The Auckland Rugby Union champions, Railway (themselves a War time combination of the Marist and City clubs), split with a breakaway group led by Conrad McDevitt challenging Ponsonby United to a game of rugby league. Railway XIII, who included most of the club's leading players, defeated Ponsonby United 12–3 at the Auckland Domain. They then lost to the City Rovers 6–18. Railway XIII included Ces Dacre, who later represented New Zealand at cricket.[2] In 1918 the club merged with Grafton Athletic. McDevitt was later involved in the formation of the Marist club in 1919.[2]