree-feller of Australia, and New Zealand's D. Hoey, who was "recognised as one of the World's best".[23] The results of the various competitions were published in the Auckland Star.[24]

At a meeting of the Auckland Rugby League Referees Association on 29 May they decided to recommend to the Board of Control that referees put the ball into the scrum at all grade matches, which was something that had been tried out unsuccessfully 6 years earlier. It was felt that “scrummaging was not satisfactory, particularly with regard to hooking and other infringements around the scrum”.[25] Matches on 2 June featured this new rule change and it was commentated from referees that it had so far improved play around scrums and eliminated a lot of whistle.[26] It was however decided at a meeting of the New Zealand Council several weeks later that the practice was to be discontinued after acting on the recommendation of the New Zealand Referees’ Association. It was also noted that a player when falling on the ball in the goal area needed to ground the ball with their hands and it was play on until this was done so. The play the ball rule was said to be being better controlled with the “same command as evident in a boxing match, when a referee called ‘break’ and the contenders were bound to obey”.[27]

The League Council advised that the forward pass rule was being ruled incorrectly with players being penalised for being offside when receiving a forward pass. As the players had inadvertently got in front of the teammate passing the ball it was clarified that it should be considered a forward pass only and therefore a scrum rather than a penalty. The board approved of this interpretation and referred it to the Referees’ Association.[28]

The Auckland Rugby League decided to forward a motion of protest from Ted Phelan to the New Zealand Government regarding the ban on the 1ZR station. The speaker said that patients at the Evelyn Firth Home and Auckland Hospital “were strong in their protest against being denied the privilege of listening to the station”.[29]

After not being played in 1932 the midweek business league competitions returned with eight teams competing with matches held at Carlaw Park. They were Amalgamated Theatres A, Amalgamated Theatres B, Atta Taxis, Checker Taxis, City Markets, Railway, Seamen United, Victoria United. The competition consisted of two rounds, though the second round would be a knockout competition.[30] Ponsonby and Richmond wrote to Auckland Rugby League objecting to any of their players playing for the midweek teams as it would risk their health for the weekend matches. City and Marist supported the objection. The league decided that no senior or reserve grade players could take part in the competition unless they had the permission of the clubs and the Wednesday management group be advised of this decision.[31] This rule was somewhat ignored however and “two prominent players were injured... in mid-week matches and were not available for Saturday's games”. The league decided to enforce the rule that permission must by granted from senior clubs before players were allowed to participate in the mid-week competition.[32]

In a break from previous years where trophies and awards were handed out at the beginning of the following season it was decided to hold the ceremony at the conclusion of the current season. The event was held at the Manchester Unity Hall on 31 October with free admission and an open invitation. Trophies were presented to teams as follows:

• Senior grade – Fox Memorial Shield (Devonport United), Stormont Shield (Devonport United), Roope Rooster and Max Jaffe Cup (Richmond Rovers), Special Challenge Round (Newton Rangers)
• Senior reserve championship – (Richmond Rovers), Knockout (Devonport United)
• Second Grade – Wright Cup (Mangere), Knockout Foster Shield (Mangere)
• Third Grade Open – Hayward Shield (Marist Old Boys
• Third Grade Intermediate – Walker Cup (Northcote Ramblers), and Knockout Murray Cup (Northcote Ramblers) The undefeated Northcote team were photographed and published in the Auckland Star [33]
• Fourth Grade – Hospital Cup (Marist Old Boys)
• Fifth Grade – Endean Shield (Richmond Rovers)
• Sixth Grade – Rhodes Shield (Devonport United),[1] Knockout Hammill Cup (Otahuhu Rovers)
• Seventh Grade – Myers Cup (Richmond Rovers)
• Primary Schools Competition – Championship Walmsley Shield (Avondale), Knockout Davis Cup (Ellerslie)

With Richmond Rovers winning the Davis Point Shield for the highest number of points scored by any club in all junior grades.

Auckland played their first representative match of the season against Taranaki at Carlaw Park on 9 June. It was between Round 6 and Round 7 of the club competition. It was decided not to play the annual inter-island fixture because the cost of assembling and bringing the South Island side would be in the region of 300 pounds and with the depression in full swing it was not considered viable financially.

