Pirates Rugby trip to Riverton in 1884......

Mr Fisher well remembered that great day when the players of the club first appeared in the uniform which is so well known.  Even then the uniform had a sort of originality about it.

The emblem was not mass produced from a standard block, each member's uniform had the emblem worked out by a fond mother, sister or an adoring sweetheart, with the result that each skull and crossbones reflected the artist's idea of that somewhat gruesome emblem.  
Some of the names of those who played in those days were: Alex Galbraith, Joe Wesney, Bill Hawke, Tom Williams, Bert Lillicrap, Billy Sproule, Billy Stead, V. Ekensteen, Tom Gallagher, Bob Anderson, William Smith.
It was well documented that in 1884 Pirates travelled to Riverton to play a match against the local team.  Pirates were completely outplayed by Riverton's much larger pack and superior play.  
The trip was made by way of two cabs driven by Hugh Duddie and Greenaway Boyce whose stand was at the Athenaeum corner.
The cabs made their way along Oreti Beach and the players stayed in Riverton late to suite tide crossing for the Waimatuku stream.
The trap that was driven by Duddie got caught in the Waimatuku quicksands and the horses had to be cut loose.  In the debacle one of the horses kicked Duddie and he had to be carried to the old Ferry Hotel where they got a loan of a dray for the rest of the journey.  The submerged dray was never recovered.

Pirates Rugby Club