1910 Auckland Rugby League season

The 1910 Auckland Rugby League season was the first season where a full organised competition was played following the 1909 season where several exhibition club matches were played. The competition celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2010 and is currently in its 109th season. The 1910 season commenced on 14 May, with the start of the competition for the Myers Cup. It involved four teams, City Rovers, Newton Rangers, North Shore Albions, and Ponsonby United. Only Ponsonby United (now known as Ponsonby Ponies) still survive to the present day.

Two venues were used. Victoria Park, in downtown Auckland hosted 12 matches, and Takapuna Racecourse which no longer exists, hosted 4 matches.

Annual meeting

At the Auckland Rugby League annual meeting the following committee was elected:Chairman, Mr B Brigham; Hon Secretary, Mr A. J. Powley; hon treasurer, Mr P Ussher; hon auditors, Mr D. W. MacLean and E. W. Watts; president, Mr C. D. Grey; vice-presidents, Mr F. E. N. Gaudin, M. Molloy, W. T. Thompson, J. Patterson, W. M. Evans, T. Craig, A. E. Glover MP, T. Buxton. At the meeting information was received that two new clubs were forming, one in the city and the other at a marine suburb.[1]

Establishment

On 12 April a meeting was held at the Waitemata Hotel with a view to forming a club. There were 23 people in attendance with Mr. D. W. MacLean occupying the chair. It was decided that a club would be formed called City Rovers. The following were elected as officers: president, Mr. J Endean; vice-presidents, Mr F. E. N. Gaudin; Graham, A. J. Parker, and W. M. Evans; hon secretary, Mr L. E. Hinton; hon treasurer, Mr Ernest Asher; hon auditor, Mr B. Brigham. Players for the team were requested to travel to the North Shore on the following Saturday to practice with the North Shore Albions team.[2] The match resulted in a draw with both teams scoring three tries each.[3]

Northcote Ramblers join the Northern Union Code

On 15 April a meeting was held at Northcote to form a rugby league club there. There were 37 players and supporters present. Mr. D. W. MacLean chaired the meeting. 21 players enrolled at the new club. Mr Lepper was appointed hon secretary, and Mr A. Jackson treasurer. The club was initially to be called the Northcote Warriors however within a week this was changed to the Northcote Ramblers which they were known as for decades afterwards. Today the club is known as the Northcote Tigers.[4] The team played their first ever match on 23 April when they took on a combined Newton Rangers and Ponsonby United junior team in Northcote. The home team won by 18 points to 8 with Jack Stanaway refereeing.[5]

Myers Cup (First Grade Championship)

Sixteen matches were played until the final round on 20 August where City Rovers defeated Ponsonby United to become the inaugural champions of Auckland club Rugby League (which at this time was referred to as 'Northern Union' in the media).[6] The Round 4 match between North Shore and City won by City 12–6 did not have the point scorers reported. In the Round 6 match between Ponsonby and City the match was abandoned after Albert Opai Asher led the City team off the field after protesting the non awarding of a 'try' to the City team. After an inquiry by the league during the week Asher apologised.

