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Pirates

Rugby

Football

Club

1883-2000


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First records of the Pirates Rugby Club......

                   
The first record of the existence of the Invercargill Pirates' Football Club can be seen in the "Southland Daily News" dated 7th July 1883, when a team was advertised to meet the combined schools (teachers and scholars).  

The first annual meeting was held in Mr Raeside's Restaurant on Tuesday 11th March 1884 with a large attendance.  It was agreed to topen te season on the first Saturday in April, sides to be captained by the President and Vice-president, and it was resolved to request the Brorough Council to grant the club the use of the old Show Grounds in Doon Street.  The subscription was fixed at 5/-, and it was agreed to adopt the Pirates' colours, black and gold.

The first office bearers were: President, Mr W. B. Scandrett, Vice-presidents, Messrs W. Smith and R. Galbraith; secretary and treasurer, Mr J Wesney; captain Mr A. Galbraith; match committee, Messrs W. Stead, J. Wesney, T. Williams, J.M. McDonald, A. Galbraith; general committee Messrs A. Galbraith,  T. Williams, J. Wesney, H.P. Allan and W. Hawke.

At the annual meeting on 24th March 1885 the secretary was requested to write to the Invercargill Club asking for permission to use the Western Reserve at times to be agreed upon. Over 30 names were added to the list of members.  It was decided to play the opening match on Saturday 11th April 1885.

TIME LINE
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First 50 years​

1886                   Mr Scandrett intimated that he would give a trophy to the best all-round player during the season.  The balance sheet showed the   club was financially in a flourishing condition.
                     

1887                  The opening match was fixed for Saturday, 26th March.  The President's Cup was presented to D. Mentiplay for the best forward pla  last season and that of Vice President Moir's to A. Tapper for best back. 

1888                 The Southland Rugby Football Union was formed and the following Pirate players to play in the first inter-provincial team against Otago; H. Lillicrap (full-back); W. H
                          Hawke (centre), A. Tapper (half), V Edensteen, D. Mentiplay and R. McRobie (forwards).  The selectors were W. Stead, Colbeck and R.   Galbraith.

1889                 Mr W. Hawke occupied the chair and the opening match was fixed for Wednesday 27th March.

1890                 Mr Joseph Wesney retires in 1890 - A vote of thanks was accorded to him on his retiring from the secretaryship which he had held  since inauguration.

1891                 Delegates to the SRFU were Messrs G. Mussen and A. R. Porter.

1892                 Mr C. Brass was in the chair and the report showed that the first fifteen stood second in the premiership, and that the second fifteen  took the junior premiership, and  that the third fifteen had not been beaten last season.  

1897                 Mr C. Brass occupied the chair and 41 members were present.  It was regret that the death of Mr R. Mentiplay, who had been an  enthusiastic member of the club and a  letter of sympathy was forwarded to Mrs Mentiplay.  

1899              Feeling reference was made to the loss sustained through the removal of Mr J. H. Tapper, and it was resolved to place that gentleman on  the list of life members.

1903              Annual meeting was held and was attended by about 35 members.  The president Mr A.R. Porter was in the chair.  The repo  commended the lady supporters of the  club by whose efforts 40 pounds was raised, placing the club on a sound financial footing.  It was decided to record the club's appreciation of the valuable services of the ladies and the great work they have done.  Senior team won th premiership which had for 14 years been held by the Star Football Club.

1907              The senior team won the competition winning seven out of their ten games.  The balance sheet showed the club's financial position was  not as good as could be.

1909              The club ceased to function in respect to its senior grade on account of the suspension of certain prominent players brought about by the failure of two clubs to take the field on a particulary story day in July 1908.  Star had won the premiership and there appeared to be  nothing at stake.  The Rugby Union who refused to cancel the game,   were appealed to by the players in both teams.  the loss of s  many senior players was a blow to the club, consequently they were only able to field the second and third grade teams for about two  seasons.

1919              Largely due to the instrumentality of Mr A.J. Geddes, Southland Union's Delegate to the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, all suspended players in the Dominion were   reinstated as an acknowledgement of the prominent part footballers generally took in th  Great War.