Auckland v Taranaki (inter-provincial match)

	10 June	Auckland	32–20	Taranaki	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: Bill Turei 3, Roy Bright 3, Dick Smith, Jim Laird Con: Dick Smith 4	[85]	Try: Cliff Hunt, J Arnold, Jack McLeod, D McLeay (obstruction try) Con: J Fraser 3 Pen: J Fraser	Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Maurice Wetherill

Auckland v North Auckland (inter-provincial match)

	12 August	Auckland	28–13	North Auckland	Carlaw Park 1
	3:00	Try: Roy Bright 3, Bert Cooke, Stan Clark, Cliff Satherley Con: Norm Campbell 5	[88]	Try: R Cunningham, W Rata, C White Con: C Hamilton 2	Referee: Vic Simpson

• Auckland Rugby League held their annual meeting in the Chamber of Commerce on Swanson Street, on Monday, 10 April.[91]
• Auckland Rugby League Junior Management Committee The Junior Management delegate Mr. Wilkie reported that 200 new junior registrations had been received and approved.[92] At a meeting of the Board of Control it was decided to approve the junior management committee's recommendation for an amendment to Rule 36 to read:-"The junior management (comprising nine members unattached to any club, to be elected annually by clubs which enter and play in the competitions one or more teams other than senior teams; one representative of the Referees' Association, and a secretary who shall be elected by the said committee)- the junior management committee shall frame rules and regulations and submit same to the management committee of the Auckland Rugby League for approval or otherwise, for the control and guidance of junior football".[93]
• Auckland Rugby League Primary School Management Committee annual meeting was presided over by Mr. W. J, Hammill. The annual report stated that the reduction of the number of teams to nine resulted in an elevated level of play. It was reported that new teams were likely to enter from Ponsonby, Manukau, and Marist.[94] Mr. L. Rout was elected the secretary of the Primary Schools management committee, with Mr. R. E. Newport, the deputy-Mayor of Newmarket, elected chairman once again.[95]
• Auckland Rugby League Referees Association held their annual meeting on 27 March. Mr. A. Ball presided over the meeting. It was felt that the more intensive organisation and selection had led to a marked improvement in the standard of refereeing. There had been less criticism of referees and more co-operation by officials, clubs, and players. Mr. A. Ball was elected president, and Mr. L. Bull deputy chairman.[96]
• Akarana Rugby League Football Club placed advertisements in the Herald and Star seeking players for all grades.[97]
• City Rovers held their 21st annual meeting at Carlaw Park on Tuesday, 21 March.[98] There was some discussion about whether the senior clubs should request stronger representation on the management committee of the Auckland Rugby League. It was decided to convene a meeting of senior clubs “with a view to getting full co-operation”. The financial statement from the club showed that they were in profit by £64. The meeting then noted the performance of its senior team and fifth and third grade teams, and the achievement of Steve Watene, and Ben Davidson who had been selected to play against the touring England team in 1932. Mr. C. Waugh was elected president, and Mr. G. Reid was elected vice-president.[99] The vice-president Mr. C. Waugh passed away in the week prior to the official beginning of the season.[100] The City team travelled to New Plymouth to take on a combined Taranaki team on September 9. They were victorious by 29 points to 22 with Bill Turei scoring five tries and kicking a goal.[80]
• Devonport United League Football Club held their annual general meeting at the Labour Rooms (above Hellaby's) on Wednesday, 29 March.[101] There were 80 members in attendance with Mr. J. A. Ferguson presiding. The report congratulated the senior team for winning the championship. Their schoolboys won the Kiely Cup for the best average amongst the juniors. Mr. W.D. Meiklejohn was elected Patron, and Mr. Kiely was elected vice-patron.[102] Their end of season annual dance was held at the Pirate Ship at Milford on 28 October.[103]
• Ellerslie United League Football Club held their annual meeting in the Training Shed, Findlay Street, Ellerslie on Monday, 20 March.[104] Mr. J. McInnarny presided over the meeting which had a large number of members. Mr. W.J. Jordan, M.P. was elected Patron, and Mr. J. McInnarny was elected president.[105]
• Glenora had their application for financial consideration from the Auckland Rugby League recognised.[106]
