Pt Chevalier Pirates celebrate 100 years
The Pt Chevalier Pirates celebrated 100 years over
Labour Weekend with a bumper programme of events which
included the naming of the club's Team of the Century and
the induction of two new life members.
Legendary Pirates junior Stacey Jones and club stalwart Mark Robinson were awarded life membership at a formal function on Saturday night at Alexandra Park, which was attended by Pt Chevalier players, club members and families from across several decades.
Jones was also selected at halfback in the Team of the Century, appearing alongside fellow Kiwi internationals Awen Guttenbeil, Dennis Key, Doug Anderson, Jack Russell-Green, Henry Maxwell, Duncan MacRae, Graham Mattson, Ian Grey and Tevita Latu.
Other former Test players included in the team were Malo Solomona (Samoa) and Karl Harrison (England and Great Britain).
After hosting a mix and mingle night at Walker Park on Friday – which included a women's invitational and men's invitational game – the Pirates held a centenary dinner at Alexandra Park on Saturday.
On Sunday the celebrations went back to Walker Park, with an old boys' family fun day held, with games from U6s through to a clash between the 2010-12 first division side and the club's current SAS Fox Memorial Premiership squad.
Pirates co-chair John Wetere said the weekend couldn't have gone any better, and praised the work of the organising committee and volunteers.
"The volunteers and everyone running the show were brilliant, and a huge thanks as well must go to our sponsors for all of their support," Wetere said.
"The whole weekend was fantastic and the family day on Sunday was a real highlight."
Pt Chevalier are the second Auckland Rugby League club to celebrate their centenary this year, following on from the Marist Saints who marked 100 years in June.
Team of the
Century:
1. Siua Otunuku
2. Saula
Solomona
3. Malo Solomona
4. Doug
Anderson
5. Dennis Key
6. Jack
Russell-Green
7. Stacey Jones
8. Henry
Maxwell
9. Tevita Latu
10. Duncan MacRae
11. Ian
Hayes
12. Awen Guttenbeil
13. Dylan
Moses
14. Graham Mattson
15. Ian Grey
16. Jeremiah
Pai
17. Karl Harrison
Coach: Grant
Pocklington
Manager: Wilard Hyndman
New
life members:
Stacey Jones
Mark Robinson
Team of the last decade:
1. Siua
Otunuku
2. Saula Solomona
3. Malo
Solomona
4. Francis Leger
5. Gary
Fuimaono
6. Jeremiah Pai
7. Jonathan Carl
8. Herman
Retzlaff
9. Tevita Latu
10. Ian Hayes
11. Patrick
Sipley
12. Arden McCarthy
13. Dylan Moses
14. Tane
Rapira
15. Dwayne Lisiua
16. Daniel
Palavi
17. Siliga Kepao
Coach: Grant Pocklington