1914 Auckland Rugby League season

The 1914 season was the sixth season of Auckland Rugby League since its formation in 1909. It followed the 1913 Auckland Rugby League season where North Shore Albions were crowned senior champions for the first time. The senior grade saw the addition of Otahuhu, who had previously competed in the lower grades only, and Grafton Athletic. The Manukau Rovers and Eden Ramblers no longer contributed teams. The first grade was won once again by North Shore Albions.

At a meeting of Auckland Rugby League on 9 May it was decided that the proceeds of ticket sales at club games would be split 50–50 between the teams and Auckland Rugby League.[1] Interest in the competition continued to grow with 5,000 attending the 3 senior matches played at Victoria Park on 20 June.[2] There were 3,000 in attendance at the North Shore Albions game versus City Rovers in the Round 8 clash at the Devonport Domain.[3] While 4,000 attended the Round 9 match between City Rovers and Ponsonby United at Victoria Park.[4] There were 7,000 spectators for the final between North Shore Albions and Ponsonby United.[5]

Whilst attendances were spectacular at times there were still signs that the competition was in its infancy with teams often playing one or more men short. The worst case being in the Round 9 match where Newton Rangers could only field eight players, with two spectators from the crowd later joining them as they were defeated by 43 points to 2 by North Shore Albions.[4]

Near the conclusion of the season a match was played at Victoria Park between a team of veterans and Auckland colts on 29 August. It raised £27 and 10 shillings for the Patriotic Fund. Also a "Patriotic Carnival" was held on 5 September. A fancy dress carnival paraded around town with Highland pipers and a brass band. It proceeded to the Auckland Domain where a 3rd grade match was being played between Remuera and Ponsonby United 3rd Grade teams, and a ‘Burlesque’ football game was then played. Finally a match was played between the North Island Jockeys and Newton 3rd grade team which the jockey's won 11–6. £49 was raised for the Patriotic Fund.[6]

Lower grade clubs

Teams which fielded sides in lower grades were the Northcote Ramblers, Hobsonville Pirates, Sunnyside (on the North Shore), Remuera and Manukau.

Representative season

The Auckland representative campaign got underway with a match versus the touring England team where the home side lost. However the Auckland Rugby League made over £500 from the 13,000 in attendance. They also received £200 in gate takings from the match with Wellington at Victoria Park.[7]

First grade championship

After three weeks of practice in inclement weather the competition commenced on 16 May.

Final standings

The standings include the final between North Shore and Ponsonby won by North Shore by 13 points to 2.

Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
North Shore Albions	10	8	1	1	135	38	17
Ponsonby United	10	7	1	1	102	58	15
City Rovers	9	5	0	4	98	65	10
Grafton Athletic	9	3	0	6	75	115	6
Newton Rangers	9	2	1	6	55	148	5
Otahuhu	9	1	1	7	64	115	3

Round 1

Otahuhu's beginning to senior rugby league got off to an inauspicious start when they began their match with just nine players. At halftime they were brought up to a full thirteen when substitutes arrived. Percy Williams who had previously represented Auckland at rugby union before being signed by Wigan where he played from 1910-13 had returned to Auckland. He had played for New Zealand on their tour of Australia as a late addition mid tour. He turned out for the City Rovers and played his debut match against Otahuhu.

	16 May	North Shore	3–3	Ponsonby	North Shore
	3:00	Try: Stan Walters	[8]	Try: Thomas McClymont	Referee: Ferguson

	16 May	Newton	12–9	Grafton	Victoria Park
	3:00	Try: Jim Bennett, Tom Cross Con: C Clark Pen: Len Farrant, Ike Healey	[8]	Try: Karl Ifwersen Con: Karl Ifwersen Pen: Karl Ifwersen 2	Referee: Benson

	16 May	Otahuhu	5–25	City	Otahuhu
	3:00	Try: Arthur Hardgrave Pen: George Cook	[8]	Try: Rodgers 3, Albert Asher, G Warner, unknown x 2 Con: Ernie Asher, Warner	Referee: Fielding

