1920 Auckland Rugby League season

Auckland RL management committee.

The Auckland Rugby League was in its 12th season.

On 25 March, North Shore Albions held a meeting to discuss whether they should amalgamate with Sunnyside League Football Club, who were also based in Devonport and had been in existence since 1914. The following week both clubs agreed to merge. After some debate they decided their club name would be 'Devonport United' and they would wear green and white broad bands.[1] In addition Grafton and Richmond Rovers amalgamated, while new clubs were also formed in Kingsland (Kingsland Rovers), and at Point Chevalier.[2]

First grade games continued to regularly draw large crowds, especially matches involving the likes of Maritime, City Rovers, and Ponsonby United. The round 6 match between Maritime and Ponsonby drew what was thought to be a record crowd for a club match in Auckland of 9,000.[3] Maritime would go on to win the first grade title for the first time after a strong season where they won nine games and were only defeated twice. They were awarded the Monteith Shield at the 1921 annual general meeting while Newton Rangers won the Roope Rooster for the second year in a row by defeating Maritime in the final.

The highlight of the year was the match between Auckland and the touring England team on 24 July. A crowd of 30,000 packed into the Auckland Domain to witness an Auckland win by 24 points to 16.[4]

Preceded by

1919

|  12th Auckland Rugby League season
1920  | Succeeded by

1921

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## Club news[edit]

### Club teams by grade participation[edit]

The Grafton and Richmond clubs fielded combined teams in the 4th, 5th (2), and 6th grades hence the 'half numbers'.

Team  | 1st Grade  | 2nd Grade  | 3rd Grade  | 4th Grade  | 5th Grade  | 6th Grade  | Total

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Devonport United | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7
Ponsonby United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5
City Rovers | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5
Maritime | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5
Grafton Athletic | 1 | 0 | 0 | .5 | 1 | .5 | 3 (5)
Richmond Rovers | 0 | 0 | 0 | .5 | 1 | .5 | 2 (4)
Newton Rangers | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3
Manukau Rovers | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3
Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2
Marist Old Boys | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2
Kingsland Rovers | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2
Otahuhu Rovers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2
Māngere Rangers | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1
Thames Old Boys | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1
Point Chevalier | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1
Total  | 7 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 44

### Carlaw Park site found[edit]

At the end of the season an inspection was made of the site where Carlaw Park would emerge. It was decided that the ground would be named ‘Carlaw Athletic Park’. The land had been purchased years earlier. It was noted that the site was “excellently situated for the purpose for which it is intended, and provides sufficient space for two playing grounds. Natural slopes on two sides will give room for a large number of spectators…”.[5]

## Monteith Shield (first grade championship)[edit]

Maritime won the first grade title with City Rovers finishing in second position. Three grounds were used for the competition, Victoria Park, the Auckland Domain, and the Devonport Domain. Thirty eight matches were played which was the most in the competitions history to this point. Unlike in previous seasons all clubs were able to survive until the end of the season and fulfill the majority, or all, of their fixture obligations.

### Monteith Shield standings[edit]

Team  | Pld  | W  | D  | L  | F  | A  | Pts

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Maritime | 11 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 168 | 93 | 18
City Rovers | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 270 | 131 | 16
Marist Old Boys | 11 | 7* | 1 | 3 | 102 | 79 | 15
Newton Rangers | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 133 | 132 | 13
Devonport United | 12 | 4* | 2 | 6 | 98 | 151 | 10
Ponsonby United | 11 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 125 | 160 | 6
Grafton Athletic | 11 | 1 | 0 | 10** | 78 | 228 | 2

(*) Two of Grafton's defeats were by default, while one of Marist's wins and one of Devonport's wins were by default.

### Monteith Shield fixtures[edit]

#### Round 1[edit]

Wally Somers

Wally Somers scored for Newton in their win over Grafton. The Marist club took the field in their familiar green colour after having played their first senior season in 1919 season wearing blue jerseys.

| 1 May  | Ponsonby  | 21–14  | Marist  | Auckland Domain  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Bill Walsh, Sam Lowrie, Cadman, W Henderson, McGregor
Con: A Cross
Pen: A Cross 2  | [6] | Try: C Clarke, Sheehan, Arthur Eustace, James (Sonny) Hing
Pen: Billy Ghent  | Referee: Eddowes
| 1 May  | Newton  | 30–15  | Grafton  | Victoria Park  |

