The 1942 Auckland Rugby League season was its 34th. The season was extremely hampered by World War II with so many men away at war. The Auckland Rugby League reduced the number of teams in the senior grade from 9 to 6, and there were few reserve grade matches and no senior B competition what so ever. Many clubs were forced to focus on their junior teams and schoolboy sides.
The Fox Memorial Shield was won by Manukau for the second time in its history following its first title in 1936. They finished with a 13 win, 2 loss record, comfortably ahead of the amalgamated City-Otahuhu side in second place with a 10 win, 5 loss record. The City-Otahuhu side had won all 5 of their first round matches to win the Rukutai Shield. The Roope Rooster was won by Richmond Rovers who beat the amalgamated Marist-North Shore side 13-6 in the final. This was the 7th time Richmond had won the Roope Rooster trophy. A week later the Stormont Shield was won by Manukau who defeated Richmond 11 to 5.
The J. F. W. Dickson medal for a senior player went to Owen Hughes of the City-Otahuhu club who was adjudged the most sportsmanlike player in the code for the season, while the junior medal was awarded to Arnold Jones of the Glenora club. They were presented at the board meeting on September 23. The following week the veteran player Lindsay Simons of the North Shore club was also presented with a medal.
There were only three representative matches played. On July 11 Auckland hosted South Auckland (northern Waikato) at Carlaw Park and won 49 to 16. Then on August 29 Auckland Māori (Tamaki) beat Auckland Pākēha 10 points to 8. The same two teams met again on September 28, this time a 23-all draw was the result. The year was also marked by the deaths of several players while at war.
Auckland Rugby League News ARL Chairman nomination On March 6 the trustees of Carlaw Park announced that Mr. J. W. Watson, J.P., had been nominated for the chairmanship of the Auckland Rugby League control board to succeed Mr. G. Grey Campbell, who was not available for re-election due to “business and health reasons and was retiring from the position after nine years. Watson was the manager and director of Heards Limited and had been a “keen supporter of rugby league for many years”. He had been “actively associated with the Manukau club and of late years has been a member of the New Zealand Rugby League Council, representing Wellington [Rugby] League”. Mr. Grey Campbell was nominated by Mr. John A. Lee to succeed him as president as he was retiring from the position.
Annual report On March 23 the Auckland Rugby League released its annual report. It showed that despite the “overshadowing effect of the war, it was able at the end of the season to show a profit of £309”. There had been a “consensus of opinion of the leaders of governments and military authorities... that recreational sport such as football should be carried on”. It was said that the “war made serious inroads among the players, while in other directions rugby league played its part in the war effort in New Zealand. Since the commencement of the war Carlaw Park has, without cost, been placed at the disposal of many essential units engaged in war activities”. The accounts showed that the main source of revenue, which was from gate receipts had dropped from £4486 in 1940 to £3923 in 1941 which was a drop of £563. However the working account only showed a reduction of £271. In terms of referees it was noted that over 10 percent of referees had enlisted, and many others were engaged in war production work and therefore unable to work on Saturdays. This had meant that on many occasions some members had had to referee two or three matches on a single day.
Annual meeting The 32nd annual meeting was scheduled for March 25 at the Auckland Rugby League rooms in the Grey Buildings in Courthouse Lane on Wednesday at 7:45 pm. President John A. Lee spoke at the meeting and said that it was “apparent that the war had made inroads, not only into the administration of the game, but also to the clubs, which had lost the services of many good players. “You have a duty to perform in carrying on the game and in providing competition for all who remain”. He also paid tribute to the retiring chairman Mr. G. Grey Campbell. Campbell said that “he had spent nine happy years as chairman and he was now handing over the reins of office at a difficult time. However, he was assured of the assistance of a very loyal crew of officials. He thanked Messrs. I. Culpan (secretary) and J. E. Knowling (treasurer) for their loyal support. Mr. J. W. Watson was welcomed as the newly appointed chairman. The following officials were elected: Patron, Mr. J. B. Donald; president, Mr. G. Grey Campbell; vice-patrons, Messrs. J. F. W. Dickson, J. A. Lee, M.P.; chairman, Mr. J. W. Watson; deputy-chairman, Mr. E. J. Phelan; auditors, Messrs. Garrard and Bennett; hon. solicitor, Mr. H. M. Rogerson; secretary, Mr. I Culpan; treasurer, Mr. Mr J. E. Knowling, Mr. R. Doble; management committee, Messrs. J. W. Probert, E. Chapman, Jim Clark, V. Rose, T. Wilson. T. Davis, William Mincham, and R. Doble.
