1931 Auckland Rugby League season
The 1931 Auckland Rugby League season was its 23rd.
The inaugural Fox Memorial Shield was won by Marist Old Boys who defeated Devonport United 12–5 in the final round to win by 3 competition points over the same side. This was Marists second ever first grade title after previously winning it in 1924. Devonport United did however win the Roope Rooster competition defeating Ponsonby United in the final. This was their second time winning the Roope Rooster after they won the inaugural title in 1915. They also beat Marist Old Boys to win the Stormont Shield Trophy for the second year in a row. Alongside these feats Devonport also won the inaugural reserve grade competition with a 5–5 draw in the final securing them the 1 competition point they needed to edge out Ponsonby United. Richmond Rovers won the Stallard Cup by winning the reserve grade knockout competition, defeating Newton Rangers reserves in the final 13–5.
On the final day of the season Mr. Samuel Harris of the Newton Rangers team had a heart attack while running with the ball in the final of the Seven-A-Side charity tournament. The game was called off with no result given. He had played with Newton for 2 seasons after moving to Auckland from Hikurangi. He was single and 26 years of age at the time.[1]
Eastern Suburbs toured New Zealand at the end of the season and played 5 matches including 3 at Carlaw Park against Devonport, Devonport-Marist combined, and an Auckland Colts side.
Fox Memorial Shield replaces Monteith Shield
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 wrote 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 puriri, 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 (1), Grey Lynn Park (1), and 1 additional ground at Grey Lynn to alternate between rugby and league.[4]
Financial statement and annual report – From childhood to manhood
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]
Senior competition restructuring and Carlaw Park gate takings
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.
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]
Eastern Suburbs tour of New Zealand
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 Devonport 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, and an Auckland Colts side before returning home with 4 wins and a loss.
Eastern Suburbs tour matches
9 October | Northland | 11–23 | Eastern Suburbs | Kensington Park, Whangarei | ||
3:00 | Try: E O'Callaghan Con: C Hamilton Pen: C Hamilton 3 |
[11] | Try: Dave Brown 2, Roy Paillas, Ray Stehr, Hilton Delaney Con: Roy Paillas 2, Morrie Boyle Pen: Roy Paillas |
Attendance: 2,000 Referee: J Petterson |
10 October | Devonport | 27–41 | Eastern Suburbs | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
3:00 | Try: Smith, Allan Seagar, H Simpson, Len Scott, Albert Laing Con: Smith 4 Pen: Smith 2 |
[12] | Try: Ernie Norman, Morrie Boyle 2, Dick Brown, Dave Brown, Les Rogers 2, Viv Thicknesse, Fred Tottey Con: Morrie Boyle 6, Dave Brown |
Attendance: 17,000 Referee: Les Bull |
14 October | South Auckland | 14–23 | Eastern Suburbs | Steele Park, Hamilton | ||
3:00 | Try: John Whorskey, Huatahi Paki Con: John Whorskey Pen: John Whorskey 3 |
[13] | Try: Roy Pallais, Fred Tottey 2, Dave Brown, Joe Pearce Con: Roy Pallais 2, Norm Pope Pen: Roy Pallais |
Attendance: 2,000 Referee: A Harlock |
17 October | Devonport-Marist | 14–13 | Eastern Suburbs | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
3:15 | Try: Len Scott, Hec Brisbane Con: Alan Clarke Pen: Alan Clarke 3 |
[14] | Try: Dave Brown 2, Fred Tottey Con: Morrie Boyle 2 |
Attendance: 15,000 Referee: P Rogers |
21 October | Auckland Colts | 13–18 | Eastern Suburbs | Carlaw Park 1 | ||
4:00 | Try: Wilf Hassan, Mincham, Carter Con: Smith Pen: Smith |
[15] | Try: Roy Pallais, Morrie Boyle 3 Con: Roy Pallais, Dave Brown 2 |
Referee: Vic Simpson |
Rule changes
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. 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]
New clubs at Papakura and Glenora, and several amalgamations
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 Mt 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 club amalgamated with Marist meaning their senior players would join those of Marist. Kingsland were already an amalgamated club involving Kingsland and Grafton Athletic. 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, Otahuhu, and Mangere clubs combined to form a senior team with the Mangere Senior B team being regraded to first junior with the team playing as part of the Ellerslie-Otahuhu side.[25] However Mangere Rugby League Football Club 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 Mangere 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 Mangere players were willing to play as the league suggested. Mr. Jim Rukutai suggested that Mangere 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 Mangere playing as the Mangere 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 Mangere 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 Mangere 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]
Preceded by 1930 |
23rd Auckland Rugby League season 1931 |
Succeeded by 1932 |
Fox Memorial Shield (senior grade championship)
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]
Senior A grade standings
Senior A grade fixturesRound 1In 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]
Round 2In the match between Marist and Ponsonby, Lunn (Ponsonby) left the field in the 2nd half with a broken rib.
Round 3The Round 3 match between Richmond and Newton was the first ever senior league match played at Western Springs Stadium which had opened for cycling and field sports in 1929.
Round 4
Round 5
Round 1 ReplayThis match was replayed from Round 1 when the time keeper allowed play to continue well after the bel should have been rung. In the replayed match H Carter for Marist was ordered off for “rough play”. Charles Gregory and Norm Campbell both of Marist then left the field with injuries leaving Marist to hang on with 10 men for the last few minutes of the game.
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9In the Richmond – City match both Stan Prentice and Steve Watene were both sent off for fighting.
Round 10
Round 11
Round 12The Round 12 match at Devonport between the hosts and Ellerslie-Otahuhu was one with paid entry after permission was granted by the Devonport Borough Council. A sum of £12 5/ was raised to assist the Devonport Welfare League's funds.[70]
Round 13The 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.
Round 14
Roope Rooster knockout competitionRound 1
Semi finalsThe semi finals were postponed initially due to poor weather before being played on 12 September. The match between Ponsonby and Richmond went to extra-time after it was 20–20 at the end of regular time. This was very rare as usually tied games were replayed. Ponsonby went on to win 28–20.
Final
Stormont Shield
Top try scorers and point scorersTop try and point scorers for A Grade and Roope Rooster matches. Frank Delgrosso of Ponsonby was the top point scorer for the 3rd time in his career with 70 points. He was regularly in the top 5 point scorers in the first grade competitions and to this point in his career had amassed more than any other player, with 665 points. Len Scott (Devonport United) was the top try scorer with 12, closely followed by George Batchelor (Marist Old Boys) with 11, and Stan Prentice (Richmond Rovers) with 10.
Senior reserve grade standingsThe standings include the 'final' between Devonport and Ponsonby which was a 5–5 draw. This meant Devonport won the title as they finished the competition with one more point that Ponsonby. A Round 11 result between Marist and City is unknown as it was not reported in the newspapers while the score between Devonport and Ellerslie-Otahuhu in Round 12 is also unknown, though Devonport were the victor.
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References
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