Wally Tittleton was a rugby league player who began his career playing in the Waikato of New Zealand. He represented South Auckland (Waikato) and made the New Zealand team before moving to Auckland in 1936 and joining the Richmond Rovers club. Prior to that he had played for the Ngāruawāhia and Taupiri clubs in the Waikato. While in Auckland he made the Auckland team and played for them 7 times. He also played for Auckland Pākehā, and the North Island on several occasions. In total Tittleton played for New Zealand 15 times and when he debuted in 1935 he became Kiwi No. 241. In 1942 he joined the Motor Transport Pool rugby union team which won the Gallaher Shield before rejoining the rugby league code in 1943.
Early life Wally (Walter) Harry Tittleton was born on February 4, 1914, in Huntly, Waikato, New Zealand. His father was John Edward Tittleton (1884–1953), and his mother Mary Eliza Rayner (1890–1936). He had an older brother, George (1909–1984) who also represented New Zealand at rugby league, and another old brother, William who also played senior rugby league with Wally and George. They had two other siblings but they both died as infants in 1920, and 1924. The family spent their youth in the lower Waikato and lived and played sport in the Huntly, Ngaruawahia, and Taupiri areas. In 1923 Wally won a second place prize at the Waikato Winter Show in May for freehand drawing when he would have been aged 9.
Playing career Waikato rugby league Ngāruawāhia and South Auckland representative The first likely mention of Wally Tittleton on a rugby league field was in September, 1927 when a Ngāruawāhia junior team lost 5–6 to a Huntly side. Tittleton kicked a conversion for the losers. It was said that "Dwen and Tittleton (backs)…" were about the pick of the losers. In the early stages of Wally's career his brother William was also playing and at times the newspapers failed to distinguish between the two. On May 10, 1930, aged 16, Wally played along with George in the Ngāruawāhia senior side against Huntly B. They won 14 to 3. He reportedly "put in a good afternoon's work with credit" along with other new players H. Hill and Williams. Near the end of the season, in September, he was regraded, presumably from juniors to seniors.
The 1931 season was to be Wally's first full season in senior grade. Both George and William had been granted transfers to the Taupiri rugby league club, leaving Wally to continue at Ngāruawāhia. His first match of the season was for Ngāruawāhia at home against Huntly on May 20 with Tittleton playing second five eighth with Ngaruawahi winning 11–8. He played against Kia Ora the following week before a further match with Hamilton on June 6. Ngāruawāhia won 20–2 with the Waikato Times reporting that "Tittleton and Hall at five eighths both played well… Tittleton cut through on several occasions and took some watching".
Tittleton played 6 more matches, including one against the Devonport United (North Shore Albions) side from Auckland on July 16 before being selected in a South Auckland representative trial match on July 25. Wally played at five eighth for the Possibles side with his brother William in the forward, while George played on the wing for the Probables side. The Probables side won easily 31–11, with Wally scoring an early try for the losers. Wally then played 3 further matches for Ngāruawāhia which concluded with them winning the competition following an 8–5 win over Taupiri on August 15.
Tittleton was then chosen to make his debut for South Auckland on August 22 against Northland. The South Auckland side was in fact an upper Waikato side but was named South Auckland in its early decades. He was selected in the second five eighth position with George on the wing. New Zealand representative, Edwin Abbott was playing at halfback. The match was played at Carlaw Park in Auckland so that entry could be charged and money made towards growing the game in the two provinces. South Auckland won by 16 points to 8. Tittleton was involved in some attacking play and was forced out in the corner with Scott scoring in the corner from the resulting scrum. It was reported that Wally kicked a first half penalty and later missed a conversion. This was possibly incorrect as he did virtually no goal kicking in his entire career and his brother George, who was playing on the wing was much more well known as a regular goal kicker. Walter failed to gain selection for the Lower Waikato representative side to play the touring Marist Old Boys club from Auckland on August 29, with George in the backs and William a forward reserve.
He then played 4 matches for Ngāruawāhia against Hamilton, Huntly, Marathon, and Huntly again. In the last of the matches against Huntly for the Draffin Cup on October 3 he scored a try near the posts in their 14–7 loss. The Huntly Press and District Gazette newspaper said that he was one of the "most prominent" for Ngaruawahia. Following the conclusion of the club season Tittleton was picked to play in a South Auckland trial match between A and B teams. The match was being played to help choose the representative side to play the touring Eastern Suburbs side from Sydney. It was played at Taupiri with Tittleton chosen in the five-eighths with Cotter of the Hamilton club in the A side. They won by 11 points to 0 and Tittleton was chosen in the South Auckland side for the match against Eastern Suburbs to be played at Steele Park in Hamilton on October 14. He was chosen to play in the centres, opposite Dave Brown. Eastern Suburbs won the match by 23 points to 14 before a crowd of 2,000. Tittleton was mentioned a couple of times in attacking movements but was said to have "tackled solidly".