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| 3:00  | Try: E Adams, Wally Somers 3, Arthur James 2
Con: Craddock Dufty 6  | [7] | Try: Anderson, Karl Ifwersen, C Owen
Con: Karl Ifwersen 3  | Referee: William Mincham
| 1 May  | Devonport  | 10–32  | City  | Devonport Domain  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Penalty Try, George Seagar
Con: Stewart
Pen: Stewart  | [8] | Try: Bill Davidson 3, Maurice Wetherill, George Paki 2, Robert Clark, Harry Wynn, Ivan Stewart, Unknown x 1
Con: G Reed  | Referee: Len Farrant

#### Round 2[edit]

The draw by Marist saw them accrue their first ever first grade championship point after going through the 1919 season win-less in the same competition.

| 8 May  | City  | 18–16  | Ponsonby  | Auckland Domain 1  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Ivan Stewart, Bill Davidson, R Mitchell, George Paki
Con: Bill Davidson 2
Pen: Bill Davidson | [9] | Try: Bill Walsh 2, Eric McGregor, Thomas McClymont, Dougie McGregor
Con: Thomas McClymont | Attendance: 5,500
Referee: Archie Ferguson
| 8 May  | Newton  | 5–5  | Marist  | Victoria Park 2  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Bill Cloke
Con: Craddock Dufty | [10] | Try: Norm Loveridge
Pen: Neville St George | Referee: A Ripley
| 8 May  | Maritime  | 25–0  | Grafton  | Auckland Domain 2  |

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| 3:00  | Try: J McGregor, Ernie Herring 2, A Sutton, William Arndt, Bert Avery, Brien
Con: A Sutton, Tierney  | [11] |  | Attendance: 5,500
Referee: Frank Thompson

#### Round 3[edit]

| 15 May  | City  | 16–3  | Newton  | Auckland Domain 1  |

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| 3:00  | Try: G Reed, Robert Clark, Bert Laing
Con: Bill Davidson, Maurice Wetherill | [12] | Try: Nelson Bass | Attendance: 5,000
Referee: J Ball
| 15 May  | Maritime  | 16–11  | Marist  | Victoria Park 1  |

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| 3:00  | Try: A Sutton 2, Eric Grey 2
Con: A Sutton
Pen: A Sutton  | [13] | Try: Roly Tait, Sid McNamara, Unknown x 1
Con: Bill Stormont | Referee: Billy Murray
| 15 May  | Devonport  | 17–17  | Ponsonby  | Devonport Domain  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Keith Helander, C Nicholson 2
Con: Arthur Matthews 3
Pen: Arthur Matthews | [14] | Try: Arthur Pooley, Halliday, Dougie McGregor, Frank Delgrosso, Lawrence Cadman
Con: A Cross  | Referee: Clow

#### Round 4[edit]

Marist recorded their first ever victory in the first grade championship with Bill Stormont scoring one of their three tries.

| 22 May  | Maritime  | 8–6  | City  | Auckland Domain  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Bert Avery, Eric Grey
Con: John Lang | [15] | Pen: Bill Davidson 3  | Attendance: 5,500
Referee: A Ball
| 22 May  | Marist  | 15–3  | Grafton  | Victoria Park  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Bill Stormont, Billy Ghent, Unknown x 1
Con: Billy Ghent, Arthur Eustace, Unknown x 1  | [16] | Try: Horace Neal | Referee: Clayton
| 22 May  | Newton  | 15–5  | Devonport  | Devonport Domain  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Jack Keenan, Ronald Lovett, Albert Ivil
Con: Craddock Dufty 2
Pen: Craddock Dufty | [17] | Try: C Nicholson
Con: Stewart  | Referee: Eddowes

#### Round 5[edit]

The match between City and Grafton had the score reported by both the Auckland Star and the New Zealand Herald but had no match report and scoring. The Observer had a brief description of the match where they described one of Karl Ifwersen's "tries" indicating he scored at least 2.

| 29 May  | Newton  | 12–11  | Ponsonby  | Auckland Domain 1  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Nelson Bass, Wally Somers
Con: Craddock Dufty
Pen: Craddock Dufty 2  | [18] | Try: Eric McGregor 2, Thomas McClymont
Pen: A Cross  | Attendance: 5000
Referee: A Ferguson
| 29 May  | City  | 24–17  | Grafton  | Auckland Domain 2  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Unknown 24 pts  | [19] | Try: Karl Ifwersen 2, Unknown 11 pts  | Attendance: 5,000
| 29 May  | Maritime  | 17–3  | Devonport  | Victoria Park  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Bert Avery, John McGregor 4
Con: A Sutton  | [20] | Try: George Seagar | Referee: Len Farrant

