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Here is some trivia from the early to mid 90s -
1991 was a low point in Pirate History. Coach Cole had retired and only 13 players from the previous years roster had returned. Not surprisingly, the Pirates finished the year with an 0-9 Win-Loss record. Whats worse is that they only scored a total of 19 points and conceded 319.
The 1992 season was much improved, and it was in a game against the Wollongong TAFE Mustangs that year that a couple of new Pirates, but wily veterans, made their mark.
Linebacker, Steve Jordan, filled in at Running Back due to injuries to other players. He promptly set a Team Record (since broken) for the Most Points Scored in a Single Game when he rushed 22 times for 200 yards, including three TDs and two 2 Point conversions for a total of 22 points.
His partner in the backfield that day was John Pongrac, who also scored three TDs from 14 rushing attempts for 92 yards.
For the record, the Pirates won the game 44-6.
Wide Receiver, Pierre Le Masson, must have liked something about playing against the Northwestern Rebels. In 1992 he scored 4 TDs all season...two each in two games against the Rebels.
The first encounter was the 1992 Charity Bowl where Le Masson caught 2 passes for 188 yards and 2 TDs, the second was a Regular Season encounter where he caught 2 passes for 129 yards and 2 TDs, one of them for 93 yards which is still Team Record.
In 1993 the Pirates accepted an invitation to join the Premier State Gridiron League. The PSGL was a break-away League that included the Bondi Raiders, L.U.S.C. Argonauts, Newcastle Cobras, South East Sydney Jets, and Wollongong College Mustangs.
In the final Regular Season game of the 1993 season against the L.U.S.C. Argonauts, and with the clock winding down, players grabbed the chance to fulfil a fantasy and play in any position they chose.
Rookie Wide Receiver, Mark Rawlings, decided to play Defensive Back and promptly set a Club record for an Interception Return when he picked off an Argonauts 2 Point conversion attempt in the Pirates endzone and raced 102 yards for a Safety.
The best block during Rawlings return was made by Argonauts Head Coach, Doug Ringhoff, who stepped onto the field and deliberately blocked his own player as Rawlings ran by. The player who received the block? Former G.A. and NSWGFL President, Michael Ryan.
In 1994 rookie Running Back, Kyle Parker, set a Club Regular Season record and became the first player in the PSGL to break the 1000 yard rushing barrier.
Kyles 1008 yards on 174 attempts eclipsed the previous Regular Season record of 1001 yards on 185 carries set by Terry Guider in 1988.
Only a broken ankle in the first half of the Regular Season finale stopped Kyle from adding to his great achievement.
In a game against the Bondi Raiders during the 1995 season, Running Back, Scott Fitzgerald, became the first Pirate player to run the football, catch a pass, and throw a completed pass all in the same game. He also played Centre on Kicking teams because of his ability to long-snap.
By the seasons end Scott had played in EVERY position on the field for the Pirates apart from Punter and Place Kicker. Talk about versatile!
1995 was a career year for Strong Safety/Place Kicker, Damien Hitchens. He not only kicked the most Field Goals in a season (9), but batted down the most passes in the season (12) and in a single game (3), intercepted 5 passes for 40 yards, recovered a fumble and returned it 38 yards for a TD, kicked 5 of 6 PATs, and was third in the Club tackle count with a career high of 60.
In only his second year with the Club, and playing in a new position, Linebacker, Mick Smith, set Club records for tackles made in a season (126), tackles made in a game (22), and fumbles recovered in a game (3). Add to this his 3 interceptions, 4 batted passes, and 3 QB sacks, and its easy to see why Mick was the Clubs Defensive MVP in 1995.
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Pirate Football Trivia |