Final standings

Team Pld W D L F A Pts City Rovers 8 5 2 1 87 33 12 Newton Rangers 8 4 1 3 76 81 9 Ponsonby United 8 4 0 4 89 60 8 North Shore Albions 8 1 1 6 41 119 3 Results Round 1 14 May Newton 12–6 Ponsonby Victoria Park   Try: William Winters, Haswell, Len Farrant 2 [7] Try: Sid Riley, S Cole Referee: Mr. Sharrock 14 May North Shore 0–0 City Takapuna Racecourse   [7] Referee: Mr. Wynyard Round 2 21 May Newton 8–8 City Victoria Park   2:00 Try: R Bradburn, William Bonner Con: R Bradburn [8] Try: Harold Denize, A Hawthorn Con: Sid Kean Referee: Jack Stanaway 21 May Ponsonby 34–7 North Shore Victoria Park   3:15 Try: Arthur Carlaw 2, R W MacDonald 2, Ronald MacDonald 2, Henry Bettis, S Cole Con: S Cole 4, Alf Chorley [9] Try: Alfred Jackson Con: George Seagar Pen: Jim Griffen Attendance: 300 Referee: J Sharrock Round 3 28 May North Shore 2–11 Newton Takapuna Racecourse   Pen: Jim Griffen [10] Try: Smith, Thomas Houghton 2 Pen: William Bonner 28 May City 9–0 Ponsonby Victoria Park   Try: Charles Brett 2, Sid Kean [11] Round 4 4 June Newton 5–2 Ponsonby Victoria Park   3:00 Try: Smith Pen: William Bonner [12] Pen: S Cole Attendance: 100 4 June North Shore 6–12 City Takapuna Racecourse   [13] Referee: Jack Stanaway Round 5 18 June City 14–5 Newton Victoria Park   Try: Albert Asher, Charles Brett, George Harrison, Bob Mitchell Con: Sid Kean [14] Try: Charles Linkhorn Pen: R Bradburn Attendance: 2,000 18 June North Shore 3–7 Ponsonby Takapuna Racecourse   Try: Fred Jackson [15] Try: Charles Dunning Con: S Cole Pen: S Cole Round 6 Arthur Thompson Haddon had recently joined the North Shore Albions team. It was said that he had recently played the game in the "Old Country" .[16] 25 June Ponsonby 11–8 City Victoria Park   2:00 Try: Culpan, Ronald MacDonald, Harry Fricker Con: S Cole [17] Try: Bob Mitchell, George Harrison Con: Alex Stanaway Attendance: 400 Referee: Jack Stanaway 25 June Newton 16–5 North Shore Victoria Park   Try: Haswell, Jim Bennett 3 Con: Len Farrant Pen: Len Farrant [18] Try: Sutton Con: Jim Griffin Round 7 2 July Ponsonby 26–2 Newton Victoria Park   2:00 Try: King, Fred Lynch 2, Albert Bettis, Culpan, Charles Dunning Con: S Cole 4 [19][20] Pen: William Bonner Attendance: 4,000 2 July City 22–0 North Shore Victoria Park   Try: George Harrison 2, Harold Denize, Tom Avery, Bob Mitchell, Hawthorn Con: Alex Stanaway Pen: Alex Stanaway [21] Round 8 20 August City 14–3 Ponsonby Victoria Park   Try: Charles Brett 3, Albert Asher Con: Alex Stanaway [22] Try: S Cole Attendance: 600 20 August Newton 17–18 North Shore Victoria Park   Try: Haswell 2, Nicholson, Henderson, Lionel Nolan Con: William Bonner [23] Try: Fraser, F Taylor, George Seagar, H Wynyard Con: H Wynyard 2, George Seagar Attendance: 600 Top scorers The Round 4 match between North Shore and City won by City 12–6 did not have the point scorers reported so the following lists are unlikely to be 100% complete. Top try scorers No Player Team Tries 1 Charles Brett City Rovers 6 2 Haswell Newton Rangers 4 2 George Harrison City Rovers 4 4 Jim Bennett Newton Rangers 3 4 Sydney Cole Ponsonby United 3 4 R MacDonald Ponsonby United 3 4 B Mitchell City Rovers 3 Top point scorers No Player Team Points 1 S Cole Ponsonby United 33 (3t, 10c, 2p) 2 Charles Brett City Rovers 18 (6t) 3 Haswell Newton Rangers 12 (4t) 3 George Harrison City Rovers 12 (4t) 5 Len Farrant Newton Rangers 10 (2t, 1c, 1p) Second grade A second grade competition was also played, however it received little coverage in the news media. It featured second teams from City Rovers, North Shore Albions and Ponsonby United, as well as a team from Northcote named the Northcote Ramblers. Northcote were to go through the season undefeated to win the grade.