The Point Chevalier Pirates are a New Zealand rugby league club based in Point Chevalier. The Pirates currently compete in the Fox Memorial (First Division) competition run by the Auckland Rugby League.
History
The club was founded in 1919, in Auckland."Yo ho ho and ninety years done" Superleague, Issue 1 2010. p.27. On April 5, 1919, the Auckland Star reported that a "new club that has just been affiliated is the Eden Ramblers, boys from Avondale and Point Chevalier". In 1911, a club named Eden Ramblers had formed in the area and played at the Avondale racecourse with the club rooms in Point Chevalier. However they ceased fielding teams during 1913 and effectively folded in the same year. The new team however was not to become known as the Eden Ramblers but in fact were named Point Chevalier rugby league club. Point Chevalier did not field any teams in 1919 and were not officially registered with the Auckland Rugby League until 1920 when they entered a side in the third grade therefore their true beginnings were more likely 1920 than 1919. Their first ever match was played at Walker Park on May 8, 1920 against Devonport United (North Shore Albions). The shore side won 22-6.
Point Chevalier won their first ever Fox Memorial title in 1953.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the club's senior team merged with the City club to form City-Point Chevalier.
2010 and beyond resurgence In 2010, Awen Guttenbeil returned to the club as coach. Former professional players Stacey Jones, Wairangi Koopu, Monty Betham and Karl Te Nana all joined the squad for the club's 90th year as the team easily won the Phelan Shield.
This began a rapid rise for the club as they won the Sharman Cup (second division) the following year, gaining promotion to the Fox Memorial for 2012. The Pirates finished the season third, but in their final match against the Marist Saints, the Pirates fielded a third-string side and were beaten 102–0, and denied Papakura, who had beaten the Pirates on both occasions the teams had met earlier in the year, a place in the semi-finals to play the Pirates again the following week. Papakura appealed to the Auckland Rugby League, and the Pirates were found guilty of bringing discredit on the game and were ejected from the play-offs.Pt Chevalier booted from Fox Memorial playoffs stuff.co.nz, 1 August 2012Tanking allegation could cost Pirates their playoff place New Zealand Herald, 1 August 2012
The Pirates came back stronger the following year and won the Fox Memorial in 2013, 2014 & 2015. Only three other clubs have won 3 in a row in the history of the 1st grade competition. They won the Fox Memorial again in 2018. They failed to make the final in 2019 and then the 2020 and 2021 seasons were cancelled due to covid. They had been in second position after 8 rounds in 2020 when the season was cancelled. In 2021, they had progressed unbeaten through the qualifying competition with 11 wins and were unbeaten through the Fox Premiership games with another 7 wins however the season was once again cancelled prior to their semi final with Glenora. In 2022 a shortened competition was run and Point Chevalier won their 6th title with a 14-12 win over recent rivals Glenora Bears.
Notable players Notable players to play for the club include Great Britain representative Karl Harrison and Samoan international Hutch Maiava.
Players to play for the New Zealand national rugby league team include Stacey Jones, Doug Anderson, Vic Belsham, Shane Varley, Jack Russell-Green, Bill Schultz, Paul Schultz, Bob McGuinn, Henry Maxwell, Duncan MacRae, Ken Stirling, Gordon Moncur, Graham Mattson, Dennis Key, John Sparnon, Awen Guttenbeil,Fuifui Moimoi, Tawhiao Rogers, Henry Paul, Evarn Tuimavave Tevita Latu, Wairangi Koopu, Paki Afu,
The club has also produced three test referees: Vic Belsham, John Percival and Ray Shrimpton.
Point Chevalier Senior Team Records (1920-1945 + 2020-2026) The season record for the most senior men’s team in the club. SeasonGradeNamePlayWDLPFPAPDPtsPosition (Teams)1920 3rd GradePoint Chevalier30031557-420Approximately 4th of 6 (full results unknown)1921 3rd Grade (Myers Cup)Point Chevalier54017018882nd of 7, full results unknown1922 3rd Grade (Myers Cup)Point Chevalier1281319967132173rd of 12, full results unknown1923 3rd Grade (Myers Cup)Point Chevalier1510057235+37202nd of 14, lost the final 7-10 to Ponsonby.1924 5th GradePoint Chevalier200236-3013th of 16, Results unknown1925 3rd GradePoint Chevalier66001159+126123rd of 18, full results unknown1926 2nd GradePoint Chevalier157111003763152nd of 11, full results unknown1927 B Division (Norton Cup)Point Chevalier1321982139-5756th of 71928 B Division (Norton Cup)Point Chevalier12417104138-3496th of 71929 B Division (Norton Cup)Point Chevalier119111086147191st of 61930 B Division (Norton Cup)Point Chevalier1310121086246212nd of 71931 2nd GradePoint Chevalier14121114432112251st of 81932 2nd GradePoint Chevalier163284185-448Approximately 7th of 91933 2nd Grade Point Chevalier--------Results unknown (7 teams)1934 2nd Grade Point Chevalier14518---115th of 61935 Senior B (Sharman Cup)Point Chevalier910763102-3923rd of 41936 Senior B (Sharman Cup)Point Chevalier840483641983rd of 51937 Senior B (Sharman Cup)Point Chevalier1411031273493222nd of 91938 Senior B (Sharman Cup)Point Chevalier123185279-2774th of 61939 Senior B (Sharman Cup)Point Chevalier84044953-483rd of 61940 Senior B (Sharman Cup)Point Chevalier51043650-1424th of 51941 Senior B/Reserves (Sharman Cup)Point Chevalier41031857-3927th of 9 (incomplete record)1942 Schoolboys (Senior)Point Chevalier--------7 teams unknown results1943 3rd GradePoint Chevalier--------1st1944 Fox MemorialPoint Chevalier172015148330-18249th of 101945 Fox MemorialPoint Chevalier142012118264-14649th of 102020 Fox Memorial QualifiersPoint Chevalier8701302112191142nd of 12, comp cancelled due to covid2021 Fox Memorial QualifiersPoint Chevalier111100470136334221st of 12 in the Fox Qualifiers Fox Memorial Premiership7700247110137141st of 8, comp cancelled due to covid2022 1st Grade (Fox Memorial)Point Chevalier8800388112276161st of 9 in section 1Playoffs 33007846+32 - W v Mt Albert 40-22 in QF, W v Howick 24-12 in SF, W v Glenora 14-12 in GF2023 Fox QualifiersPoint Chevalier33001901617461st of 4 in Pool AFox Memorial 11911354161+193 19 2nd of 12Playoffs 22008226+56 - W v Howick 58-10 in SF, W v Richmond 24-16 in GF2024 Fox QualifiersPoint Chevalier310270462423rd of 4 in Pool BFox Memorial 11704334234+100 14 5th of 12Playoffs 21013539-4 - W v Otahuhu 23-16 in QF, L v Richmond 12-23 in SF 2025 Fox MemorialPoint Chevalier1251635430252117th of 102026 Fox MemorialPoint Chevalier1462633627462144th of 8Playoffs 10011832-14 - L v Mt Albert 18-32 in Minor SF1920-45 + 2020-2026TOTAL451235191867,8396,210+1,629440Includes playoff statistics also
References
External links Official ARL Site Field of dreams By Alan Perrott, Aug 23, 2010 New Zealand Herald