Fox Memorial standings Fox Memorial results Round 1 The first round saw
Mount Albert play in their first ever Senior A grade match, a 13–8 win over
City Rovers. They had 4 players playing in their first ever game of competitive league after switching codes.
Des Herring dislocated his shoulder in the first half while playing for Mt Albert.
Lou Brown had returned from
England and turned out for City.
Wilfred Brimble joined his brother
Ted in the Newton side after joining from the Manukau 3rd grade intermediate side. He impressed on his senior debut with his older brother who was in his seventh season with Newton seniors.
Noel Bickerton was on debut for the Richmond seniors and scored a try. He went on to become the 249th Kiwi after spending several years in their junior ranks.{{cite news
Round 2 scoring for Richmond in their 27–13 win over Mount Albert.The match between Richmond and Mt Albert was played on Kings Birthday (Monday) as part of the silver jubilee celebrations before a crowd of 10,000. Despite the efforts of Tony Milicich, the Devonport forward, who scored 2 tries and kicked a conversion and a penalty they were defeated by City who scored four tries and kicked 3 goals.
Steve Watene scored one of their tries along with all their goals.
Round 3 For Ponsonby, backs Roy Bright,
Arthur Kay, and R Jones all scored two tries while Roy Bright also added six conversions. He had started on the wing but owing to an injury to Walter Stockley at first five eighth he had to move into the inside backs with Thomas Holland, a young forward coming on to the wing and scoring two tries.
Lou Brown, who had recently returned from
England where he had spent three seasons with
York was outstanding at centre for City. The newspapers for the second weekend in a row said that his fellow backs needed to learn to support him as he continuously made clever openings but had nobody to pass the ball to. When Ponsonby began to run away with the game in the second half many of the spectators moved across to watch the close game on the number 2 field between Newton and Mount Albert. Hugh Brady scored three tries for Newton in their 22–22 draw with Mount Albert, with
Clarry McNeil scoring twice for Mount Albert. Maurice Quirke (Newton) was sent off for striking an opponent though avoided suspension due to his previous good record. It was reported that tempers had started to fray in the forwards in the second half and after he had been sent off there were "several incidents of illegal play". In the main match Richmond won 10–9 with
Bert Cooke playing one of his many fine games for Richmond at fullback. He saved a try on fulltime by tackling Devonport halfback J.C. Cowan back into the field of play after he'd crossed the line. Devonport were unlucky to lose by a single point as Tony Milicich, their hooker missed two kickable penalties and they lost New Zealand representative
Dick Smith to a first half injury and later lost his cousin Alf Smith leaving them a man short for the final 15 minutes.
Round 4 , Richmond's goal kicking loose forward.In the match between Newton and Devonport, Reginald Kelsall (Newton) and John Donald (Devonport) were sent off in the second half and were each suspended for one match.
Bert Leatherbarrow made his first appearance for Ponsonby after being transferred from Devonport. He had recently been living in the Waitoa area and had played a solitary game of rugby union there for the Eastern club. The crack Richmond side secured another solid win over a good Ponsonby side. The team featured ten past or future New Zealand internationals and fullback
Bert Cooke made a "staggering side stepping, try scoring gallop from halfway". One of their non New Zealand representatives was prop
Bill Telford who was an Auckland representative and would go on to coach New Zealand for many years.
Cliff Satherley, the outstanding second
rower kicked three conversions and two penalties.
Round 5 Players in all matches wore arm bands as a mark of respect to
James Carlaw, who had died that week. Newton applied for a replay after their match with Ponsonby on the grounds that the referee had altered his decision which enabled Ponsonby to win.
Bert Leatherbarrow had scored a late try for Ponsonby which was converted by Roy Bright to ultimately give Ponsonby the win. The league however decided that the result stood.{{cite news
Round 6 Jim Laird, the Marist captain received a bad eye injury requiring several stitches to close the wound in their 27–5 loss to Newton.{{cite news
Round 7 In just his second game for Marist, 21 year old Brian Connolly had to go to hospital after being concussed in their match with Mount Albert. Marist used an unusual scrum formation with 2 players in the front row and 3 in the second row with
Jim Laird, their captain playing as a rover in the backs. This was partly due to his eye injury sustained the previous week but the tactic was being used in competitions elsewhere and was experimented with in the ARL this season. The referees held a meeting on June 10 to discuss the tactic. The chairman suggested that "although there was nothing in the rules covering the point, the Auckland League be asked to insist that the orthodox scrum formation, 3-2-1, be adhered to". However others including Mr Hill and Mr Stuart Billman believed that experiments by clubs should be encouraged to improve scrums and hooking.{{cite news
Round 8 In Devonport's 10–8 win over Marist their fullback Ernest Tier who had recently transferred from Wellington was badly concussed. The 26 year old had to leave the field.