On April 16 a “Presentation Social Night” was held to honour the retired chairman, Mr. G. Grey Campbell at Lewis Eady Hall on Queen Street. Chairman Mr. J. W. Watson presided over the evening and the main presentation of a silver tea service was given by Mr. E. J. Phelan, the deputy chairman. Phelan “related many instances of the business sagacity of” Campbell, “who had put into the management of the code all his powers ad talents”. During the evening other presentations were made to Campbell, including the Junior Board (secretary's satchel), schoolboys (dinner service), ladies (barometer), referees (clock), and senior clubs (two fireside chairs). The chairman of the Auckland Rugby Union, Mr. A. A. Baker said “I would like to pay a high tribute to the sportsmanship of Mr. Campbell... it had been a pleasure to have worked with him in the interests of sport generally”., while Mr. F. Baker, chairman of the Auckland Football Association, said his “common sense had made for harmonious relations among the winter sportsmen”. Campbell in his reply thanks Ivan Culpan, and Mr. J. E. Rowling for their help and also his wife for her support.
Senior competition amalgamations and protest At the April 8 meeting of the board of control it was announced that nine teams had been nominated for the senior grade competition however a decision was not made immediately as to whether all the teams would be accepted without learning more about their relative strength first. Mr. R. Doble said that it was originally intended to limit the senior championship to seven clubs, with a preference for six well-balanced teams. It was decided to defer the draw until the following Wednesday (April 15).
A deputation from an army unit regarding the entry of a team in the senior grade was heard. They said that a number of prominent players would be available each Saturday, but several of them were registered with local clubs. Chairman Watson said transfers to the Army team from local clubs would not be favourably considered.
At the April 15 board meeting it was decided to omit the Manukau club from the senior grade, and also not accept the nomination from a military team from the motor transport pool. The Motor Transport Pool team later decided to enter a team to play rugby union. They would ultimately win the Gallaher Shield (the ARU senior club rugby competition) later in the year. Otahuhu Rovers however did have their nomination accepted as they had sent in a list of 25 players, most of whom were engaged in essential trades. Mr. William Mincham expressed disappointment at the “laxity of the clubs in submitting the personnel of teams. He said every support had been given to club secretaries but it was apparent that the full strength of clubs was not known”. The board would look at the teams on the field in a preliminary round on April 18 to see their strength and then decide on the final sides to begin the championship proper.
Following the preliminary games on April 18 the ARL control board met in the evening and decided to merge several senior sides “so that the identity of the clubs will not be lost during wartime competition”. The clubs who would merge were North Shore and Marist, Newton and Mount Albert, City and Otahuhu, while Manukau, Richmond, and Ponsonby would remain as stand alone senior sides. It was remarked that the Mount Albert club did not approve of joining up with the Newton club. In fact prior to their first combined match the Mount Albert club published a notice in the Auckland Star that stated “patrons and members of the Mt. Albert Rugby League Club kindly note that the Mt Albert-Newton team is in no way connected with the well-known Mt Albert Rugby League Football Club which plays under the blue and gold colours”.
Prior to the start of the season the Otahuhu club received a letter from the military authorities that said “we cannot let men off for sport if it is not their weekend free. It would not be fair to my officers and men if special leave were granted for football”. The Auckland Rugby League considered the letter at their weekly meeting on April 30 and they had two other similar letters from the camps at Papakura and Avondale.
The second week of preliminary matches was something of a mess when neither the North Shore nor Mount Albert clubs contributed any players to their amalgamated sides leaving Newton and Marist to play as themselves. While in the City-Otahuhu combined side both clubs fielded their own team for a half each. Following the weekend the ARL board met to review the amalgamation scheme. Chairman Watson said “he had met members of the two clubs concerned, and thought that the prospect of the dissenting clubs (North Shore and Mount Albert) as at present constituted, coming into the scheme most remote”. Mr. E. J. Phelan “urged that cooperation was desired”. On May 13 the ARL received a letter from the Mount Albert club asking them to reconsider the amalgamation scheme. The board decided to replay that the decision could not be changed. It was decided to run the senior competition for three rounds with the board holding the right to curtail the season if it was necessary.
In June after the 6th round of matches North Shore Albions called a special meeting and eventually decided to confirm their amalgamation. Until that time none of their players had taken part in any matches played by the side. Negotiations were carried out by Messrs. Joe Sayegh (president), and Jack Kirwan (secretary) who represented the Marist club, while Messrs. Horace H. Hunt, and J. Mann represented the North Shore club. It was then reported that six North Shore players would be available for the following Saturday. Chairman of the ARL, Mr. Watson said that the North Shore club had agreed to the scheme for the duration of the war.
Availability of senior players in military camps