The 1932 season saw Tittleton play around 10 matches for Ngāruawāhia and 5 representative matches. There was very little coverage of the club competition in the Waikato newspapers during the season with it main limited to stating fixture details and reporting the scores. His first match of the season was against Hamilton on April 30. Ngāruawāhia won 14–0 with Tittleton setting up their first try to Mason. He played in further matches against Taupiri, Huntly, Hamilton, and Taupiri again on May 28. His brother George was now playing in the Ngāruawāhia side and the two were involved in several scoring movements. The Huntly Express and District Gazette said that Walter "played a fine game" in Ngāruawāhia's 21–8 win before a large Ngāruawāhia crowd.
He was then selected in the South Auckland team to play against Northland on June 18 in the second five eighth position outside Kenneth Peckham. The match was played in Whangārei and saw South Auckland win 15 to 13. With the score 8 to 5 in favour of the Northland side Tittleton injured his shoulder and was replaced by Holland. In a speculative letter to the editor of the Waikato Times which was published on July 9 the writer said that "the "R. Tittleton" whom "Follower" speaks of as being a promising young player and W. Tittleton are one and the same man and unfortunately he will not be available for any more football this season". His injury was clearly not that serious and a Tittleton was mentioned as playing for Ngāruawāhia on July 2, then against Hamilton he was tried out at fullback in a 14–0 win. The Waikato Times said that he "acquitted himself well". He was then selected for the South Auckland side to play an Auckland XIII team on July 16 in the fullback position with George on the wing. The match was being played to help the New Zealand selectors chose the test team to play the touring England. The Auckland XIII won by 29 points to 13 at Carlaw Park. In the first half Len Scott, the New Zealand winger raced "round Tittleton to score behind the posts". With the score 13–2 at halftime the South Auckland back line was changed with Tittleton moving to five-eighths and Garry going back to fullback.
He then played in a South Auckland trial match on July 23 to help pick the South Auckland side to play England in a Possibles side at first five eighth. The Possibles won the match 20–8 and then Tittleton was surprisingly chosen to play on the wing for the representative side against England. It was not a position that he had been playing in. The Waikato Times said in a preview of the match that "W. Tittleton (centre) is a young player who has come into prominence lately". The England centre pairing was Atkinson and Dinsdale.
The match was played at Onslow Park in Taupiri on August 3 in showery weather with England winning easily by 64 points to 11 before around 2000 spectators. It was reported that "the best of the local rear guard were the Tittleton's, Abbott, and Smith". The Waikato Times said that "Smith and Abbott were the most prominent, which G. Tittleton and W. Tittleton gave some measure of support".
Tittleton then returned to play for Ngāruawāhia in matches against Huntly on August 13 and September 3. The second match was at the Huntly Recreation Ground and saw Huntly win the Draffin Cup 19 points to 12. Wally scored a rare try to this point in his career, though George missed the conversion. His next match was in a Northern Union Challenge Cup defense against Northland at Ngāruawāhia. Before a crowd of 5,000 the South Auckland side won 22–20. He then finished his season with another match for Ngāruawāhia against Huntly on September 17, and a representative game for Lower Waikato against Auckland on October 2.
The 1933 season was to be his last playing for the Ngāruawāhia club. He played in 11 matches for them and also represented South Auckland on 5 occasions. There was very little coverage of the Waikato club competition with player names barely mentioned in the entire season. On July 11 after 7 matches for Ngāruawāhia, Tittleton was named at centre in the South Auckland team to play Auckland at Carlaw Park for the Northern Union Challenge Cup which they were defending. The Auckland Star described him as "a first class centre, and only needs to play his usual style to draw attention". He was matched up against Claude List in the Auckland side at centre. The New Zealand Herald said that their backs are "a clever combination. G. and W. Tittleton, Timms and Stevenson are well known players". South Auckland won the match in atrocious conditions with the field covered in mud, and retained the trophy with a 14–0 win. Wally was involved in a try after he and R. Garry combined "together in a dashing passing move down inside touch" before his brother George "rushed up to be the extra man and he went over the line in a flash well out". The Auckland Star commented that Wally "showed speed and tenacity on defence".