Round 2

	23 May	North Shore	14–4	Grafton	North Shore
	3:00	Try: H Wynyard, Stan Weston, Ernie Bailey, Stan Walters Con: George Seagar	[9]	Pen: Karl Ifwersen 2	Referee: Benson

	23 May	City	16–0	Newton	Victoria Park
	3:00	Try: Rogers, Harold Denize Con: Len Farrant 2 Pen: Ernie Asher, Len Farrant, Don Kenealy	[9]		Referee: Ferguson

	23 May	Otahuhu	4–13	Ponsonby	Otahuhu
	3:00	Pen: Arthur Hardgrave 2	[9]	Try: Charles Webb, Pipseale, unknown x 1 Pen: Charles Webb, Charles Savory	Referee: Eddoes

Round 3

	30 May	City	6–8	North Shore	Auckland Domain
	3:00	Pen: Ernie Asher 2 Drop: Ernie Asher	[10]	Try: Jim Griffin, Edward Fox Con: Jack Paul	Referee: Ferguson

	30 May	Ponsonby	19–5	Grafton	Victoria Park
	3:00	Try: Charles Savory 2, Tom Cross, Frank McWhirter, Corby Pen: Charles Webb	[10]	Try: Karl Ifwersen Pen: Karl Ifwersen	Referee: Fielding

	30 May	Otahuhu	10–10	Newton	Otahuhu
	3:00	Try: George Cook 2 Con: George Cook Pen: George Cook	[10]	Try: Charles Brockliss, Tobin Con: Tobin 2	Referee: Tyson

Round 4

	6 June	City	16–13	Ponsonby	Victoria Park
	3:00	Try: Harold Denize, F Mansell Con: Ernie Asher Pen: Ernie Asher 2 (and 1 mark)	[11]	Try: Charles Savory Con: Charles Savory Pen: Charles Savory 2, Charles Webb 2	Referee: R Benson

	6 June	North Shore	18–0	Newton	Devonport Domain
	3:00	Try: George Seagar 2, Stan Walters Pullen Con: Stan Walters, Pullen Drop: Jack Paul	[12]

	6 June	Grafton	12–10	Otahuhu	Auckland Domain
	3:00	Try: Karl Ifwersen 2 Con: Karl Ifwersen 2 Pen: Karl Ifwersen	[13]	Try: Charles Hally, George Cook Con: Stockman Pen: unknown x 1

Round 5

In the match between Grafton and City both Albert Asher (City) and Bob Mitchell (Grafton) were ordered off.

	13 June	Grafton	14–10	City	Victoria Park
	3:00	Try: Karl Ifwersen, Mincham Con: Karl Ifwersen Pen: Karl Ifwersen 3	[14]	Try: Charles Woolley, G Warner Con: Ernie Asher	Referee: Wynyard

	13 June	Ponsonby	17–3	Newton	Auckland Domain
	3:00	Try: Corby, Sam Lowrie, Charles Webb Con: Charles Webb Pen: Cross, Charles Webb 2	[15]	Try: Biggs	Referee: Tyson

	13 June	Otahuhu	5–15	North Shore	Otahuhu
	3:00	Try: George Cook Pen: Arthur Hardgrave	[16]	Try: Pullen 2, Donald Con: George Seagar 3	Referee: Eddoes

Round 6

	20 June	Ponsonby	2–0	North Shore	Victoria Park 1
	3:00	Pen: Tom Cross	[17]		Attendance: 5000 Referee: Ferguson

	20 June	City	5–3	Otahuhu	Victoria 3
	3:00	Try: Rogers Pen: G Warner	[18]	Try: George Cook	Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Nield

	20 June	Newton	15–4	Grafton	Victoria Park 2
	3:00	Try: Rope 2, Allen, Jim Bennett, Tom Cross	[18]	Pen: Karl Ifwersen 2	Attendance: 5000 Referee: Fielding

Round 7

George Gillett was granted a transfer from the Newton Rangers (where he was a life member) to the Ponsonby United club. The transfer needed the casting vote of the chairman before it was confirmed. He debuted for Ponsonby in their match with Otahuhu.