[24] Representative season Auckland v Rotorua 11 June Auckland 21-18 Rotorua Victoria Park   3:00 Try: Len Farrant 2, Jackson, George Seagar, G Smith Con: Len Farrant, George Seagar Pen: George Seagar [25] Try: Riki Papakura, McRae, McCullum, Henry Duvall Con: Worrall, McCullum Pen: McCullum Attendance: 2000 Referee: J Sharrock Trial match On 9 July a trial match was played between an A and B team selected in preparation for the visit of the British team but no result was given. A further trial match was played on 16 July which the A team won by 20 points to 18. 16 July A Team 20–18 B Team Victoria Park   Try: Albert Asher, Fred Jackson, George Smith, Jim Rukutai Con: Fred Jackson 4 [26] Try: Alfred Jackson 2, Jim Bennett 2 Con: William Bonner, Neighbour Pen: William Bonner Attendance: 2,000 Auckland v Great Britain The team for the match was: (fullback) Alf Chorley; (three-quarters) L Nolan, George Smith, Albert Asher; (five-eights) Alfred Jackson, Ronald MacDonald; (halfback) Len Farrant; (forwards) Fred Jackson (captain), Charles Dunning, Jim Griffin, Alex Stanaway, Harry Fricker, and George Seagar. The emergency players named were (backs) Syd Riley, Arthur Carlaw; (forwards) Jim Bennett, Jim Rukutai, and Bob Mitchell 23 July Auckland 9–52 Great Britain Victoria Park   3:00 Try: George Seagar, Albert Asher, Jim Griffin [27] Try: Bert Jenkins, Bill Jukes 2, Jim Davies 3, Joe Riley 2, Jim Leytham, Herbert Kershaw, Jim Lomas, Billy Winstanley Con: James Lomas 7, Jim Leytham Attendance: 10000 Referee: Jack Stanaway Auckland tour practice match 17 Sep Auckland Touring Team 49–6 Selected Combined Team Auckland Domain   2:45 Try: George Seagar 2, Ronald MacDonald, William Bonner 3, Sid Kean 2, Robert Mitchell 2, Charles Dunning, Harry Fricker 2, Jim Bennett, Arthur Carlaw 2 Con: Arthur Carlaw, Robert Mitchell [28] Try: Tom Avery, C Brockliss Auckland then went on a seven match tour of New Zealand. The following squad was selected to make the tour: Harry Childs, George Harrison, Ernie Asher, W Bonner, Syd Riley, L Nolan, Arthur Carlaw, Alfred Jackson, W J Walker (Rotorua), Ronald MacDonald, Sid Kean, Jim Bennett, S Cole, Tom Avery, Harold Denize, Charles Dunning (captain), Harry Fricker, George Seagar, Bob Mitchell, H B Oakley, and Charles Brockliss. The manager for the tour was Teddy Watts with Oakley assisting him. Tour Match v Wanganui 22 September Wanganui 14–15 Auckland Cooks Gardens, Wanganui   3:00 Try: Irving, Seeling, Bob Mitchell, King Con: Hogan [29] Try: Jim Bennett, Lionel Nolan 2 Con: William Bonner 2 Pen: William Bonner Referee: Sid Kean Tour Match v Bluff 27 September Bluff 12–42 Auckland Queens Park, Invercargill   Try: G Burgess, Don Hamilton Con: J Johnston 2 Pen: J Johnston [30] Try: George Seagar 4, Alfred Jackson, Ernie Asher 3, Sid Kean 2, Harry Fricker, Arthur Carlaw Con: Jim Bennett 2, Sid Kean Referee: P Fraser Remarkably George Seagar after scoring 4 tries then went on to compete in the annual September boxing tournament at the Municipal Theatre later that evening where he beat J O'Shea of Invercargill with loud applause from many of his teammates who were in attendance. He then beat F. Moir of Winton in three rounds.[31] The following day he then played for Auckland again against Southland and scored another try. Unfortunately he injured his arm and was unable to compete in that night's boxing.[32] Tour Match v Southland 28 September Southland 12–17 Auckland Queens Park, Invercargill   3:00 Try: H McDermott, Ogg Con: H McDermott 2 Pen: H McDermott [33] Try: Harry Childs, Jim Bennett 2, Sid Kean, George Seagar Con: William Bonner Attendance: 2000 Referee: P Fraser Tour Match v Otago/Southland 1 October Otago/Southland 18–30 Auckland Caledonian Ground, Dunedin   3:00 Try: P Walker, H McDermott, J Coulter, A Harridge Con: Ned Hughes, J Johnston, H McDermott [34] Try: Sid Kean 4, Ernie Asher, Lionel Nolan, Jim Bennett, Charles Dunning Con: Charles Dunning, Sydney Cole 2 Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Arthur Carlaw Tour Match v Nelson For Nelson, W Doyle scored a try while Charles James scored 2 tries and kicked 2 conversions. James was later killed in action in France during World War I in 1917. 