1929             President, Mr A.J. Geddes, Vice Presidents, Messrs J.C. Prain, J.S. Brass, J. Tapper, T. Meredith, W. T. Hazlett, A. W. Jones, T. R. Pryde, R. A   Anderson, T. Carter and A.  Wilson.  The premiership was won by Pirates.

1932             Pirates won the club premiership being unbeaten throughout the season.

1933             Pirates won the premiership again, an appropriate win for the Jubilee Year.


To celebrate the first fifty years of Pirates celebrations commenced on the afternoon of Saturday September 16, 1933 the date of the Fleming Cup match between Pirates (holders of the Galbraith Shield) and the Western Sub-union (holders of the Sports Trust Cup) Members and supporters gathered at the club with right from the year of foundation up to the present time.  Mr Sam Batcheler, headed the parade bearing the club banner, and he had associated with him four of the surviving members of the original 1883 team - Messrs H. Lillicrap, E. Hawke, A.R. Porter and J. Fisher.  Then came the Civic Bank and Messrs Jules Tapper, C. E. Borne, H. Anthony and  W. McRobie with the old first XV banner at the head of the body of the procession.  On arrival at the Park, photographs were taken, and then a team of old-timers took the field to show the younger generation how the game should be played. N. "Do" Anthony held the whistle - that is about all he did to it as the old staggers won by two or three tries to nil.  Prominent in their ranks were "Shackle" Hughes, still a ball of muscle; Jack and Bill Hazlett; Jim Archer; "Sparky" Cockroft; "Chick" Beaton; Sam Batcheler; Davie Pay; Dick Well; Bob McKay; Bert McEwan and between them they certainly showed the present day boys some new wrinkles.  It was fund while it lasted.
In the evening approx 250 members and friends of the club assembled in the Federal Banquet Hall to partake of the Jubilee Dinner.  Mr John Fisher, the only representative of the original Pirates team , was given a standing ovation, and prsented with an inscribed half sovereign, the gift of Mr A. Wachner.  Items contributed by Messrs T. R. Pryde, A.J. Kingsland, H. F. Mark, J. Gilchrist, T. Richardson.
The feature of the celebrations as a whole was the co-operation between the many old members of the club and the present executive officers and members



2nd Fifty Years

1947     Club successful in winning Aggregate Cup.

1948     Subscriptions were fixed as First Grade 15/-. second 10/- third 7/6 fourth 4/- fifth 1/6 and sixth 1/-

1949     Pirates won the Galbraith Shield

1950     It was decided to play friendly games at Ohai

1951      A memorial board was to be erected and placed within the clubrooms commemorating those members who had died overseas.  Sunday 5th August to be unveiling.

1952     Plans for additions to clubrooms presented by Mr Ray Harper

1955     A special committee was formed to organise the Saturday morning football

1957      A special meeting gave approval to proceed with the plans presented by Mr Ray Harper.  Should be a jubilee year project

1958      75th Anniversary celebrations were held Sat 23 August to Monday 26 August.

1959      Club was shocked with the death of Dave Russell aged 22 he remain interred on the island of Ruapuke

1960     Won Galbraith Shield (10 wins, two losses, two draws)

1961      Seniors won President's Cup and second grade was beaten in the play-off

1962     Won Galbraith Shield , President's Cup, Aggregate Cup

1963     Won Galbraith Shield, Aggregate Cup, Middlesex Cup, President's Cup.  A most successful picnic held at Mr J. A. Anderson's "Fairview" property at Thornbury

1966      The committee unanimously approved the following Notice of Motion: "That at the 83rd annual general meeting of the club Mr J.C. Hardy be recommended for life membership of the club."

1968      The club spent approx $6,500 for extensions to the clubrooms

1972       A falling off in playing strength was a matter of concern during the year

1975       Signs that the club could be on the rise again after a decline in membership

1976      Won Galbraith Shield

1977      Glamour team of the club was the under 20 side which won its competition.  Super fit and super keen this team developed well and enjoyed its success.  The side had the honour of taking part in the curtain-raiser to the British Lion v Southland game

1978       U23 won competition - Lyall McKenzie scored 25 tries and kicked 123 points for a total of 223.

1979       Senior Reserve won their competition  and U 23's won their in a gutsy final

1980      U 20 team won all their 16 games scoring 564 points with 63 against.

1983       Won Galbraith Shield














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Diamond Jubilee of Pirates Rugby Club in 1946.....