	27 June	Ponsonby	13–9	Otahuhu	Victoria Park
	3:00	Try: unknown x 1, Charles Savory, Longbottom Con: Tom Cross Pen: Tom Cross	[19]	Try: Charles Hally Pen: Arthur Hardgrave 3	Referee: Ferguson

	27 June	City	21–8	Newton	Victoria Park
	3:00	Try: Albert Asher, Rogers, Frederick Mansell, Charles Woolley, Harold Denize Con: Ernie Asher 2 Pen: Ernie Asher (mark)	[20]	Try: Allen, Biggs Pen: Jim Bennett	Referee: Tyson

	27 June	North Shore	12–7	Grafton	Devonport Domain
	3:00	Try: George Seagar, Wynyard Con: Jack Paul Pen: Jack Paul 2	[21]	Try: Karl Ifwersen Pen: Karl Ifwersen 2	Referee: Dempsey

Round 8

	4 July	North Shore	9–7	City	Devonport Domain
	3:00	Try: Stan Walters Con: Jack Paul Pen: Jack Paul 2	[22]	Try: Burns Pen: Ernie Asher 2	Attendance: 3000

	4 July	Newton	5–10	Otahuhu	Victoria
	3:00	Try: Ike Healey Drop: Hira	[23]	Try: M Stanaway, George Cook Con: George Cook Pen: M Stanaway

	4 July	Ponsonby	15–3	Grafton	Auckland Domain
	3:00	Try: Longbottom, Charles Savory, Thomas McClymont, Corby, Beecham	[24]	Try: Owen

Round 9

In the match between Otahuhu and Grafton, M Stanaway, the Otahuhu captain was ordered off the field by referee Tyson. The match between North Shore and Newton was a farce with Newton only mustering 8 players. Two of the spectators joined the Newton team who were being trounced and the match finished 43 to 2 in favour of North Shore. The newspapers did not bother recording the point scorers though they did mention that the Shore side gave everybody in the team a chance to kick for goal.

	11 July	Ponsonby	5–2	City	Victoria Park
	3:00	Try: Jim Clark Pen: Charles Webb (mark)	[25]	Pen: Ernie Asher	Attendance: 4,000 Referee: A Ferguson

	11 July	Otahuhu	8–17	Grafton	Otahuhu
	3:00	Try: George Cook, Arthur Hardgrave Pen: M Stanaway	[26]	Try: Bob Mitchell, Karl Ifwersen 2 Con: Karl Ifwersen 3 Pen: Karl Ifwersen	Referee: Tyson

	11 July	North Shore	43–2	Newton	Auckland Domain
	3:00	Try: unknown x ? Con: unknown x ?	[27]	Pen: unknown x 1	Referee: Benson

Final

	18 July	Ponsonby	2–13	North Shore	Victoria Park
	3:00	Pen: Charles Webb	[28]	Try: Wynyard, Edward Fox, Stan Weston Con: Jack Paul 2	Attendance: 7,000 Referee: R Benson

Top try scorers and point scorers

None of the North Shore point scorers from their farcical Round 9 match with Newton Rangers were credited and therefore the following lists will be inaccurate as 43 points were scored by them. Of note in the point scoring lists is the prodigious scoring of Karl Ifwersen with 66 points. Indeed, Grafton only scored 75 points in total.

Rank Player Team Tries 1 Karl Ifwersen Grafton Athletic 8 2 George Cook Otahuhu United 7 3 Rogers City Rovers 6 4 Charles Savory Ponsonby United 5 5 Stan Walters North Shore Albions 4 6 Pullen North Shore Albions 3 6 H Wynyard North Shore Albions 3 6 George Seagar North Shore Albions 3 6 Harold Denize City Rovers 3 6 Corby Ponsonby United 3

Rank Player Team Tries Con Pen Mark DG Points 1 Karl Ifwersen Grafton Athletic 8 7 14 - - 66 2 Ernie Asher City Rovers - 6 8 3 - 34 3 George Cook Otahuhu United 7 2 2 - - 29 4 Charles Webb Ponsonby United 2 1 7 1 - 24 5 Charles Savory Ponsonby United 5 1 3 - - 23 6 Jack Paul North Shore Albions - 5 4 - 1 20 7 Arthur Hardgrave Otahuhu United 2 - 6 - - 18 7 Rogers City Rovers 6 - - - - 18 9 George Seagar North Shore Albions 3 4 - - - 17 10 Stan Walters North Shore Albions 4 1 - - - 14

Representative fixtures

Auckland began the representative season with a massive clash with the touring England side who were on their first ever tour of New Zealand. Auckland was defeated 34–12 in front of 13,000 paying spectators at the Auckland Domain which allowed Auckland Rugby League to collect £519 and 2 shillings.