#### Round 6[edit]

Karl Ifwersen

Arthur Cadman was sent off in the Maritime match versus Ponsonby for kicking a Maritime player, while the Auckland Star suggested in their match reports that the 9,000 in attendance was possibly the largest ever Auckland Club Rugby League crowd to attend a match to this point. Grafton defaulted their match against Devonport as Joe Bennett was injured, Karl Ifwersen was sick, Horace Neal had a "broken shoulder", and Owen, Moir, and Norton were out of town.

| 12 June  | Maritime  | 11–8  | Ponsonby  | Auckland Domain 1  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Harry Grey, John McGregor, Eric McGregor
Con: Eric Grey | [21] | Try: Thomas McClymont, Eric McGregor
Con: A Cross  | Attendance: 9,000
Referee: J Eddowes
| 12 June  | Marist  | 19–5  | City  | Auckland Domain 2  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Billy Ghent 2, Arthur Eustace, Sid McNamara, Bill Stormont
Con: Unknown x 2  | [22] | Try: Bill Davidson
Con: Bill Davidson | Attendance: 9,000
Referee: Vause
| 12 June  | Devonport  | WBD-LBD  | Grafton  | Devonport Domain 1  |

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| 3:00  |  | [23] |  | Referee: Jim Rukutai

#### Round 7[edit]

2 Players were ordered off in the 2nd half of the Maritime versus Newton match. While in the Grafton v Ponsonby match Grafton had two players ordered off including Horace Neal, and had another injured meaning they finished the match with just 10 players on the field.

| 26 June  | Maritime  | 14–7  | Newton  | Victoria Park 1  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Grey 3, John Lang
Pen: A Sutton (1 mark)  | [24] | Try: Wally Somers
Pen: Craddock Dufty 2  | Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Billy Murray
| 26 June  | Ponsonby  | 26–0  | Grafton  | Auckland Domain 1  |

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| 3:00  | Try: William Southernwood 2, Dougie McGregor, Sam Lowrie, Eric McGregor, W Henderson
Con: Eric McGregor, A Cross 4  | [25] |  | Referee: Frank Thompson
| 26 June  | Devonport  | 8–3  | Marist  | Devonport Domain  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Alex Godick, C Nicholson
Con: Arthur Matthews | [26] | Try: Arthur Eustace  | Referee: Clayton

#### Round 8[edit]

| 3 July  | Marist  | 8–4  | Ponsonby  | Auckland Domain 2  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Bill Stormont, Unknown x 1
Con: White  | [27] | Pen: A Cross 2  | Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Walter Ripley
| 3 July  | Newton  | 24–15  | Grafton  | Auckland Domain 3  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Thomas Virtue, Charles James, S Delaney 2, Unknown x 2
Con: Clarrie Polson, Unknown x 2  | [28] | Try: Charles Woolley, Yates, McGinley
Con: Charles Woolley 3  | Attendance: 5000
Referee: J Clow
| 3 July  | City  | 19–5  | Devonport  | Victoria Park  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Bill Davidson 2, Maurice Wetherill, George Paki, Miller
Con: Bill Davidson, Maurice Wetherill | [29] | Try: A Godick
Con: George Seagar | Attendance: 3,500
Referee: Archie Ferguson

#### Round 9[edit]

| 10 July  | Grafton  | 10–5  | Maritime  | Auckland Domain 3  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Collins, McSweeney
Con: Joe Bennett
Pen: Charles Woolley | [30] | Try: H Grey
Con: George Yardley  | Referee: William Mincham
| 10 July  | City  | 37–5  | Ponsonby  | Auckland Domain 1  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Ben Davidson, Harry Francis, Mitchell, George Paki \+ Unknown 19 pts
Con: Bill Davidson | [31] | Try: Laurie Cadman
Con: A Cross  | Referee: A Ball
| 10 July  | Marist  | 9–5  | Newton  | Auckland Domain 2  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Bill Stormont
Con: Bill Stormont
Pen: Billy Ghent, Bill Stormont | [32] | Try: Dempsey
Con: E Adams  | Referee: Jim Rukutai