Allan Seagar moved back to fullback with L. Powell coming on as a replacement. Richmond beat Newton 14–6 with the later side struggling in the muddy conditions. Hugh Brady their goal kicking winger went off in the first half being replaced by Hulme. Newton missed him as they missed "four easy" shots at goal. George Kerr at fullback had also been injured early in the game and limped for much of it. Hulme gave away an obstruction try when he pulled down Ray Lawless as they raced for the ball. The game between Mount Albert and City was played at the
Onehunga Recreation Ground with Mount Albert winning 27–14. Basil Cranch debuted for Mount Albert and kicked a conversion and played "an outstanding game" at fullback. He would go on to be their top scorer through this era in a decade in their senior side. His younger brother
Ray Cranch debuted in the late 1940s before becoming a Kiwi in 1951.
Claude List scored three tries for Mount Albert in the loose forwards.
Round 9 The Governor General,
Lord Galway (George Monckton-Arundell) was a guest at the matches at
Carlaw Park where the new grandstand had been opened.{{cite news
Round 10 (Richmond lock) (Richmond 2nd five eighth) Richmond beat Devonport easily in the main match at Carlaw Park. The field was in a terrible state after the curtain raiser. For the second week in a row
Harold Tetley had to leave the back of the scrum and play in the backs due to an injury. This time to five eighth
Noel Bickerton with a head injury, with Robertson coming on and going into the forwards. Tetley struggled with his handling but
Eric Fletcher save the situation regularly and defended very well. He also scored a try and kicked 4 goals. During the match
Bert Cooke at full back for Richmond broke his nose in the second half. After receiving treatment from St John's he insisted on returning to the play, “and saw out the game in good style”.{{cite news
Round 11 (Richmond lock)W. Payne (Ponsonby), and Ernest McNeil (Richmond) were sent off in their match and suspended for one week.
Harold Tetley the Richmond lock had to go into the backs to cover for the loss of McNeil. Tetley debuted for New Zealand later in the year and went on to coach the national side on their 1955-56 tour.
Ted Mincham was said to have been poor at centre and so
Alf Mitchell and Tetley and previously
Clarry McNeil struggled to get any ball on the wings. For Ponsonby their right winger Roy Bright scored all of their points through a try which he converted and three penalties.
Norm Campbell returned to the Marist side after several weeks absence and kicked four goals in their 20–7 win.
Round 12 Richmond were said to have been superb in their 22–0 win over Marist with second five eighth,
Noel Bickerton the pick of the backs with his play reminiscent of
Karl Ifwersen.
Stan Prentice made his first appearance of the year for Richmond at first five eighth while
Norm Campbell, the Marist full back returned to the side after several weeks absence due to a "serious illness" which was initially said to have been a dental issue which required surgery. Newton and Ponsonby met in the first ever first grade match at
Glen Eden at the recreation ground there. Newton won 14 to 13.
Round 13 the referee in the Marist v Mt Albert game who sent off four players for fighting.The match between Mount Albert and Marist saw a large amount of fighting with 4 players sent off in the second half (
Des Herring and
Wilf Hassan for Mount Albert, and Herb Carter and Huck Flanagan for Marist). Herring and Carter were suspended for a match and Hassan and Flanagan were “severely reprimanded”. There was clearly still a lot of ill feeling between the two sides which likely stemmed back to 1934 when six Marist players fell out with the club and moved to Mount Albert midseason. The three Mount Albert players sent off had all been members of the Marist senior side who left the club. The referee was former City, Auckland, and New Zealand five eighth,
Maurice Wetherill who also refereed international matches.{{cite news
Round 14 (Mount Albert) (Ponsonby)Mount Albert's 17–11 defeat of Ponsonby meant that they had won the first senior trophy of the season, the Thistle Cup. This trophy was awarded to the team that had accrued the most competition points in the second round. Their wingers Bert Schultz and
Clarry McNeil scored tries for Mount Albert with Robert Morrissey kicking four goals.
Arthur Kay scored two tries for Ponsonby and in September debuted for the Kiwi's and played all three tests against
Australia. City started well against Richmond with
Lou Brown setting up a try for J.A. Thompson but then Richmond took control scoring 19 points before half time. In the second half the only points were a try to Brown for City. The Newton - Marist game was played in a "quagmire" on the number 2 field at Carlaw Park. Neither team was said to have played well in the conditions which saw only two tries. Marist went close to scoring three times in the last few minutes which would have given them the win but failed each time. William Carroll, a rugby player from Hamilton debuted for Marist and "impressed".