5 October Nelson 13–24 Auckland Trafalgar Park, Nelson   3:15 Try: Charles James 2, W Doyle Con: Charles James 2 [35] Try: Ernie Asher 2, Alfred Jackson 2, Arthur Carlaw, George Seagar Con: Charles Dunning 3 Referee: R Kincaid Tour Match v Hawke's Bay 8 Oct Hawke's Bay 14–19 Auckland Napier Recreation Ground   3:00 Try: H Smith, R McEwan, Tom Cotterill, A Wall Con: W Mackrell [36] Try: Lionel Nolan, Ernie Asher, Sid Kean, George Seagar, Charles Dunning Con: Charles Dunning 2 Referee: Arthur Carlaw Tour Match v Dannevirke 12 October Dannevirke 8–24 Auckland Dannevirke Recreation Reserve   3:00 Try: Harry Nuttal, Wilson Con: unknown [37] Try: Bob Mitchell, Arthur Carlaw, Charles Dunning, Lionel Nolan, Sid Riley, Sydney Cole Con: Charles Dunning 3 Auckland representative matches played and scorers Matches include the match versus the touring Great Britain side and the seven tour matches made by the Auckland team. The Dannevirke match did not have a team list reported and therefore only the point scorers are included in the 'played' statistics (Mitchell, Carlaw, Dunning, Nolan, Riley, Cole, and Dunning) meaning there are 6 players with unattributed games played. Auckland representative matches played and scorers No Name Club Team Play Tries Con Pen Marks Points 1 Charles Dunning Ponsonby United 9 3 11 - - 31 1 George Seagar North Shore Albions 8 9 1 1 - 31 3 Sid Kean City Rovers 4 8 1 - - 26 4 Ernie Asher City Rovers 7 7 - - - 21 5 Jim Bennett Newton Rangers 5 4 2 - - 16 6 Lionel Nolan Newton Rangers 8 5 - - - 15 7 Alfred Jackson North Shore Albions 8 4 - - - 12 7 Arthur Carlaw Ponsonby United 6 3 - - - 9 9 William Bonner Newton Rangers 2 - 3 1 - 8 9 Len Farrant Newton Rangers 2 2 1 - - 8 11 Sydney Cole Ponsonby United 2 1 2 - - 7 12 Harry Fricker Ponsonby United 7 1 - - - 3 12 Bob Mitchell City Rovers 6 1 - - - 3 12 Sid Riley Ponsonby United 5 1 - - - 3 12 Harry Childs City Rovers 5 1 - - - 3 12 Jim Griffin North Shore Albions 2 1 - - - 3 12 Albert Asher City Rovers 2 1 - - - 3 12 George Smith ? 2 1 - - - 3 19 Ronald MacDonald Ponsonby United 5 - - - - 0 19 George Harrison City Rovers 3 - - - - 0 19 Tom Avery City Rovers 2 - - - - 0 19 Harold Denize City Rovers 2 - - - - 0 19 W J Walker Eden Ramblers 1 - - - - 0 19 Frederick Stanley Jackson North Shore Albions 1 - - - - 0 19 Charles Brockliss City Rovers 1 - - - - 0 19 Alf Chorley Ponsonby United 1 - - - - 0 19 Alex Stanaway City Rovers 2 - - - - 0 19 William Mackrell Newton Rangers 1 - - - - 0 19 Charles Linkhorn Newton Rangers 1 - - - - 0 References "The Northern Union Game". Auckland Star. XLI (85). 11 April 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 8 December 2019. "The City Rovers". The New Zealand Herald. XLVII (14343). 13 April 1910. p. 4. Retrieved 8 December 2019. "The Northern Union Game". Auckland Star. XLI (91). 18 April 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 8 December 2019. "Northern Union Football". Auckland Star. XLI (90). 16 April 1910. p. 8. Retrieved 8 December 2019. "Northcote Ramblers v Newton and Ponsonby". The New Zealand Herald. XLVII (14353). 25 April 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 8 December 2019. "Northern Union Game". Auckland Star. Retrieved 8 August 2019. "The Northern Union Game: Season Opened". The New Zealand Herald. p. 7. Retrieved 8 August 2019. "The Northern Union Game/Newton Rangers v City Rovers". The New Zealand Herald. XLVII (14376). 20 June 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 7 December 2019. "Ponsonby United v North Shore Albions". The New Zealand Herald. XLVII (14376). 