#### Round 10[edit]

| 17 July  | Marist  | 8–7  | Maritime  | Auckland Domain 1  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Norm Loveridge, George Cargill
Pen: Billy Ghent  | [33] | Try: George Yardley
Pen: John Lang, Eric Grey | Attendance: 7000
Referee: Billy Murray
| 17 July  | Ponsonby  | 7–7  | Devonport  | Auckland Domain 3  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Bill Walsh
Con: Thomas McClymont
Pen: Thomas McClymont | [34] | Try: Alex Godick
Pen: Arthur Matthews 2  | Attendance: 7000
Referee: Len Farrant
| 17 July  | City  | 31–10  | Newton  | Auckland Domain 2  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Bert Laing, Ben Davidson, George Paki, Maurice Wetherill, Bill Davidson, Robert Clark 2
Con: Maurice Wetherill, Bill Davidson 3
Pen: Bert Laing | [35] | Try: Leonard Newdick, Thomas Biggs
Con: Craddock Dufty 2  | Attendance: 7000
Referee: Frank Thompson

#### Round 11[edit]

The City v Grafton match resulted in a 66–13 win to City but the Auckland Star and New Zealand Herald did not report any of the scoring details. Grafton were missing Karl Ifwersen, Joe Bennett, and Charles Woolley who were on representative duty and could only field 11 players.

| 7 August  | City  | 66–13  | Grafton  | Victoria Park 1  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Unknown 66 pts  | [36] | Try: Unknown 13 pts  | Referee: T Hill
| 7 August  | Newton  | 10–0  | Ponsonby  | Victoria Park 2  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Bill Cloke, Ballyntyne
Con: Craddock Dufty
Pen: Craddock Dufty | [37] |  | Referee: J Clow
| 7 August  | Maritime  | 24–19  | Devonport  | Victoria Park 3  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Brien 2, B McGregor, John Lang, Eric Grey, Unknown x 1
Con: A Sutton, John Lang
Pen: Hogg (1 mark)  | [38] | Try: C Nicholson 2, Unknown x 1
Con: Stewart 2, Unknown x 1
Pen: Stewart, Unknown x 1  | Referee: W Ripley

#### Round 12[edit]

| 14 August  | Maritime  | 15–11  | City  | Auckland Domain 1  |

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| 3:00  | Try: J McGregor 2, Jim O'Brien
Con: John Lang 2
Pen: John Lang (1 mark)  | [39] | Try: George Paki 2, Green
Con: Bill Davidson | Attendance: 7000
Referee: Archie Ferguson
| 14 August  | Newton  | 12–11  | Devonport  | Auckland Domain 2  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Craddock Dufty, Thomas Virtue
Con: Craddock Dufty
Pen: Craddock Dufty | [40] | Try: C Nicholson 2, B Voss
Con: Stewart  | Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Frank Thompson
| 14 August  | Marist  | WBD-LBD  | Grafton  | Auckland Domain 3  |

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| 3:00  |  | [41] |  | Referee: William Mincham

#### Round 13[edit]

| 21 August  | Marist  | 10–5  | City  | Auckland Domain 1  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Arthur Eustace, Sid Fry
Con: Billy Ghent 2  | [42] | Try: George Paki
Con: Maurice Wetherill | Attendance: 6000
Referee: Walter Ripley
| 21 August  | Maritime  | 26–10  | Ponsonby  | Auckland Domain 2  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Harry Grey, Eric Grey 3, Bert Avery, Ernie Herring, V Hogg
Con: Eric Grey | [43] | Try: Morrison 2
Con: A Cross
Pen: A Cross  | Attendance: 6000
Referee: Len Farrant
| 21 August  | Devonport  | 13–5  | Grafton  | Auckland Domain 3  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Clarence Webb, H Mann, Rundle, C Nelson
Con: Ivan Stewart  | [44] | Try: E Elliot
Con: Brady  | Attendance: 6000
Referee: H Clayton

## Roope Rooster knockout competition[edit]

The Roope Rooster began on 28 August with 3 first round matches and Ponsonby United receiving a bye. Newton Rangers defeated Maritime in the final for the second consecutive year.