Pirates Presidents from 1883 - 2000:

Presidents were:  William Benjamin Scandrett, C. S. Brass, Robert McNab, David Bissett, William Wills, Horace Hastings, William Barclay Mitchell, Alexander Rogerson Porter, Thomas D. Lennie, J. D. Malfroy, Charles, W. Patton, James Lindsay Gilkison, Geoffrey a. Fortune, Alfred W. Jones, A. J. Geddes, Bert McEwan, J. C. Prain, Joseph C. Hardy, Ray Harper, Lindsay S. Sutherlnad, Robert. H. Cundall, Charles Edward McDowell, Hugh Alexander Arthur Thomas, Allan Donald Jack, Robert J. McDowell, Rex W. Boniface, Owen Brown, Francis Michael Kelly, Ian Ellis, Raymond J. Smith, Garry H. Pankhurst.

Our All Blacks .....

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Samuel George Cockroft: 
Was a front row forward and joined Pirates in 1864.  Played 12 matches for New Zealand s scoring one try.
Nisbet McRobie:
Was a front row forward and joined pirates in 1892.  Played one match for New Zealand.
Ernest Glennie:
Versatile Player - halfback, five eight or wing.  Had six matches for New Zealand and scored three tries.
John Phillip le Grande (Percy) Jacobs:
Joined Pirates in 1901 and played two matches for New Zealand and scored two tries.
George Francis (Jerry) Burgess:
Joined Pirates in 1901 and captained the senior team from 1904-08 . Had one international for New Zealand.
Donald Cameron Hamilton (Don)
Joined Pirates in 1906 and had one international for New Zealand .
Johnstone Richardson (Jock)
Played 42 matches and seven internationals and points for New Zealand was 58.
Neil Perriam McGregor
Joined Pirates in 1921 and represented New Zealand 1924-25 and in 1928,
James Albert Archer (Jim)
Represented New Zealand in 1925 playing two games.
William Edgar Hazlett (Bill)
Had 26 matches, including eight internationals for New Zealand - scored six tries.
John Herbert Geddes, (Bert)
Wing Three Quarter, six matches one international, seven tries, one conversion
Thomas Charles Metcalf (Tom)
Played for New Zealand 1931-32 seven matches and two internationals - scored two tries.
Ronald Henry Ward (Ron)
Joined Pirates 1932 - four matches - three internationals.
Charles Kesteven Saxton (Charlie)
Joined Pirates 1939, seven matches - three internationals - four tries.
Thomas Robert Dobson Webster (Tom)
Full back - four matches for New Zealand - 38 points (14 Con, 2 PG 1 DG)



1900's

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1920's

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​1930's

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1940's

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Back Row: G.F. Turner, B.G. Thompson, Mr H. Thomas (Coach), H.J. McCulloch, T. Evans.
Middle Row Mr R.J. McEwan (President), R.J. Stewart, H.G. Budd, R.A. Harper, W. Mercer, Mr A. McEwan (Club Captain)
Front Row: K. Drummond, N.J. Munnings, D.G. Thomson, L.T. Shirley, (Captain), T.R.D. Webster (Vice-Captain), I.R. McKenize, B.J.MacKay.
In Front: C.W. Bennett, N.J.Bennett.
Absent: A.S. Chandler, O. Thompson, L.J. Duncan.












1950's

Junior All Black: Greig George Spencer

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Greig was born at Invercargill on 7 April 1938 and joined Pirates in 1956.  He Played for Southland from 1958-1963 (Pirates) and 1965-67 (Limehills) South Island 1959 and 1966.  Junior All Black 1959.  He was educated at St George Primary School, Tweedsmuir Intermediate, Southland Boys High School and Waitaki Boys High School.  His trade was a builder.  Interesting to note that he played for Limehills when he took over his mother and father's business, the Benmore Pub.  His father had a serious accident and was in Lorne Hospital for years and his mother died suddenly.  On his mother's death Greig and Anne took over the running of the business. 