Final Richmond beat Mount Albert to claim their second straight first grade championship. Their side was one of the more extraordinary club rugby league sides in New Zealand history with a remarkable number of representative players. The final side featured
Bert Cooke, Ernie McNeil,
Ted Mincham,
Eric Fletcher,
Noel Bickerton,
Stan Prentice,
Roy Powell,
Bill Telford,
Jack Satherley, Alf Broadhead,
Cliff Satherley,
Ray Lawless, and
Harold Tetley. All of them played for New Zealand with the exception of Ernie McNeil, Alf Broadhead and Bill Telford, though Telford coached New Zealand in the 1950s and McNeil and Broadhead both represented
Auckland in 1938. The side was so strong that even New Zealand representative
Alf Mitchell (selected at the end of the year for a test with Australia) was a reserve for the game. Lawless and Powell scored for Richmond with Cliff Satherley kicking four goals. The points for Mount Albert came from a Bert Schultz try and three penalties to five eighth, Robert Morrissey.
Friendly Matches Prior to the commencement of the Roope Rooster a unique weekend of matches took place. Ponsonby and Otahuhu took on each other on the #1 field at Carlaw Park, however at 1:30 Devonport played Marist and City played Newton. At halftime in the respective matches the leading teams continued play on the #1 field while the trailing teams played against each other on the #2 field.
Ponsonby v Otahuhu Scoring was barely reported for any of the matches but it was noted that Roy Bright scored several tries for Ponsonby.
First Half Matches Second Half Matches Roope Rooster Round 1 Ted Brimble scored three tries for Newton in a 27–8 win over Otahuhu. It was the first time the teams had met at a senior level since
1917. Otahuhu, who won the Sharman Cup (Senior B) competition were admitted to the Roope Rooster competition to make an even eight teams. The match between Mount Albert and Marist was once again marred by rough play and Richard Shadbolt was sent off after a fight broke out at a scrum. He was suspended for the remainder of the season.
Lou Brown scored four tries for City in their 28–16 win over Ponsonby. Roy Bright, the Ponsonby back injured his chest in the second half and was forced from the field. It later proved to be a broken rib. With no replacements allowed
Lou Hutt was forced out of the pack to play on the wing.
Semifinals All teams at Carlaw Park wore arm bands as a mark of respect to
Thomas McClymont on the death of his father. McClymont had played for New Zealand and was the current Richmond and Auckland coach, before later going on to coach New Zealand from 1936 to 1952 after having previously coached them in 1928.
Final (Newton's halfback)Auckland were on tour and as a result Richmond were missing
Bert Cooke,
Eric Fletcher,
Cliff Satherley, and
Harold Tetley, while
Claude Dempsey and
Ted Brimble were absent for Newton. Despite Richmond's losses they still fielded a team with seven current or future New Zealand representatives and others who had played for Auckland previously. Richmond struggled in the first half with Bert Cooke's loss from the fullback position felt where the inexperienced M Marshall was playing. Despite this they finished strongly and managed to score a try on full time to winger Ernie McNeil to draw within 2 points.
Jack Satherley took the kick from a difficult position and missed to hand Newton their third ever Roope Rooster title following
1919 and
1920. For Newton, Rudolph Franich struggled in the unfamiliar position of first five eighth, though Pat Young played well outside him and Louis Schlesinger at centre was very good until he had to leave the field with a first half injury. Hugh Brady, one of the leading point scorers in the competition for the season was excellent on the wing and scored a try.
Wilfred Brimble, the Newton halfback "over shadowed"
Roy Powell. Brimble was Hawaiian born to an English father and Bantu (South Africa) mother. He went on to represent New Zealand in 1938 along with his brother
Walter Brimble. Their older brother
Ted Brimble had represented New Zealand in 1932, while other brothers Cyril and John were both domestic representatives in rugby league and rugby union respectively. Wilfred would also coach the Wellington representative side in 1950.
Phelan Shield Preliminary semi-finals Semifinals With the Auckland representative side on tour most sides were missing a few of their regular players. Mount Albert fielded three players who had come across from rugby. They were Bruce Constable from Manukau, Ken Carter from Ponsonby, and Spratt from Eden. The later scored one of their three tries. Carter had played three games for Auckland rugby in 1932 (2) and 1933 (1). Constable had played for Auckland B rugby team against Thames Valley during the year and had been named to play in the same side for this same weekend but chose to try his hand at rugby league instead and started the 1936 season with the same side.
Final For Ponsonby, recent transfer from the Ponsonby Rugby Club, Bella Johnson scored 2 tries. He had been a prop and later returned to the Ponsonby rugby side. Ken Carter had also come across to league from the same side and scored 2 tries for Mount Albert.