Auckland v England

	1 August	Auckland	12–34	England	Auckland Domain
	3:00	Try: Charles Savory, Jim Clark Con: Karl Ifwersen Pen: Karl Ifwersen 2	[29]	Try: Stan Moorhouse 2, Billy Hall, Bert Jenkins, Johnny Rogers, Dick Ramsdale Con: Alf Wood 5	Attendance: 13,000 Referee: R Benson

Auckland v Waikato (Northern Union Cup)

	8 August	Auckland	29–10	Waikato	Auckland Domain
	3:00	Try: Jim Bennett, Jim Clark, Karl Ifwersen, Edward Fox, Stan Weston, Charles Savory, Charles Woolley Con: Ernie Asher 2, Charles Savory 2	[30]	Try: Cook, Smith Pen: Henderson, unknown x 1

Auckland B v Rotorua

	8 August	Auckland B	29–11	Rotorua	Auckland Domain
	3:00	Try: Corby 3, Albert Asher, Harold Denize, G Warner, Rogers Con: Albert Asher 2, M Stanaway, Warner	[30]	Try: B Harp, Johnson 2 Con: Rukingi Reke

Auckland v Taranaki (Northern Union Cup)

	15 August	Auckland	35–4	Taranaki	Victoria Park
	3:00	Try: Jim Bennett, Charles Savory, Jim Clark, George Seagar, Stan Walters, Harry Fricker, Rogers Con: Charles Savory 6 Pen: Charles Savory	[31]	Pen: Gordon Hooker 2	Attendance: 4,000 Referee: W T Wynyard

Auckland v Wellington (Northern Union Cup)

	22 August	Auckland	10–6	Wellington	Victoria Park
	3:00	Try: Wynyard, Stan Weston Con: Charles Savory Pen: Charles Savory	[32]	Pen: George Bradley 2, Les Campbell	Referee: L Nield

Auckland representative matches played and scorers

The following list includes the 4 matches that the Auckland A team played and excludes the Auckland B team match.

No	Name	Club Team	Play	Tries	Con	Pen	Points
1	Charles Savory	Ponsonby United	4	3	9	2	31
2	Karl Ifwersen	Grafton	2	1	1	2	9
2	Jim Clark	Ponsonby United	4	3	0	0	9
4	Jim Bennett	Newton Rangers	4	2	0	0	6
4	Stan Weston	North Shore Albions	2	2	0	0	6
6	Ernie Asher	City Rovers	1	0	2	0	4
7	Charles Woolley	City Rovers	4	1	0	0	3
7	Edward Fox	North Shore Albions	3	1	0	0	3
7	Stan Walters	North Shore Albions	4	1	0	0	3
7	George Seagar	North Shore Albions	3	1	0	0	3
7	Rogers	Grafton	2	1	0	0	3
7	Harry Fricker	Ponsonby United	1	1	0	0	3
7	Wynyard	North Shore Albions	1	1	0	0	3
14	Arthur Hardgrave	Otahuhu	4	0	0	0	0
14	Thomas McClymont	Ponsonby United	3	0	0	0	0
14	J McDonald	Grafton	3	0	0	0	0
14	Tom Cross	Ponsonby United	2	0	0	0	0
14	Bob Mitchell	Grafton	2	0	0	0	0
14	Harold Hayward	Thames	2	0	0	0	0
14	Corby	Ponsonby United	2	0	0	0	0
14	Charles Webb	Ponsonby United	1	0	0	0	0
14	G Warner	City Rovers	1	0	0	0	0
14	Harold Denize	City Rovers	1	0	0	0	0

