1939 Auckland Rugby League season

It was then cancelled altogether because of petrol restrictions due to the looming outbreak of war meaning the Taranaki Māori side couldn't get a license to travel.

Probert and Jim Rukutai (re-elected by clubs), William Mincham (Referees’ Association), D. Wilkie (chairman junior management), R. Doble (delegate to New Zealand Council), Mr. Ivan Culpan (hon.

[5] Following R. Doble's July appointment as co-manager of the New Zealand team to tour England and France a reshuffle was needed of officials at Auckland Rugby League.

[9] At the annual meeting on March 8 the memorial was unveiled with the names being D.W. Mclean, founder of the New Zealand Rugby League, and James Carlaw (deceased), Messrs. Ernie Asher, R.H. Benson, A.J.

[14] The Auckland Rugby League then engaged in a “lengthy radio-telephone conversation with Australia” on February 15 that left them “practically certain that one of the leading club teams of Sydney will play at Carlaw Park at Easter in lieu of Balmain”.

[15] The team was eventually granted permission to tour and four matches were arranged for Carlaw Park against Marist, Richmond, Mount Albert, and Manukau.

[17] Before the kickoff of the first match between Marist and Sydney XIII both teams stood in silence and wore arm bands as a mark of respect for the late Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. Joseph Lyons who had died in office 13 days earlier on April 7.

The Ponsonby team won by 2 yards ahead of Sydney with Brian Riley, Arthur Kay, Jack Campbell, and Pat Young running for the winners.

[38] He “had recently had a severe attack of influenza, and the doctors were unanimously of the opinion that it would not be in the best interests of his health to undertake such a strenuous tour at the present time” He was replaced as co-manager by Mr. R. Doble who was the Auckland delegate to the New Zealand Rugby League Council.

[40] Presentations were made to Verdun Scott, Arthur McInnarney and Laurie Mills by Mr. R. Newport on behalf of the Schoolboys’ Association for being the first ever products of the Auckland Rugby League school grades to “earn national honours with a team going overseas”.

In many seasons the competition would have concluded when the champion was found but a proper runner up was needed to play in the Stormont Shield final against Mount Albert in the event that they also won the Roope Rooster.

On April 8 a seven-a-side tournament was held at Carlaw Park between the senior teams prior to the Eastern Suburbs XIII match against Marist.

[166] On October 4 the junior control board advised that Edmund Walter Garrod of the Marist club's third grade team had won the Dickson medal for the most improved player.

This match was originally scheduled to be played on August 17 but was postponed due to the state of Carlaw Park which had been badly affected by the wet weather.

For the nine seats on the management committee, 13 nominations were received and the club ballot resulted:- D. Wilkie, I. Stonex, C. Howe, E. Chapmen, T. Carey, A. Hopkinson, M.E.

Chapman; appointment board, Messrs. Artie Rae, and M. Renton; social committee, Messrs. A. Saunders, Maurice Wetherill and William Mincham; auditor, Mr Percy Rogers.

Mr George Hunt presided with their report emphasising “the fine play of the senior team which contested the final of the Roope Rooster competition”.

Crew, S. Woodhams, J. Pinches, M. Henderson, A. Chapmen; club captain, Mr. F. Chapman; auditors, Messrs. G. Skeen (chairman), R. Hunter, W. Miller, M. Campbell, H. Thomas, A.

[206] Green Lane advised the league on July 5 that it had decided to invest a portion of its finances in the bonds issued to assist the tour of the New Zealand team.

W. Dickson, for the most sportsmanlike conduct in senior football, was won by J. Hemi” with the presentation to be made at Carlaw Park on July 22 when the New Zealand touring team would be farewelled prior to leaving for England and France.

In addition they also signed Bruce Donaldson, the Auckland rugby representative five eighth from the previous season, while R. Cameron was also accompanying Banham from Australia to play.

[229] At the referees meeting on June 12 a complaint was made about the state of Fowlds Park, and the senior delegate was “asked to draw the attention of the control board, with a request for representation of the matter to the Mount Albert Borough Council”[230] Arthur McInnarney who was selected for the New Zealand team to tour England and France in July received a presentation at his work (the Auckland Star on July 18.

At a gathering in their social room at lunchtime Mr. E. Aldridge, “on behalf of employees of New Zealand Newspapers presented [him] with a complete outfit for evening wear, and in doing do said that his fellow workers felt proud of him, seeing that he was the first footballer of the staff ever to be chosen as an overseas representative”.

Clements; president, Mr. Con Hall; secretary, Mr. Owen McManus; treasurer, Mr. C. Clark; committee, Messrs. W. Clayton, W. Gordon, C. Duane, C. Kelly, A. Porteous, J. Rond, W. Hart, W. McConnell and B. McDonnell.

Jackson, L. Fountain, F. Haynes; secretary to be appointed; treasurer, Mr R. Walsh; club captain, Mr. F. Osborne; committee, Messrs. B. Williams, W. Galloway, G. Wilson, V. Ashby, E.C.

[252] On July 23 Papakura held a “special social function” with about 80 members and supporters in attendance to farewell Harold Milliken who had been chosen for the New Zealand team to tour England and France.

[255] In early September the Papakura Borough Council received a letter of complaint about the state of Prince Edward Park from the rugby league club particularly focussing on the playing area where the drain was not dealing with the flooding from recent rains.

[259] At the farewell for the New Zealand rugby league team at Carlaw Park on July 22 the Point Chevalier club were awarded a special trophy.

[208] On April 26 it was reported that Ponsonby was gaining the services of Frank Bell who had visited Auckland the previous season whilst playing for Eastern Suburbs on their tour.

Field (North Shore), S. Broadhead, K. Bjerk, L. McCready (Richmond); A. Smith (City), P. Awhitu, Cyril Wiberg, P. Kauhoa, George Nepia (Manukau), J. McManus, W. Goosman, H.W.