Stormont Shield (Richmond)Australian actress
Nellie Bramley kicked off the main game and then was carried off the field by Maurice Quirke and
Stan Prentice, the respective captains. Flags were flown at half-mast due to the death of Mr. A (Sandy) Freeman, an old Auckland official and life member of the Auckland Referees Association.{{cite news
Final Top try scorers and point scorers The point scoring lists are compiled from matches played in the Fox Memorial, Roope Rooster, Phelan Shield, and Stormont Shield. Competitions which involved all first grade sides. The top point scorer was
Cliff Satherley, the Richmond second rower with 89 points. Close behind him was Mount Albert fullback Robert Morrissey with 87. Hugh Brady (Newton) scored the most tries with 14, tied for second were
Lou Brown in his 14th season of senior rugby league,
Arthur Kay in his third, Ernest McNeil in his second, and
Clarry McNeil in his first. Kay had debuted for New Zealand during the year while Lou Brown had first played for New Zealand in 1925. Clarry McNeil would debut for New Zealand on their 1938 tour of Australia.
Other senior club matches Newton v Huntly Huntly v Richmond On June 8 Richmond had the bye in the Fox Memorial competition so they travelled to Huntly to take on the local senior side. They ran out winners by 19 points to 0. In the evening a dance was held in their honour at the Parish Hall, Huntly with music supplied by Peden's Orchestra. Mr W.C. Davies spoke as the local club patron with Mr Redwood, the Richmond manager replying along with
Bert Cooke.
Harold Tetley won a prize for dancing.
Newton v Whangarei Newton travelled to
Whangarei to mark the opening of Jubilee Park. A large paying crowd of 700 was in attendance with Mayor Mr. W. Jones expressing pleasure at the league taking over “such a splendid piece of ground”. Also present as guests were
Horrie Miller, the secretary of
New South Wales Rugby Football League, and
Cyril Snedden the president of New Zealand Rugby League. Accompanying the Newton team was their coach
Dougie McGregor and former Newton and Kiwi player,
Bill Cloke who was the club secretary, J Rutledge (manager), and P. Henry (treasurer). Newton won the match 20–14 after taking a 10–3 halftime lead. During the first half they lost fullback George Kerr after he saved a try in a race for the line with W. Meyer and was injured. He was replaced by Hugh Brady who went on to the wing with
Claude Dempsey moving back to his old position of fullback.
Taupiri v Mount Albert Mount Albert travelled to Taupiri to play their senior side. Both teams were missing many of their best players and Taupiri ran out 11–6 winners. William Tittleton scored for Taupiri. His brothers
George and
Walter played for Taupiri but did not appear in this match. Both played for New Zealand and transferred to join the Richmond club in 1936. Basil Cranch scored for Mt Albert. His younger brother
Ray Cranch, debuted for Mt Albert in the mid-1940s and went on to play for New Zealand and has had the Senior B competition trophy named after him.
Clarry McNeil in his debut senior season scored Mt Albert's other try.
Whangarei v City On July 13 the
City Rovers traveled to Whangārei to play the Whangārei side. The team was photographed at Jubilee Park. Manager,
Ernie Asher is standing, 2nd from the right, with
Lou Brown to his left, and
Puti Tipene Watene 3rd player from the right in back row. Joseph Hapi is in the front row on the right with Eugene Donovan the 2nd player from the right in the front row. Other players in the side were O Hughes, James Dye, Reginald Johnson, Cyril Wiberg, S Belsham, Stan Clark, Joseph Ragg, Magee, and W Johnson.
Wellington v Richmond While on a bye the Richmond side traveled to Wellington to play the local representative side. Richmond perhaps unsurprisingly won comfortably 32–4 with
Bert Cooke,
Bill Telford, and
Alf Mitchell all scoring doubles. While
Cliff Satherley kicking four conversions. In a tragic link to Wellington, Satherley would be found dead on Lyall Bay Beach in January, 1947 after disappearing from Wellington Public Hospital.
Whangarei v Devonport Taradale v Mount Albert Mount Albert travelled to the Hawke's Bay to play Taradale in Napier who had won the competition there. Following the game they were presented with the Vigor Brown Trophy for winning the championship. Mount Albert won the match 22–13 after a "fine exhibition for the 1.X.L. Cup". Joseph Gunning, a Mount Albert forward had to stay in Napier after breaking his collarbone. For Mount Albert Spratt, a five eighth scored twice as did Bert Schultz. Forward Richard Shadbolt also scored a try as did
Claude List who had represented New Zealand 4 times from 1928 to 1932 at centre and wing but was now regularly playing in the forwards. ==Senior reserve competitions==