### Round 1[edit]

| 28 August  | Maritime  | 9–6  | Marist  | Victoria Park 3  |

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| 3:00  | Try: A Sutton
Con: Eric Grey
Drop: A Sutton, Eric Grey | [45] | Try: Bill Stormont, Arthur Eustace  | Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Archie Ferguson
| 28 August  | City  | 14–3  | Grafton  | Victoria Park 2  |

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| 3:00  | Try: 'Chook' Mitchell, Horne
Con: Bill Davidson
Pen: Bill Davidson 2
Drop: Robert Clark  | [46] | Try: Yates  | Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Frank Thompson
| 28 August  | Devonport  | 7–10  | Newton  | Devonport Domain 1  |

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| 3:00  | Try: H Mann
Con: G Stewart
Pen: G Stewart  | [47] | Try: Ronald Lovett 2
Con: Craddock Dufty 2  | Referee: A Vause

### Semi finals[edit]

| 11 September  | Maritime  | 11–5  | Ponsonby  | Devonport Domain 2  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Harry Grey, Eric Grey, John McGregor
Con: John McGregor  | [48] | Try: Tickner
Con: Eric McGregor  | Referee: A Ball
| 11 September  | Newton  | 19–5  | City  | Devonport Domain 1  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Bill Cloke, Ronald Lovett, S Delaney, Clarrie Polson, Unknown x 1
Con: Wally Somers
Pen: Craddock Dufty | [49] | Try: Maurice Wetherill
Con: Bill Davidson | Referee: Billy Murray

### Final[edit]

| 18 September  | Newton  | 12–6  | Maritime  | Victoria Park 1  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Bill Cloke, S Delaney
Con: Craddock Dufty
Pen: Craddock Dufty 2  | [50] | Try: Ernie Herring, Bert Avery | Attendance: 10000
Referee: Archie Ferguson

## Top try scorers and point scorers[edit]

Bill DavidsonGeorge Davidson

The following point scoring lists include Senior Championship matches and the Roope Rooster competition matches only. The lists are extremely incomplete for players from the City Rovers club who had no scoring whatsoever for their 24–17 win over Grafton Athletic, and their 66–13 win over the same opponents. In total the City team was missing the scorers of 112 of its points. Likewise Devonport United was missing scorers for 7 points, Newton Rangers for 13, Maritime for 3, Marist Old Boys for 15, and Grafton Athletic for 30 (from the two matches with City). In addition to this a number of teams featured brothers and often there was no distinction made as to which of the Grey brothers of Maritime it was. Harry Grey scored 4 tries, while Eric Grey was credited with 3, along with 2 conversions, however "Grey" was credited with 8 tries, 1 conversion, 1 penalty, and a drop goal which could have been either of the aforementioned players in each instance. Also Ponsonby had a try and conversion credited to McGregor but they could have been scored by either Eric McGregor or brother Dougie McGregor.

Bill Davidson replicated the feat of his younger brother George of the previous season by leading the point scoring while playing for Maritime. George had qualified for the Antwerp Olympics where he ran 5th in the 200m final and did not play in the Auckland Rugby League competition at all in 1920. He was to return and join his brothers in the City Rovers team from the 1921 season onwards.

| Rank | Player | Team | Tries

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1 | George Paki | City | 9
1 | John McGregor | Maritime | 9
3 | C Nicholson | Devonport | 8
3 | Bill Davidson | Devonport | 8
5 | Arthur Eustace | Marist | 6
6 | Eric McGregor | Ponsonby | 5
6 | Wally Somers | Newton | 5
6 | Ernie Herring | Maritime | 5
6 | Bert Avery | Maritime | 5
6 | Bill Stormont | Marist | 5
6 | Dougie McGregor | Ponsonby | 5
| Rk | Player | Team | T | C | P | Mk | DG | Pts

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1 | Bill Davidson | City | 8 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 64
2 | Craddock Dufty | Newton | 1 | 17 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 57
3 | A Cross | Ponsonby | 0 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 30
4 | John McGregor | Maritime | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29
5 | George Paki | City | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27
6 | A Sutton | Maritime | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 26
7 | C Nicholson | Devonport | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24
8 | Bill Stormont | Marist | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 21
8 | Billy Ghent | Marist | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 21
10 | Maurice Wetherill | City | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20
10 | Stewart | Devonport | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 20

## Thacker Shield[edit]

Ponsonby in 1920 with the Thacker Shield.