• Marist Brothers Old Boys League Football Club held their annual meeting at Donovan's Gymnasium, Manukau Road, Parnell on Thursday, 23 March.[107] Between eighty and ninety members attended. The report stated that the 1932 season had been the most successful season financially and in terms of results in the club's history. The club had won the Roope Rooster, the Stormont Shield, and the Max Jaffe Charity Cup. In addition seven players wore the New Zealand jersey (Hec Brisbane, Claude List, Gordon Campbell, Jim Laird, Norm Campbell, Alan Clarke, and Wilf Hassan). The balance sheet showed a credit of £86 13/9. His Lordship Bishop Liston was elected president, and Mr. E. Lahman was elected vice-president.[108] The Marist 4th Grade team had a particularly strong season. They played a match in Ngaruawahia where they defeated the local 3rd Grade Open team by 32 points to 11. At that point in the season they had played 17, won 16, and scored 367 points while only conceding 54.[109]
• Māngere United League Football Club held their seventeenth annual meeting with Mr. S. Rickards presiding. The annual report made mention of the Second Grade team which had come 4th in the championship and won the knockout competition. Mr. S.W. House was elected Patron, and Mr. Rickards President.[110]
• Manukau Rugby League Club held a Special Meeting at the Orpheum Theatre, Onehunga on Thursday, 16 February.[111] They asked for the use of three playing areas on the recreation reserve in Onehunga. The Onehunga Council granted them the use of two which is what was set aside for rugby league players three years earlier.[112] Their annual meeting was held at the Onehunga Ex-Servicemen's clubrooms on Thursday 9 March.[113] The secretary read a lengthy report about the work done by the organising committee during the offseason and reported bright prospects for the future of the club. They were in credit £11 4/3. Mr. W.J. Jordan, MP was elected patron, with Mr. F. Murray elected president.[114] They held a further special general meeting in Kelvin Hall, Queen Street, Onehunga, on Thursday, 6 April.[115] The club wrote a letter to the Onehunga Borough Council requesting that dressing accommodation be made available on the Waikaraka Recreation Reserve. They submitted plans for a proposed building and with matches starting soon and the Manukau Rovers Rugby Football Club having been granted exclusive use of the existing dressing pavilion the question was urgent. They also asked for permission to hold a league carnival two Saturdays later and to charge admission to the reserve when exhibition matches would be played between Devonport and Marist.[116] They had their application for financial consideration from the Auckland Rugby League recognised.[106]
• Mt. Albert United Rugby League Football Club held their annual meeting in the King George Hall, Mt Albert Terminus on Thursday, 9 March.[117] They placed advertisements in the newspapers for the annual practice which was held at Morningside Reserve on Saturday 8 April.[118]
• New Lynn Rugby League Football Club advertised in the newspapers for players to attend a practice match to be played at the ground adjacent to the New Lynn Council Chambers, Great North Road.[119] The New Lynn club was granted permission to adopt the royal blue colour for its jerseys for the coming season.[106]
• Newton Rangers Football Club held their 23rd annual meeting at the Y.M.C.A on Monday, 20 March.[120] The meeting saw “a large and enthusiastic” attendance with the financial statement showing the position of the club to be healthy. Mr. W. Monteith was elected Patron, Mr. A. Blakely vice patron, and Mr. J. A. Lee M.P. was elected president.[121] On 7 November Newton held their annual social with "over 200 members, supporters and friends participating". The following prizes were presented by chairman Mr. W. Badley: Most Improved player – A. Porteus, Best Back – Claude Dempsey, Best Forward – C. Blacklaws, Most Improved Reserve Player – H. Oakley Browne, Most Consistent Reserve Player – C.L. Clemm.[122]
• Northcote and Birkenhead Ramblers League Football Club held their annual meeting in the Victoria Hall, Birkenhead on Monday, 13 March.[123] The league granted the “usual donation for the use of the Northcote and Birkenhead school ground last year” on the recommendation of the junior management committee.[4] The club requested that the municipal ground at Stafford Park be allocated to the two codes on alternate Saturdays, and stated that the club had entered five teams in the competitions. It was decided to allocate the ground equally between the two codes.[124] They celebrated their 23rd anniversary with a dance at the King's Theatre in Northcote on 28 September.[125] On 4 November the Northcote league and rugby codes combined with local cricket, harrier and gymnastic clubs to have a combined sports gathering at Stafford Park. A collection was taken up for charitable purposes.[126] It had been originally scheduled for 14 October but had to be postponed.
