TAIHAPE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 242, 12 October 1937, Page 12

TAIHAPE

PIRATES FOOTBALL CLUB The Taihape Pirates Rugby Football Club will celebrate its silver jubilee to-morrow night (Wednesday) by means of a smoke concert and reunion, to which all past and present players arc cordially invited to attend. The club had high hopes of winning the senior competition this season to mark in a most appropriate manor its jubilee, and failed by one point only to carry off the honours for 1937. In briefly tracing the origin and history of the Pirates Club, one is reminded of a meeting of school and town boys that was held in a whare in 1907, on a site at the rear of the present Tui Street auction mart. The object of the meeting was to form a football team, the only adults present being Mr J. J. Ryan (chairman) and Mrs M. J. O’Connor, who were later to play such a prominent part in the history of the Pirates Football Club. Amongst the boys present were George and Roy (“Darky”) Maher, “Mok?” and Reg. Beiliss, D. Tidswell, Cliff Porter, W. Carmody, and others. All the boys present were most enthusiastic about the proposal to form a Rugby team, which was given the name of “Pirates,” and every boy in attendance at the meeting joined the team. These same boys later played junior and then seior Rugby, an dthe Pirates Football Club was formed. This, briefly, is the origin of the club that celebrates its jubilee to-morrow night. One of the grst presidents was Mr J. J. Ryan, who held office for over 12 years, and was like a “father” to the club. Other stalwarts included Mrs Murphy, senr., and Mrs M. J. O’Connor. The present president of the club is Mr Charles Quirk, who is eminently suited for the position, and incidentally is the youngest president to hold olfice. Others who have occupied the presidential chair during recent years include Messrs J. Bridson, H. D. Bond, J. McDonald, P. E. Wakeman, F. W. Stringer, and the late Mr W. H. Fookes. The present secretary is Mr Walter Munro. His predecessors in office include Messrs W. Henson, A. E. Glennie, W. Hunt and J. McAuliffe.

The Pirates Club has a splendid record in the senior competition and has carried off the cup on many occasions. Amongst the club’s most noteworthy players were two ex-All Black captains, E. A. (“Moke”) Beiliss and Cliff Porter. Other well-known players include Hansen, F. C. Leahy, Maker Bros., Colliers, Dockery Bros., D. Tidswell, M. McLaughlan, C. Murphy, H. Kilkolly, W. Sinclair, W. Carmody, Reg. Beiliss, C. Cribb and others too numerous to mention.

The following players were included in the original Pirates team: Jerry Leahy, Frank McSweeney, Frank Coleman, Rodger McPherson, Reg Beiliss, George Maher, Roy Hastedt, Norman Taylor, Steve Bason, Bert Laurenson.

The following were playing for the school in 1908 and joined the Pirates: “Moke” Beiliss, Roy Maher, Dave Tidswell, Bert Williams, Gus Cressy, Tom McAuliffe, Colin Stewart, William Hill, w. Carmody, Heise, B. Hastedt, Bob Smith, Charlie (“Tuna”) Eales, Len Anderson, Dave Hay, Lionel Walker, Albert Pulford. Taylor. Early residents of Taihape will remember many of the above players. GOLF NOTES Sensational golf was played by J. P. Mortland during the week-end, when Uie Taihape champion went round in 31 to break the course record by one stroke. Mortland was playing a “Stratson” Cup match against A. P. Scccombe at the time. He completed the first nine holes in 38, and then proceeded to turn on the “fireworks,” with the result that the second round was completed in the amazing total of 31 strokes, as

follows: 44442333 4—31. The previous course record was 32, held by J. P. Mortland and J. C. Belk. Mortland also holds the record of 63 for 18 holes, and had every chance of breaking this record also last weekend, but a six at the ninth in the first round was the only blemish on an excellent card. As it was, Mortland registered a 69, which might easily have been a 67 but for an unfortunate putting lapse on the ninth green. TAIHAPE LADIES’ GOLF CLUB The best cards handed in for the buttons competition are as follows: Senior, Mrs Price 86i; junior, Miss Pierard 901. The best cards handed in for the medal round competition played last week were:—Silver division: Miss Collerton, 89-12-77; Mrs Kincaid, 90-12-78; Miss Townsend, 92-13-79. Bronze division: Mrs Bond, 105-28-77; Miss Maclean, 109-28-87; Mrs Nelson, 118-36-82, Further results of the championships are:—Senior: Semi-finals, Mrs Kincaid beat Mrs Quinn, 4 and 2. C grade: Semi-finals, Miss Codling beat Miss Betty Smith, 4 and 3; Mrs Nelson beat Miss Fitzherbert, 5 and 3. In the senior division, Miss Townsend is to play Miss Collerton in the other semi-final, and the winner will meet Mrs Kincaid in the final.

All finals of the championship rounds must be played on club days.

Next week-end the Waimarino Golf Club will be visiting the Taihape Club, and members are advised that Sunday next will be a general tea day. This week a bogey round for the Forgan Cup and in conjunction the third round of the Stableford competition will be played, the draw being as follows:

A Grade: Mrs Price v. Mrs Ongley; Mrs Hoskings v. Miss Bowler; Mrs Murrell v. Miss Collerton; Mrs Quinn v. Miss Townsend.

B Grade: Mrs Bond v. Mrs James; Miss Jewell v. Mrs O’Callaghan; Miss C. Bradley v. Miss Oldham; Miss ’Fitzherbert v. Mrs Forsyth; Miss Betty Smith v. Mrs Nelson; Mrs Boles v. Miss Maclean; Miss N. Bradley v. Fookes; Mrs Olliver v. scorer.

C. Grade: Mrs Tait v. Miss J. Smith; Miss McLean v. Miss Dewhurst; Miss B. Smith v. Miss Boon; Miss Codling v. Miss Pierard; Miss Smith v. scorer.

During the week-end a car was removed from Barton’s garage and later returned in a badly damaged condition.