1920 Auckland Rugby League season

Auckland RL management committee.

The Auckland Rugby League was in its 12th season.

On 25 March, North Shore Albions held a meeting to discuss whether they should amalgamate with Sunnyside League Football Club, who were also based in Devonport and had been in existence since 1914. The following week both clubs agreed to merge. After some debate they decided their club name would be 'Devonport United' and they would wear green and white broad bands.[1] In addition Grafton and Richmond Rovers amalgamated, while new clubs were also formed in Kingsland (Kingsland Rovers), and at Point Chevalier.[2]

First grade games continued to regularly draw large crowds, especially matches involving the likes of Maritime, City Rovers, and Ponsonby United. The round 6 match between Maritime and Ponsonby drew what was thought to be a record crowd for a club match in Auckland of 9,000.[3] Maritime would go on to win the first grade title for the first time after a strong season where they won nine games and were only defeated twice. They were awarded the Monteith Shield at the 1921 annual general meeting while Newton Rangers won the Roope Rooster for the second year in a row by defeating Maritime in the final.

The highlight of the year was the match between Auckland and the touring England team on 24 July. A crowd of 30,000 packed into the Auckland Domain to witness an Auckland win by 24 points to 16.[4]

Preceded by 12th Auckland Rugby League season
1920 		Succeeded by
  1. ^ "Two Clubs Amalgamate". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17436. 5 March 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  2. ^ "The Auckland League". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17447. 17 March 1920. p. 8. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Maritime Again Victorious/Defeats Ponsonby in Hard Forward Play". Auckland Star. Vol. LI, no. 141. 14 June 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  4. ^ "English Team Beaten/Opening Match of Tour/Auckland Scores 24-16/Good Display By Forwards/Visitors Play One Man Short". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17532. 26 July 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 10 August 2019.