Wikipedia

Hobsonville Pirates

The Hobsonville Pirates were a rugby league club which existed briefly from 1912 to 1914 and competed in the Auckland Rugby League competitions in the 2nd and 3rd grade. They were based in Hobsonville in West Auckland, New Zealand.

Hobsonville Pirates
Club information
Full nameHobsonville Pirates
Founded1912[1]
Exited1915; 109 years ago (1915)
Former details
Ground(s)
  • Hobsonville
  • Midgley’s Paddock
CompetitionAuckland Rugby League

History edit

Founding edit

There were rumours in mid to late April that a rugby league club was going to be formed in the Hobsonville area at the first meeting of the Auckland Rugby League management committee in 1912.[2] The Hobsonville Pirates rugby league club was officially formed in May, 1912. It was said that “a largely attended meeting was held … for the purpose of forming a football club, Mr. J. S. Wilson being in the chair”. They decided to enter a team in the second grade of the Auckland Rugby League competition which had been running since 1910 after the organisation itself was formed the year prior. The club elected the following officers on to its committee:- President, Mr. Alex Harris, M.P. who had been recently elected as a minister of parliament, vice presidents, Messrs. James Sims Ockleston, T. Hunter; captain, Mr. E. Saxon; vice captain, Mr. J.C. Adams; and hon. secretary, Mr. T.E. Clark. They then settled on the name of ‘Hobsonville Pirates’.[3]

1912 second grade edit

In their first season their results were rarely reported, though their fixture details were listed each week in the Auckland Star and New Zealand Herald. Their first ever game was against North Shore Albions on May 11 and they suffered a 13–0 defeat at Hobsonville though it is unknown specifically where the ground they played at was. Teams would have to catch the launch (Elsie) from the "Harbour Board" steps to reach the ground.[4] Their first ever team was listed in the New Zealand Herald as: Lindsay, W Williamson, S. Wiseley, S Hutchinson, T.E. Clark, J. Adams, J. Williamson, E. Saxon, Te Ruby, J. Denny, Alderton, G. Clark, and E. Briggs, with the energency players named as J. Brown, G Bennett, and C Nicklin.[5] For North Shore Woodward scored 2 tries, Seagar 1, and Nicholson converted 2 of them. It was described as a "fast, interesting game".[6] A few other results were reported which were also losses but after 7 rounds the table was reported and they had won one match and lost 6 to that point. Their win had come over the win less Newton Rangers on May 25. The match was played “in one of Mr. Midgley’s paddocks”.[7] On June 22 they played a match against Ellerslie United at Eden Park on the number 3 field in a season where rugby league had use of the ground. They lost by 9 points to 3.[8] Following their match at Hobsonville with Northcote & Birkenhead Ramblers on July 6, player R. Heron was suspended by the Auckland Rugby League "until such time that he appear before the Auckland League".[9] Hobsonville had one player (Wilson) selected for an Auckland junior trial match between A and B sides on July 27. The match was a curtain raiser to Auckland v Hawke's Bay.[10]

1913 season edit

In 1913 the club failed to field any teams in either the second, third, or fourth grade competitions.

1914 third grade revival edit

In 1914 Hobsonville fielded a team in the 3rd grade competition. On May 16 in their opening game of the season the Remuera side defaulted, handing them a win. Then in their next match on May 30 they defeated Sunnyside B by 6 points to 3.[11] Very few results were reported during the season and it appears that they only played intermittently. After 5 weeks of the competition they had only recorded 1 win scoring 36 points and conceding 74 to that point.

Disestablishment edit

The 1915 season was to be short lived. They had elected E. Frelan as their secretary but they were unable to field any teams and the club folded soon after. It was reported in the Observer newspaper that “J. Frelan, who will be remembered as secretary of Hobsonville last year, was granted a transfer to Thames Old Boys. His old club is not reforming.[12][13]

Team records edit

The season record for the most senior men’s team in the club.

Season Grade Name Played W D L PF PA PD Pts Position (Teams)
1912 2nd Grade Hobsonville Pirates 7 1 0 6 18 57 -39 2 7th of 8
1913 No teams fielded
1914 3rd Grade Hobsonville Pirates 5 1 0 4 36 74 +27 4 4th of 10
1912-14 TOTAL 12 2 0 10 54 131 -77 4

References edit

  1. ^ "Under League Rules/New Club At Hobsonville". New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14986. 7 May 1912. p. 9. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  2. ^ "Auckland Provincial League/Season Top Open May 11". New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14975. 24 April 1912. p. 9. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  3. ^ "Under League Rules/New Club At Hobsonville". New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14986. 7 May 1912. p. 9. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  4. ^ "The League Game". New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14988. 9 May 1912. p. 9. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  5. ^ "Second Grade". New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14989. 10 May 1912. p. 9. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  6. ^ "The Season Opened/Fast, Attractive Play". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. XLIX, no. 14991. 13 May 1912. p. 9. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Hobsonville". New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15006. 30 May 1912. p. 10. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Second Grade". Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 150. 24 June 1912. p. 8. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  9. ^ "Under League Rules/Fixtures For Saturday/Meeting Of The League". New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15042. 11 July 1912. p. 4. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  10. ^ "Junior Curtain Raiser". New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15051. 22 July 1912. p. 9. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  11. ^ "Third Grade". New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15628. 1 June 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  12. ^ "League Football". Observer, Volume XXXV, Issue 33. 24 April 1915. p. 10. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  13. ^ "League Football". New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15006. 22 May 1915. p. 10. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
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