Ponsonby United defended the Thacker Shield from Federal (of Christchurch) at Victoria Park in front of 10,000 spectators. They had won the shield from Sydenham in Christchurch two years earlier. They had been unable to arrange a defence in the 1919 season. Eventually the shield was to be returned to Christchurch and played for amongst teams in the South Island.

| 4 September  | Ponsonby  | 29–19  | Federal (Christchurch)  | Victoria Park  |

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| 3:00  | Try: Arthur Pooley, A Cross, Dougie McGregor 2, Morrison, Clark, Thomas McClymont
Con: A Cross 4  | [51] | Try: Thackwell, Kidd, Cunningham
Con: Billy Mitchell 2
Pen: Billy Mitchell 3  | Attendance: 10000
Referee: Archie Ferguson

## Other club matches and lower grades[edit]

### Exhibition and benefit matches[edit]

| 18 September  | Marist  | 21–14  | Hamilton  | Victoria Park  |

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| 1:30  | Try: Arthur Eustace 2, Percy Gallagher, George Cargill, Bill Stormont
Con: Bill Stormont 2, James (Sonny) Hing  | [52] | Try: Shirtcliff, Payne, Vernall, Clarkin
Con: Manning  | Attendance: 10,000
Referee: A Ball
List of Matches  | Date  |  | Score  |  | Score  | Venue  | Attendance

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Exhibition match  | 29 May [53] | King Country | 6 | Marist Old Boys | 12 | Taumarunui
Exhibition match  | 3 July [54] | Maritime | 31 | Lower Waikato | 20 | Ngaruawahia | 2,000
Exhibition match  | 10 July [55] | King Country | 0 | Devonport United | 15 | Taumarunui
Exhibition match  | 14 Aug [56] | Hamilton | 3 | Ponsonby United | 2 | Hamilton
Exhibition match  | 25 Sep [57] | Devonport United | 8 | King Country | 13 | Devonport Domain

### Lower grade teams and clubs[edit]

There were 5 lower grades in 1920. Richmond and Grafton fielded a combined side in the 5th grade, though Richmond also fielded their own side in the same grade.

Point Chevalier fielded their first ever side in the Third Grade competition. They lost their first ever match to Devonport United (North Shore Albions) by 22 points to 6. Their only other reported results were a 21-7 loss to the same opponent in round 7 and a 14-2 loss in round 8 to Manukau.

#### Second Grade[edit]

The full results were not reported with just 18 reported and 38 not reported therefor the standings are very incomplete. City Rovers won the competition. Devonport United B withdrew after 7 rounds, Thames Old Boys withdrew after 10 rounds Marist and Māngere Rangers both withdrew after 11 rounds.

Team  | Pld  | W  | D  | L  | B  | F  | A  | Pts

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City Rovers | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 63 | 32 | 7
Ponsonby United | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 61 | 40 | 8
Maritime | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 78 | 49 | 7
Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 55 | 31 | 6
Devonport United A | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 24 | 43 | 4
Marist Old Boys | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 16 | 2
Newton Rangers | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 19 | 2
Devonport B | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 27 | 2
Māngere Rangers | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 46 | 2
Thames Old Boys | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 53 | 0

#### Third Grade[edit]

Manukau won their first ever grade title. The full results were not reported with only 8 scores published in the newspapers and 16 not published. Maritime withdrew after 4 rounds, and Newton Rangers withdrew after 5 rounds. Ellerslie United played a friendly match with Kingsland on September 25 when the season had finished.

Team  | Pld  | W  | D  | L  | B  | F  | A  | Pts

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Manukau | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 64 | 26 | 10
Devonport United | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 75 | 45 | 6
Kingsland Rovers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 27 | 0
Point Chevalier | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 57 | 0
Newton Rangers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 0
Maritime | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0

#### Fourth Grade[edit]

Ponsonby United won the competition. There were 19 results reported and 20 not reported. The round 1 match between Kingsland and City was abandoned with the referee refusing to play the match due to the extremely poor standard of the field at the newly developed. Thirty shillings had been spent on clearing the ground prior. Maritime withdrew after just one round while Marist withdrew a week later. Northcote & Birkenhead withdrew following round 8, as did Devonport United. On August 28 Ellerslie (who were reforming) played a match against Grafton-Richmond, which they lost 10-6. On the same day City beat Ponsonby 43-0 in a knockout match. Knockout matches were played over the following 3 weeks but no results were reported.

