Desmond Joseph Herring (18 March 1915 – 21 March 2006) was a rugby league player who represented New Zealand. He played four matches in the forward of their 1938 tour of Australia, becoming the 261st player to represent New Zealand. He also played 7 matches for Auckland, 2 for Auckland Pākehā, 1 for Auckland Province, and 1 for the North Island. He played his club rugby league for Marist Old Boys (26 games), and then from 1934 onwards for Mount Albert (94 games).
Early life Des Herring was born on March 18, 1915, in Grey Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand. His parents were William Edward Herring (1891–1970), and Mary Margaret Herring. Des was an only child. His uncle Frank Herring was a prominent rugby union player in the early 1900s and played for the City club, and represented Auckland and the North Island. He was selected for the New Zealand tour of Australia in 1910 but could not tour "owing to pressure of business" and retired in 1912.
Des Herring attended Sacred Heart College, Auckland in the 1920s when it was located on its former site in Ponsonby, the present day location of St Paul's College. In mid November, 1927 when he would have been aged 12 he scored 21 and 27 runs for Sacred Heart A cricket team in the Catholic Primary Schools competition. He scored 65 not out the following weekend against St Benedict's.
Playing career Marist Old Boys Rugby League Club It appears that Des was playing for the Marist Old Boys rugby union clubs seventh grade side in 1927. In 1928 he continued to play for the same team, aged 13. By 1930 a Herring was being named in the Marist Old Boys rugby league club side in the third grade. Des' cousin Frank was playing for Kingsland Athletic in the same season in their first grade side. By 1932 Frank was playing in the City Rovers first grade side alongside his brother, another of Des' cousins, James Sinclair Herring, while another cousin, John Reginald Herring was in their reserve grade side. James and John (better known as Reginald) had recently transferred from the Marist club. That same 1932 season Des had progressed to the Marist senior reserve side.
Senior debut (Marist) Des Herring made his senior debut in a match of significance, being the 1932 Stormont Shield final on September 17. Herring was aged just 17 at the time, an extraordinarily young age for a senior player let alone a forward in this era. It was a match played annually between the first grade champions (Devonport United in 1932), and Marist who were the 1932 Roope Rooster knockout winners. Marist won the trophy with a 15–8 win at Carlaw Park with Herring in the second row. The Auckland Star wrote that "[Alan] Clarke, [Huck] Flanagan and Herring toiled honestly and hard all the time". Herring missed a conversion following a try late in the match to Claude List, but with little more than a minute remaining he scored a try near the posts which was converted by Bill Cornthwaite. The New Zealand Herald wrote in a review of the match that Jim Laird "was perhaps the best of the forwards, but Herring, Herb Carter and Fraser Webberley worked hard in the tight in the second spell". Herring was named in the reserves for the first grade sides Max Jaffe Cup charity match with Ponsonby United on October 8 but is unlikely to have taken the field. Jim Laird was injured in the match and Herring was named to replace him for their final match of the season. The match was between Marist and an Auckland XIII to help raise funds for Trevor Hanlon who was an Auckland player who had been playing in England and needed assistance in returning home. Marist won 17 points to 16 on October 16 at Carlaw Park. The Auckland Star newspaper said that "Herring, Thompson and Flanagan were outstanding of the Marist van, which had the best of it in weight". In the second half Herring took a conversion attempt (once again following a try to Claude List) but he "just failed".
1933 Marist seniors The 1933 season saw Herring become a regular in the first grade side at Marist Old Boys. He played 21 games, scoring 8 tries and also kicking 7 goals. Herring was also selected in an Auckland trial match. This was a unique feat for somebody of his relatively young age of 18 where most other senior forward in Auckland were in their early to mid 20's when they made their rep debuts. At the start of the season in a preview of various teams prospects the New Zealand Herald wrote that "a trio of promising forwards, Herring, Iveson, and Flanagan, will assist the [Marist] vanguard". For their opening game of the season he was named at prop alongside hooker Gordon Campbell who had represented New Zealand the previous year. It was a powerful side which also included New Zealand representatives Wilf Hassan, Claude List, and Hec Brisbane in the backline. Marist lost their opening game 18–14 to City Rovers on April 29 at Carlaw Park with Herring kicking 2 conversions and 2 penalties. It was said that he "was always in the picture". He also found himself up against his cousins Frank and James in the City side.
Marist lost again the following week, 10–5 to Devonport United. The Marist forward included Jim Laird and Alan Clarke, also New Zealand representatives. It was mentioned that Herring "again played a good game". In their first win of the season, 8–5 over Ponsonby United in round 3, Herring kicked a penalty though he also missed two other attempts. He "showed up amongst the forwards" along with "Huck" Flanagan, Jim Iveson, and Herb Carter. Herring kicked another goal in an 11–6 win over Newton Rangers in round 4, though he did miss 4 other attempts. The Auckland Star wrote "the two outstanding forwards on the [Marist] side were Laird and Herring". Then in another win, by 12 points to 6 over Richmond Rovers Herring scored a try. It was said that "of a good set of forwards, solid workers one and all, Herring and Iveson were much in the limelight". And that "Laird, Iveson and Herring were conspicuous. The last two named each made a bad error when faced by the full-back in failing to pass to support". His try came after Hec Brisbane had made a nice run. While his error occurred after he had intercepted a pass and instead of passing when he came to Lee, the Richmond full-back, he kicked ahead and lost the chance.