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                            Pirates 1st XV, 1959

WINNERS OF PRESIDENT'S CUP, RUNNERS-UP SECOND GALBRAITH SHIELD.
                                                     KING CONDUCT CUP


Back Row:  J. Faithful, O. Molloy, G. Thomas, B. Dawson, A. Diack
3rd Row: N. Smith,  D. Thomas, D. Hayes, K. West, I. Payne.
2nd Row: J. Hardy (President), E. McDowell, J. Cowan, E. Saunders (Asst. Coach)
                  R. Skeggs, R. Harper (Coach)
Front Row: G. Spencer, E. Mortimer, O. Brown (Captain), R. Smith (Deputy Captain), M. Dempster.
                    
Absent:       G. Harraway.

1960's

Pirates Senior Fifteen 1960: N. Smith, D. Thomas, R. Diack, R. Dawson, B. Slade, D. Smith, E. McDowell, D. Munro, R. Smith, J. Hardy (President), J. Cowan, E. Mortimer, R. Welsh, R. Spencer, L. Sutherland (Club Captain) R. Harper (Coach), G. Thomas, G. Spencer, (Vice Captain), O. Brown, (Captain), J. Joseph, M. Dempster, O. Molloy, K. Reid, H. Hunt, G. Harraway.

​Pirates Football Club 1st XV 1962: L. Williams, S. Waby, G. Munroe, N. Smith, B. Broad, R. McDowell, B. Slade, A. Diack, D. Smith, Johnny Joseph, E Saunders (Coach), R. Spencer, W. Grice, E. McDowell, J. Tait, G. Spencer, O. Brown, R. Smith, B. Saunders, R. Welsh, R. Harper, K. Harmon, G. Thomas.

Pirates Senior Fiftenn 1963: R. Diack, C. Arlidge, D. Smith, O. Brown, L. Waby, L. Williams, E. Mortimer (Club Captain), J. Tait, J. Cowan, P. Bird, A. Anticitc, R. Spencer, J. Joseph, E. Saunders (Coach) G. Spencer, D. Munro, G. Thomas (Deputy Captain) L. Sutherland, R. Welsh (Captain), R. Smith, B. Broad, R. Skeggs, K.D. Harmon, M. A. Heaps.

Pirates Middlesex Cup Seven-A-Side 1963: S. Dryden D.K. Munro, O. Brown, N.G.Smith, J. Cowan, Neville McCorkindale (Manager), R. J. McDowell, R.J. Smith, J.C. Hardy (Manager), R. R. Welsh, D. 
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1970's
1976 Galbraith Shield team was:
Brian Belesky, Wayne Soper, Noel Eade, B. Harper, John Pankhurst, Reid Boynton, Gary Barnes,  N. McDermott, D. Muirhead, Greig Spencer, Robin Welsh, L. Fawdray, P Laurie, Sam Anderson, Brian Belesky, Cliff Munro, Garry Pankhurst,(Captain) Trevor Tomlins,(Vice Captain) J. Black, Kenny Dixon, H. Harris.
COACH: L. D. Williams
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1980's

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Back Row: Basil Walker (Acting Club Captain) Phillip Lamont, Sean Bellew, Richard McGregor (Asst. Coach) Back Row: Ian Ellis (President), David Blue, Craig Popham, Ian Reeve (Manager), Murray McDowell, Wayne Harding, Cliff Munro (Coach). Middle Row: Michael Anderson, Kevin Rudolph, Mafeking Smiler, Max Moyles, John Blue, Brent Youle. In Front Greg Munro (water boy) Peter Carlaw, Andrew Borland, Murray Hewitson (captain), Neville McDowell, Neil Smith, Ian McMurdo, Absent Scot Mortimer, Ray Stevens.
The above team was exceptional in that it had built up over the past few years and were winners of the under 20 grade championships for 1981 with winning all 16 games with a record of points for 564 and points against 63.  Imagine if they had of all caried through to Senior!!!
​Neale Smith, Geoff Clark, Trev Popham, Bruce Pascoe, John Grice, Murray Brown, Murray Hewitson, I. Wester, K. Rudolph, Kevin Burns, Paul Radka, Donald Sutherland, Mafking Smiler, Dave Clark, Rex Duncan, Roger Kilpatrick, Geoff Rogers, Paul Macfie, Bruce Shields, Shaun Bellew, Ross Polson, Dave Hourston.
COACH: Garry Pankhurst/Owen Brown
MANAGER:  Vern Poole/N. Jones
PRESIDENT: Ray Smith