• Otahuhu Rugby League Football Club requested use of Sturgess Park, Otahuhu on alternate Saturdays for the season, stating to the Otahuhu Borough Council that they had a strong following in the borough.[127] At an Auckland Rugby League Board of Control meeting prior to the start of the season it was decided to assist the “Otahuhu Rovers Club financially in regard to the use of Sturgess Park, which the club hopes to use one Saturday in every four.[4] The Otahuhu Borough Council and decided to delegate the use of the ground based on the number of teams in each club. As the Otahuhu Rugby Club had 5 teams they would have the ground for 5 Saturdays while the Otahuhu League Club had 3 teams and so would have the ground for 3 Saturdays. They would review this after the matches had been played to see how many teams both clubs still had.[128] Otahuhu requested the use of Sturgess Park on 22 July for a Roope Rooster match to be played there. The Otahuhu Borough Council granted permission for the use of the ground and also that the club could charge patrons for admission but not exceeding 6d per person.[129]
• Papakura Rugby League Football Club annual meeting was presided over by Mr. A. J. Williamson in front of a large attendance. The chairman congratulated the second grade team on winning the championship. Mr. E. C. Foote was elected president, and Mr. S. H. Godden vice-president.[130] The club advertised in the newspaper for tenders to transport the Papakura players from Papakura to Auckland City and suburban football grounds on Saturday afternoons during the season.[131] They had their application for financial consideration from the Auckland Rugby League recognised.[106] In mid July Papakura sent a lengthy letter to the Auckland Rugby League complaining about their best players being poached by senior clubs. ARL chairman Mr. G. Grey Campbell agreed that it was a hardship on clubs which had no senior team. He said it was only reasonable that a transfer fee might be paid by senior clubs to the club losing players. Papakura suggested that junior clubs could be groups with senior clubs, thus giving junior players the opportunity for promotion. It was decided that the letter should be forwarded to the junior management committee for a report.[132]
• Point Chevalier League Football Club held their annual meeting at the Sailing Club's Hall on Monday 3 April.[133]
• Ponsonby United Football Club held they annual meeting at Leys Institute, Ponsonby on Monday, 6 March.[134] The meeting discussed the strong performance of the senior team in winning 7 out of 10 matches and finishing runner-up but also commented on some members of the reserve grade team who had shown a failure “to realise the importance of placing club and not team interests first”. This was in reference to the 1932 season where several players under the approval of their coach had played for the reserve grade team at the Auckland Domain before belatedly making their way to Carlaw Park where kick off was 20 minutes late. The Ponsonby Club then suspended several of the players and removed the coach from all his positions in the club. Frank Delgrosso who had played for Ponsonby since 1919 was presented with a life membership medallion and was awarded the Mr. J. Arneil juns medal for the most consistent back during the season.[135]
• Richmond Rovers Football Club held their annual meeting in the Gaiety Hall, Surrey Crescent on Monday, 20 March.[136] Over 100 members were in attendance at the annual meeting with Mr. B.W. Davis presiding. Reference was made to the loss of Harry Johns the previous season. He was a playing member of the club who had risen through the ranks and debuted for the Senior team. He was already under consideration for senior representative teams and a promising career lay ahead. Sadly he was killed following a boxing match at the Auckland Town Hall and was buried at Waikumete Cemetery.[137] In January Bert Cooke received an offer from the Balmain League Club in Sydney.[138] It was reported that he was anxious to play with them.[139] The two parties could not reach an agreement however as Cooke wanted £6 5s a week, or a position with that value, for the two full years. The Balmain club found these demands to be too prohibitive.[140] Cooke moved away from Auckland for work purposes down to Waihou but said that he had kept himself fit by playing some “house” rugby union games and he returned to Auckland to play for Richmond in the Roope Rooster knockout competition towards the end of the club season.[141] On 30 August Mr. James Henry Lawson died. He had been vice-chairman of the Richmond club. He was buried at Waikumete Cemetery.[142]

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