Team  | Pld  | W  | D  | L  | B  | F  | A  | Pts

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Ponsonby United | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 59 | 31 | 10
Grafton-Richmond | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 92 | 26 | 8
City Rovers | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 6 | 7
Otahuhu Rovers | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 13 | 5
Maritime A | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 25 | 66 | 4
Kingsland Rovers | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 97 | 2
Devonport United | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 40 | 0
Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 0
Maritime B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Marist Old Boys | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0

#### Fifth Grade[edit]

Manukau won the competition and were undefeated in reported results (20-0, 17-0, 22-8, 9-3, 10-6, and 3-0). There were 17 results reported and 41 not reported. Northcote & Birkenhead withdrew after round 6 rounds, while both Ponsonby sides withdrew after 9 rounds. The round 9 match between Maritime and Grafton-Richmond was the curtain-raiser to the Auckland v England match.

Team  | Pld  | W  | D  | L  | B  | F  | A  | Pts

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Manukau | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 17 | 12
Devonport United | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 75 | 43 | 7
Maritime | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 68 | 41 | 6
City Rovers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 6 | 4
Grafton-Richmond A  | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 5 | 5
Otahuhu Rovers | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 16 | 2
Grafton-Richmond B  | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 44 | 0
Ponsonby United A | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 46 | 0
Ponsonby United B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 49 | 0

#### Sixth Grade[edit]

Ponsonby won the championship, sealing it with their 5-0 win over Manukau on August 14. There were only 14 results reported with 18 not reported. The round 10 match between City Rovers and the combined Grafton-Richmond side on July 24 was a curtain-raiser to the Auckland v England match.

Team  | Pld  | W  | D  | L  | B  | F  | A  | Pts

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Ponsonby United | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 10 | 14
Manukau | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 26 | 6
Maritime | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 26 | 4
City Rovers | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 9 | 4
Devonport United | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 27 | 0
Grafton-Richmond | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0

## Representative fixtures[edit]

Auckland played a Rest of New Zealand team as part of the selection process for the New Zealand team to play England. They trounced them by 54 points to 0. They later played a trial match between and A and B team before the Auckland side was selected to play England. The match was played at the Auckland Domain in front of 30,000 spectators. Unfortunately the English halfback fractured his tibia in the first few minutes and they were forced to play with 12 for the remainder of the game as the rules at the time did not allow for substitutions of injured players.[58]

### Auckland v Rest of New Zealand[edit]

The match was postponed a day due to bad weather and played on the Sunday.

| 23 June  | Auckland  | 54–0  | Rest of New Zealand  | Auckland Domain 1  |

|
|
|
|
|
|

| 3:00  | Try: Bill Cloke 3, Charles Woolley, Bill Davidson 3, Billy Ghent, Stan Walters 2, Wally Somers, Bert Avery
Con: Bill Davidson 9  | [59] |  | Referee: A Ball

### Auckland trial match[edit]

| 14 July  | A Team  | 12–19  | B Team  | Victoria Park 1  |

|
|
|
|
|
|

| 3:00  | Try: Joe Bennett, Charles Woolley
Con: Bill Davidson 2
Pen: Bill Davidson | [60] | Try: Ernie Herring 2, Bill Stormont, Dougie McGregor 2, George Paki
Con: Bill Stormont 2  | Referee: A Ball

### Auckland v England[edit]

| 24 July  | Auckland  | 24–16  | England  | Auckland Domain 1  |

|
|
|
|
|
|

| 3:00  | Try: Bill Cloke, Stan Walters 2, Wally Somers, Nelson Bass (Penalty Try), Thomas McClymont
Con: Bill Davidson 3  | [61] | Try: Jonty Parkin 2, Billy Stone, Jim Bacon
Con: Billy Stone, Gwyn Thomas | Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Bill Murray