Pirate's Players Who Served In The War.

P. Amos, J. Archer, R. Adams, B. Adams.

G. Butler, R. Boyd, F. Butson, J. Butts, A. Beadle, R. Barr, R. Boniface, L. Beal, A. Bridgman, T. Bath, R. Barnett, E. Bridgman, B. Butson, T. Bernstone, F. Bald, A. W. Broad, G. Broughton, J. Brass.

M. Crosbie, L. Craig, I. Church, W. Carlaw, D. Clark. T. Cunningham, W. Clarkson, E. Calvert, P. Cambell, B. Cook, D. Camerson, J. Corbett, G. Cleveland.

J. Dale, T. Daniels, I. Duff, K.Drummond, Ron Dawson, Russell Dawson, G. Dawson, F. Davis.

A. Edwards, W. Eunson.

I. Fiveash, H. Fraser, D. Fyffe, R. Ferris, A. Fisher.

G. Goode, J. Grieve, C. Gatehouse, L. Graham, I. Guildford, W. Gibson, J. Greer, R. Gibb.

A. Hughes, C. Hunt, L. Hazlett, M. Hunter, C. Harvey, J. Henry, A. Hunt, J. Hawkes.

B. Imbs, P. Insall, J. Ingram, M. Ibbotson.

L. Jarvis, J. Johnstone, W. Jones, L. Jones, D. Jackson, C. Johnson.

P. Keeler, J. Kelly, K. Kynaston, F. Kidd.

G. Lee, F. Lemon, G. Langmuir, R. Launder, I. Lock.

I. Maslin, H. Miller, R. Mahoney, K. Mitchell, W. A. Morrison, N. Morrison, N. Marshall, C. Murdock, F. Maxted, P. Mason, T. C. Metcalfe, T. Morrison, E. Morgan, J. Matheson, J> Maley, N. Munnings, F. Millard, D. Maxwell, J. Moseley, E. J. McLachlan, A. McLachlan, J. McFarlane, T. R. McFetrich, B. J. Mackay, G. McKenzie, E. McKenzie, S. McGregor, P. McLachlan, C. McConnell, V. L. McEwan, F. McEwan, N. McEwan, A. McEwan, Ron McEwan, Robert McEwan, T. McKay, Bob McFarlane, R. McMaster.

B. Nelson, P. H. Nicholson.

S. Owen, C. Oram, B. O'Dowda.

J. C. Pasco, F. Pasco, R. F. Pickering, Ray Pickering, T. R. Pryde, L. Palmer, P. D. Patton, H. Peddie.

F. Robertson, T. Roberts, W. Ramsay, F. Rattray, J. Randall, C. Rout.

C. Strathern, R. Strathern, J. Stewart, J. Sapwell, O. Stewart, M. Smith, D. Smith, W. Soper, W. Spence, Cyril Shirley, Cliff Shirley. G. Shirley, T. Shirley, C. Shirley, C. Shirley, C. K. Saxton, W. Stephens, J. Strachan, N. Smith, R. Sharpe, J. Storrie, J. Sorenson, W. Smith, C. Sheat, T. Stewart, S. Sherriffs.

Glen Thomas, Len Thomas, G. Thomas, A. Turnbull, R. Tinnock, J. Taylor G. Turner, M. Thornbury.

W. Wilson, R. L. Woods, Ralph Wesney, J. Walker, R. H. Ward, W. Wright, C. A. Ward, R. Whyte, W. Wylie, J. Winter, Jim Ward, H. Whittaker, T. Webster, Tiny Ward.
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