References

1. "FOOTBALL. NEW ZEALAND HERALD". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. LI (15605, 11 MAY 1914). Retrieved 14 August 2019.
2. "NEW ZEALAND HERALD". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. LI (15641, 22 JUNE 1914). Retrieved 14 August 2019.
3. "NEW ZEALAND HERALD". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. LI (15653, 6 JULY 1914). Retrieved 14 August 2019.
4. "NEW ZEALAND HERALD". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. LI (15659, 13 JULY 1914). Retrieved 14 August 2019.
5. "NEW ZEALAND HERALD". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. LI (15665, 20 JULY 1914). Retrieved 14 August 2019.
6. "Fancy Dress Carnival". The New Zealand Herald. LI (15707). 7 September 1914. p. 8. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
7. "NEW ZEALAND HERALD". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1 (15695, 24 AUGUST 1914). Retrieved 14 August 2019.
8. "Close Results/Indicate Keen Season/Grafton's Debut". Auckland Star. XLV (117). 18 May 1914. p. 8. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
9. "Three Easy Victories/City Defeats Newton/Wins for North Shore and Ponsonby". The New Zealand Herald. LI (15617). 25 May 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
10. "North Shore Defeats City/Newton and Otahuhu Draw/Grafton Beaten by Ponsonby". The New Zealand Herald. LI (15628). 1 July 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
11. "City Defeats Ponsonby". The New Zealand Herald. LI (15629). 8 June 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
12. "North Shore's Easy Win". The New Zealand Herald. LI (15629). 8 June 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
13. "City Defeats Ponsonby/North Shore's Easy Win/Otahuhu Beaten by Grafton". The New Zealand Herald. LI (15629). 8 June 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
14. "Grafton's Surprising Win". The New Zealand Herald. LI (15635). 15 June 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
15. "Victory for Ponsonby". The New Zealand Herald. LI (15635). 15 June 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
16. "Otahuhu Again Defeated". The New Zealand Herald. LI (15635). 15 June 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
17. "Ponsonby Defeats North Shore". The New Zealand Herald. LI (15641). 22 June 1914. p. 3. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
18. "Ponsonby Defeats North Shore/Wins for City and Newton". The New Zealand Herald. LI (15641). 22 June 1914. p. 3. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
19. "Ponsonby V Otahuhu". The New Zealand Herald, 29 June 1914. 29 June 1914. p. 8. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
20. "Newton V City". The New Zealand Herald, 29 June 1914. 29 June 1914. p. 8. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
21. "North Shore V Grafton". The New Zealand Herald, 29 June 1914. 29 June 1914. p. 8. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
22. "North Shore Defeats City". The New Zealand Herald. LI (15653). 6 July 1914. p. 10. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
23. "Otahuhu's First Win". The New Zealand Herald. LI (15653). 6 July 1914. p. 10. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
24. "Ponsonby V Grafton". The New Zealand Herald. LI (15653). 6 July 1914. p. 10. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
25. "Ponsonby Defeats City/Wins for North Shore and Grafton". The New Zealand Herald. LI (15659). 13 July 1914. p. 10. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
26. "Grafton V Otahuhu". The New Zealand Herald. LI (15659). 13 July 1914. p. 10. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
27. "North Shore V Newton". The New Zealand Herald. LI (15659). 13 July 1914. p. 10. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
28. "The Championship Final/Won by North Shore/A Record Attendance". The New Zealand Herald. LI (15665). 20 July 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
29. "English Team's Tour/First Match in Auckland/Weather Conditions Unfavourable". The New Zealand Herald. LI (15671). 27 July 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
30. "Auckland's Double Victory/Waikato and Rotorua Beaten". The New Zealand Herald. LI (15683). 14 August 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
31. "Auckland Beats Taranaki". The New Zealand Herald. LI (15689). 17 August 1914. p. 3. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
32. "Cup Remains in Auckland". The New Zealand Herald. 1 (15695). 24 August 1914. p. 3. Retrieved 10 August 2019.

External links

• Auckland Rugby League Official Site