### Auckland representative matches played and scorers[edit]

No | Name | Club Team | Play | Tries | Con | Pen | Points

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | Bill Davidson | City | 2 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 33
2 | Bill Cloke | Newton | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 12
2 | Stan Walters | Devonport | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12
4 | Wally Somers | Newton | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6
5 | Nelson Bass | Newton | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3
5 | Charles Woolley | Grafton | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3
5 | Thomas McClymont | Ponsonby | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3
5 | Billy Ghent | Marist | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3
5 | Bert Avery | Maritime | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3
10 | Jim Brien | Maritime | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
10 | Eric Grey | Maritime | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
10 | Joe Bennett | Grafton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
10 | A Thomas | City | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
10 | Roly Tait | Marist | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
10 | Karl Ifwersen | Grafton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
10 | Clarrie Polson | Newton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
10 | Bill Stormont | Marist | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
10 | Billy Wilson | City | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
10 | Ivan Stewart | City | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Two Clubs Amalgamate". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17436\. 5 March 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
2. ^ "The Auckland League". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17447\. 17 March 1920. p. 8. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
3. ^ "Maritime Again Victorious/Defeats Ponsonby in Hard Forward Play". Auckland Star. Vol. LI, no. 141\. 14 June 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
4. ^ "English Team Beaten/Opening Match of Tour/Auckland Scores 24-16/Good Display By Forwards/Visitors Play One Man Short". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17532\. 26 July 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
5. ^ "Carlaw Park Inspected". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17592\. 4 October 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
6. ^ "Opening of the Season/Ponsonby 21, Marist 14". Auckland Star. Vol. LI, no. 105\. 3 April 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
7. ^ "Opening of the Season/Newton Beats Grafton". Auckland Star. Vol. LI, no. 105\. 3 April 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
8. ^ "Opening of the Season/City's Big Win". Auckland Star. Vol. LI, no. 105\. 3 April 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
9. ^ "Three Senior Games". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17466\. 10 May 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
10. ^ "Three Senior Games". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17466\. 10 May 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
11. ^ "Three Senior Games". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17466\. 10 May 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
12. ^ "City Defeats Newton/Ponsonby and Devonport Draw/Maritime 16, Marist 11/City V Newton/Maritime V Marist Brothers/Ponsonby V Devonport". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17472\. 17 May 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
13. ^ "/Maritime 16, Marist 11/Maritime V Marist Brothers". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17472\. 17 May 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
14. ^ "Ponsonby and Devonport Draw/Ponsonby V Devonport". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17472\. 17 May 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
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19. ^ "Ponsonby Goes Down". Auckland Star. Vol. LI, no. 129\. 31 May 1920. p. 10. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
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23. ^ "Grafton Defaults". Auckland Star. Vol. LI, no. 141\. 14 June 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
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25. ^ "Ponsonby Defeats Grafton/Ponsonby V Grafton". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17508\. 28 June 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
26. ^ "Devonport 8, Marist 3/Devonport V Marist". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17508\. 28 June 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
27. ^ "Marist Defeats Ponsonby/Marist V Ponsonby". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17514\. 5 July 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
28. ^ "Newton Wins from Grafton/Newton V Grafton". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17514\. 5 July 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
29. ^ "City 19, Devonport 5/City V Devonport". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17514\. 5 July 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
30. ^ "Grafton Defeats Maritime". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17520\. 12 July 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
31. ^ "City 37, Ponsonby 5". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17520\. 12 July 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
32. ^ "Marist Too Good for Newton". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17520\. 12 July 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
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34. ^ "Ponsonby and Devonport Draw". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17526\. 19 July 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
35. ^ "City's Runaway Victory". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17526\. 19 July 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
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39. ^ "First Grade Championship/Maritime Establish A Lead/Maritime V City". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17550\. 16 August 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
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41. ^ "First Grade Championship". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17550\. 16 August 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
42. ^ "Marist Old Boys Defeat City/Marist Old Boys V City". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17556\. 23 August 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
43. ^ "Maritime 26, Ponsonby 10/Maritime V Ponsonby". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17556\. 23 August 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
44. ^ "Devonport V Grafton". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17556\. 23 August 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
45. ^ "Roope Rooster Competition/Wins for Maritime, City and Newton". Auckland Star. Vol. LI, no. 207\. 30 August 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
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47. ^ "Roope Rooster Competition/Wins for Maritime, City and Newton". Auckland Star. Vol. LI, no. 207\. 30 August 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
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49. ^ "Roope Rooster Final/Newton Defeat Maritime/Marist 21, Hamilton 14/Newton V Maritime". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17580\. 20 September 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
50. ^ "Roope Rooster Final/Newton Defeat Maritime/Newton V Maritime". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17580\. 20 September 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
51. ^ "Thacker Shield Match/Trophy Retained by Ponsonby". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17568\. 4 September 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
52. ^ "Marist V. Hamilton". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17580\. p. 7. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
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55. ^ "King Country Match". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17520\. 12 July 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
56. ^ "Hamilton Beats Ponsonby". Auckland Star. Vol. LI, no. 195\. 16 August 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
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## External links[edit]

* Auckland Rugby League Official Site