Marist had their first loss in several weeks, 13–8 to City on June 3. Following the game the Herald published the leading point scorers thus far and Herring was in 8th place with 16. Laird and Herring "were always prominent" in the loss. In the first half Norm Campbell made a long break and passed to Herring who then sent Jim Laird over for a try. In the second half Laird and Herring combined to nearly give George Batchelor a try. A week later Marist had a big 35–9 win over an injury depleted Devonport side, with Herring converting one of their 9 tries. He was one of the outstanding Marist forward, however he did miss several shots at goal which had been a habit through the season to this point. It was noted though that two of the misses were from the sideline and saw the ball rebound off the crossbar. In another heavy win over Ponsonby 34–17, Herring scored a try "from a scramble" and gave "solid support" to Iveson and Laird. He took four conversion attempts and missed all of them.
Against Newton on July 1, Herring scored 3 tries in a 24–8 win at Carlaw Park. The Auckland Star wrote that "Webberley, Herring, and Laird were the pick of a robust pack. Herring should be now stand high in the estimation of the selectors". The Herald said that he "showed good judgment in supporting the backs. His three tries were well deserved". His first try came after "Bert Schultz burst through for Herring to score", his second happened after Schultz followed a kick and passed to Webberley but he missed the ball and Herring grabbed it and crossed over. Another try followed late in the game, though once again a blight on his game was a couple more missed goal attempts. In a 13–5 win over Richmond on July 8 Herring was "prominent" along with Webberley, though Laird was their best forward.
Following the match the Auckland side was chosen to play South Auckland (Waikato) side. In addition to the side, two teams were chosen to play an Auckland trial match with Herring selected in the B Team. His cousin James Herring was also named in the forward pack alongside him. The 'Herrings' B Team won 16 points to 9 though the only match report written was brief and did not mention the cousins.
Marist had a first round win in the Roope Rooster knockout competition on July 29 but then were defeated by Richmond 10–0 in the semi-final on August 5. Herring nearly scored during the second half after Iveson made a break, passed to Bert Schultz, who then gave it to Herring who "was pulled down five yards from the Richmond line". With a good deal of time left in the season after a relatively short 10 round championship the Auckland Rugby League decided to play a Challenge Round competition with 5 rounds. Marist lost in their first game 13–11 to Newton with Herring scoring one of their tries and it was said that he was "outstanding". In a 10–5 win over City a week later "Laird and Herring were Marist's best forwards". They won their round 5 match to finish second behind Newton. Their 21–17 win over Ponsonby saw Herring score one of their five tries.
On September 30 Marist played against the touring St. George side from Sydney. St. George had finished runner up in the 1933 NSWRFL competition. Marist had a comfortable 25–11 win at Carlaw Park before an enormous crowd of 13,000. With the score 12–8 to Marist, "good tackling by Herring gave Marists a chance, and when the ball came out to Wilf Hassan the halfback dashed between himself over for a score". In comments on the match the Star said "Iveson and Herring were ever prominent". Herring had played prop, with Gord Campbell at hooker and Huck Flanagan the other prope, with Sprouster and Tom Haywood the props for St. George and P Fairall at hooker. At one point Herring dropped a pass from Carter which lost a possible try. A photograph appeared in the Star showing Herring involved in a tackle of Hayward. With the season reaching its final stages Marist played a match for the Max Jaffe Cup against Richmond on October 7. Marist were well defeated 31–8 though Herring managed to score. His try came when Hec Brisbane made a break and passed to Herring who "ran a few yards and threw himself across under the posts". Their final game of the season was against Richmond once more on October 21 to raise money for the unemployed. Marist won 16 to 5 with a goal kicking competition held before the match. This was won by Herring, beating Norm Campbell, O'Halloran, and Hogg.
Dispute with Marist, and transfer to Mount Albert (1934) The 1934 season was an eventful one for Herring and several other Marist players however he saw little time on the field as a result. In a dispute with the club he and other first grade Marist players were suspended and later many of them moved to the Mount Albert United club. The coach for the season was to be Charles Gregory, with the secretary, Jack Kirwan. A "T Herring" was named the club captain, though it is unclear if they were related to Des.
In round 1 of the championship Marist lost 28–8 to Ponsonby with Herring scoring one of Marist's tries. It was said that Herring, Laird and Iveson were the "best forwards" for Marist. Herring missed their next two matches against Richmond and City. Marist lost both games and it was reported that "the return of Laird and Herring should make a power of difference". He was named in their side to play Devonport United on May 19 and Marist won 16 to 10. Herring then scored a try in a 22–13 loss to Newton. It was reported that he and Laird "were prominent packmen, fit for any class. They revealed dash in the open, and Herring was rewarded for one of his determined dashes".
Dispute with Marist management