Joe Bennett (rugby league)

[21] On 25 August Bennett was due to play for Franklin sub union side against an Auckland Secondary Schools Old Boys XV at Pukekohe.

[34] In late September a concert was held by the Waiuku Rugby Union in the Town Hall where he was presented with "the champion gold medal, won at the football race".

[35] At the start of the 1908 season Waiuku Rugby Football Union held their first ever annual meeting as they were forming a small sub-union at the Kentish Hotel.

[36] In City's first match of the season against on 17 May against Waipipi, Bennett scored 2 tries, converted one, and kicked a goal from a mark in a 14–3 win at the Waiuku Domain.

[43] Central then played their final match of the season and with a 3–0 win over Otaua on 12 July they secured the "Molloy, Herrold, and Potter Silver cup and the caps".

The Herald also commented that "Bennett at threequarters may have been nervous but his failure to take high kicks caused his side a lot of anxiety.

He set up Auckland's first try in a 42–12 win after he received the ball at the Bluff 25 and "running strongly, fed Seagar, as his nearest attendant, enabling the latter to score near the posts", he failed to convert the try however.

It appears that he played in the hooker position due to his listing second in the forwards alongside props Jim Griffin and Harry Fricker.

[68][69] Bennett then resumed his club season with Newton and kicked 2 conversions in a 13–8 win over Eden Ramblers, and a penalty in a 17–2 loss to North Shore.

He made a break from "his own 25, and having a clear run out-paced all his opponents, placing the ball between the visitors' posts, 20 minutes after play started".

Newton held their annual meeting in early April and he was once again elected for their management committee and was chosen as a delegate to the Auckland Rugby League.

At the start of the 1913 the Auckland Star noted that "Bennett, who spent the greater part of last season on the touchline owing to having had his leg broken in his second match led Newton as captain".

Thought the New Zealand Herald said Newton were disappointing and "the forwards, following the example of captain, Bennett, spent a great deal of time loafing off side.

[97] Despite Newton's predicament Bennett's individual form had been good enough to be selected for an Auckland trial match to help choose the side before the England teams tour.

A better turn of speed would have crowned the effort but with a defender close upon his heels Bennett desperately swung the ball out to a wing man hustling to the rescue.

And Englishman however secured possession, only to be promptly floored, and in the ensuing melee the visitors were penalised for offside and Karl Ifwersen taking the kick, the scoreboard again changed".

[101][102] After the match the Herald remarked that "Bennett, who had the ball put in his hands and made a sensational dash for the line, is a light of other days".

[110] Auckland won a much closer match by 10 points to 6, once again at Victoria Park before 4,000 spectators meaning that they had retained the Northern Union Challenge Cup.

With Auckland leading 5–0 "Bennett ran through the Wellington team, but was collared by the fullback, and in the melee Stan Walters and Harold Denize were put out of action with cuts in the head".

They lost again to Grafton in round 4, 15 to 11 though Bennett was mentioned along with Dick Tobin, Alan Blakey, Potae, and R. Clark as being "the most prominent of the Newton players".

[116] On 12 June a special seven-a-side tournament was played in aid of the Auckland Hospital Ship and Wounded Relief Fund at Victoria Park.

Bennett scored a try and kicked a penalty, with the Auckland Star saying that he "was the mainstay of the red and white pack, and at times he made some really good openings.

The other players were Thomas (Scotty) McClymont (Ponsonby), Albert Asher (City), Karl Ifwersen (Grafton), and B Farrelly (Otahuhu).

[137] The results of the competition, which was put to the vote by spectators and announced at halftime in the Roope Rooster semi-final between City and Newton at Victoria Park saw Bennett come in 4th spot.

[139] The Observer reported later that Bennett had "ricked his knee" and could not give the hooking in the scrum too much attention, the consequence being the City hooker, Duggan, beat Joe badly".

[140] At the end of season Newton reunion their president, Mr. C. Gray said that "the success in placing teams regularly in the field was due to the energies of several of the old members, notably Messrs. Bennett, Blakey, Farrant and Fellowes".

[141] Mr. R.A. Spinley of the Auckland Rugby League mentioned at the end of year function that "the good work of Joe Bennett (Newton's captain), and Allan Blakey and H. Rowe (ex-players) would be remembered for many a day".

[144] It is unclear if he played in Newton's first match of the season against Ponsonby on 19 May, but the Observer noted later in the week that "Opai Asher, Joe Bennett, L. [Len] Farrant, [Jim] Griffen, and Stanaway have been seen training".

Grafton was forced to default the match as Karl Ifwersen was also sick, Horace Neal injured, and Owen, Moir, and Norton were out of town.

The home side did little to speak of but Bennett kicked forward on attack when the North Island trailed 28–2 but it was saved by England fullback, Cyril Stacey.