20 June 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 7 December 2019. "Newton Rangers v North Shore". The New Zealand Herald. XLVII (14382). 30 May 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 7 December 2019. "City v Ponsonby". The New Zealand Herald. XLVII (14382). 30 May 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 10 November 2019. "Ponsonby v Newton". The New Zealand Herald. XLVII (14388). 6 June 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 7 December 2019. "North Shore Albions v City". Auckland Star. XLI (132). 6 June 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 7 December 2019. "City Rovers v Newton Rangers". The New Zealand Herald. XLVII (14400). 20 June 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 6 December 2019. "North Shore Albion v Ponsonby United". The New Zealand Herald. XLVII (14400). 20 June 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 6 December 2019. "North Shore v Newton". Auckland Star. XLI (150). 27 June 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 15 April 2020. "An Unfinished Match/Player Ordered Off/Team Leaves the Field". Auckland Star. XLI (150). 27 June 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 6 December 2019. "North Shore v Newton". Auckland Star. XLI (150). 27 June 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 6 December 2019. "Ponsonby Beats Newton". The New Zealand Herald. XLVII (14412). 4 July 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 7 December 2019. "Ponsonby V Newton". Auckland Star. XLI (156). 4 July 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 8 December 2019. "Ponsonby Beats Newton". The New Zealand Herald. XLVII (14412). 4 July 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 7 December 2019. "Northern Union Game". Auckland Star. XLI (198). 22 August 1910. p. 9. Retrieved 7 December 2019. "Northern Union Game". Auckland Star. XLI (198). 22 August 1910. p. 9. Retrieved 7 December 2019. "NORTHERN UNION GAME". Auckland Star. XLI (168). 18 July 1910. p. 7. "Auckland v Rotorua". Auckland Star. XLI (168). 13 June 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 31 July 2020. "Auckland Representatives". Auckland Star. XLI (168). 18 July 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 8 December 2019. "Britain Beats Auckland Fifty-Two Points to Nine". The New Zealand Herald. XLVII (14430). 25 July 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 8 December 2019. "Northern Union Game". Auckland Star. XLI (222). 19 September 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 8 December 2019. "Auckland Defeat Wanganui". Auckland Star. XLI (226). 23 September 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 10 December 2019. "Aucklanders at Bluff/ Win by 42 to 12" (14534). Southland Times. 28 September 1910. p. 3. Retrieved 10 December 2019. "Boxing S.B.A. September Tourney" (14534). Southland Times. 28 September 1910. p. 6. Retrieved 10 December 2019. "Boxing/Invercargill Tournament". Mataura Ensign, 29 September 1910. 29 September 1910. p. 4. Retrieved 10 December 2019. "Aucklanders Defeat Southland/Interesting and Exciting Play" (14535). Southland Times. 29 September 1910. p. 8. Retrieved 10 November 2019. "Auckland v Combined Teams/Auckland 30, Otago 18". Auckland Star. XLI (234). 3 October 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 10 December 2019. "Auckland v Nelson". XLV (XLV). Nelson Evening Mail. 6 October 1910. p. 6. Retrieved 10 December 2019. "Auckland (19) v Hawke's Bay (14)". XIV (4586). Hastings Standard. 10 October 1910. p. 2. Retrieved 10 November 2019. "Auckland Beats Dannevirke". The New Zealand Herald. XLVII (14499). 13 October 1910. p. 8. Retrieved 10 December 2019. External links Auckland Rugby League Official Site