Pirates ready to celebrate 75 years
There’s a real family feel to the Central Pirates Rugby Club, writes Brayden Lindsay.
The Central Pirates Rugby Club in Ryal Bush, Southland, is always full of smiles and laughter as children play and members dissect the games.
Members are also counting down the days until the club’s 75th anniversary celebrations, being held from Friday to Sunday.
At 75, Central Pirates is one of the younger rugby clubs in Southland.
Club president Mark McCallum said he was thankful to fellow committee members and the jubilee team for organising the event. “George Wishart and the jubilee team have done a fantastic job in trying to organise an event we’re proud of.”
McCallum said more than 200 people had signed up to attend the dinner and dance: “It’s looking good. Numbers are looking good, people are excited and hopefully we can get a nice day for it.”
The jubilee starts on Friday at the club with a meet-and-greet session and commemorative jersey collection.
Saturday will involve photos and all the Central Pirates team playing at home. The senior Cs have a game against a visiting Cromwell side, while the division 2 side will then line up against Ohai Nightcaps Otautau in the main game.
“We know a few of the boys from Ohai Nightcaps Otautau, and it has shaped into a good rivalry the past few years,” McCallum said. “We look forward to playing them and hopefully it’s a good game.”
Matt Chisholm will the guest speaker for Saturday’s dinner and dance at the Hideaway 201 in Winton. A barbecue lunch the next day will end proceedings.
The Central Pirates pride themselves on being a good old country club that support and welcome new members.
At senior level, the club joined forces several seasons ago with Wrights Bush, a club located 15 minutes’ drive away, because of a lack of player numbers.
“We’ve been good at junior level the last few years, and at senior level we have obviously combined now,” McCallum said.
“This year we have good numbers. Things are looking pretty good.
“It was about seven or eight years ago that we joined with Wrights Bush. [There was] a lack of numbers at both clubs and we thought, why not join up together rather than dissolve completely?
“It’s gone well. We re-evaluate it every couple of years to see how both clubs are with players.”
They are competing in the division 2 grade where they more than hold their own and get to play against fellow country teams.
The club was “ticking away”, McCallum said, and all its funds came from fundraising or sponsorship.
Success-wise the club gone reasonably well of late, and he said there was a great atmosphere and club culture including an “awesome” group of volunteers.