He was a pupil at Mill Hill School, London, aged 17 he joined his father's textile company; Joseph Auty & Co, Clerk Green, Batley.

Wilf Auty was as keen in cricket as in any other form of sport, and he gained many honours, being the possessor of five Heavy Woollen Cup winners medals.

Wilf Auty played left wing, and scored a try in Batley's 6-0 victory over Warrington in the 1901 Challenge Cup Final during the 1900–01 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 27 April 1901, in front of a crowd of 29,563.

Wilf Auty won 2 caps for Yorkshire (RL) while at Batley; he played left wing in the 3-13 defeat v Cheshire in the County Championship match during the 1901-02 season at Edgeley Park, Stockport on 30 November 1901 in front of a crowd of 4,500.

He also played left wing, and scored a try in the 9-0 victory over Durham and Northumberland (predominantly players from South Shields) in a non-County Championship match during the 1901–02 season at The Boulevard, Hull on Saturday 25 January 1902, in front of a crowd of 4,000.