No one was more delighted than Pirates coach Anthony Kiwara after his side’s hard-fought battle with an equally gallant HSOB.
“I’m proud of all the boys,” Kiwara said. “They showed heart and determination out there for the whole 80 and that’s what got us across the line.
HSOB played their part in a match that featured brilliant team and individual tries from both sides.
The blue and whites opened with an excellent long-range try after only a couple of minutes. Winger Cohen Loffler sprinted along the right touchline, drew the last line of the defence and offloaded to blindside flanker Eben Boyder, who sprinted 25 metres to score.
Pirates replied n the 10th minute with a set piece from a lineout 10 metres from the line. Skipper and lock Patriah Kaliopasi ran from the back to receive a short, low throw-in and shot through a gap to level it 5-all.
HSOB responded six minutes later when Loffler was put into space and sent through a grubber kick chased by fullback Matt Proffit. Pirates tried to recover the ball a metre from the tryline but Proffit, with help from teammates, got his hands on the ball and dived over. Second five Cory Reihana’s successful conversion put HSOB up 12-5.
Pirates worked their way back into HSOB territory and in the 32nd, after kicking for touch from a penalty, were bold enough to use the same lineout move and it worked again — lock Viliami Mosaati scoring the try.
A few minutes from halftime, Pirates’ forwards rolled upfield into the HSOB 22, the ball was shifted wide and an inside pass found winger Kyan Kiwara, who flew away to score next to the left-hand upright for fullback Moseses Bulicakau to convert for a 17-12 halftime lead.
Pirates increased the advantage to 10 from a superb solo effort by second five Ale Paulo who ran 45 metres and beat several players on his way to the line. Bulicakau converted for a 24-12 lead..
HSOB fought back with one of the backline tries of the season in the 69th minute — centre Korey Love finishing off some wonderful interplay which started from 60m out. Replacement back Bryan Howard knocked over the conversion for 24-19.
The last 10 minutes went back and forth but near fulltime, Pirates sealed victory when Kaliopasi charged over from a quick tap from a scrum penalty.
“We’ve been working hard at training and to get our first win of the season is an awesome thing,” Kiwara said. “Credit to HSOB. They played well and made us work hard for it . . . the boys couldn’t be happier.
“Ale Paulo was our player of the day — he was outstanding — followed closely by hooker Moui Paongo, who led from the front with his ball carries and defence.
“First five Levi Fakatava also played well, steering the team around the paddock.”
HSOB captain and openside flanker Fletcher Scammell commended his side for never giving up and fighting to the end.
“I think we played really well and put in a whole 80-minute shift, capped off by the best backs try we’ve seen in several seasons, so credit to the backs for that,” Scammell said.
“Also well done to Pirates. They are a talented young side who play with heart and for each other. They are getting better every game and deserved the win. I can see them testing other teams in the next few games.
Scammell was enthusiastic about his own club’s future.
“We’re a very young side, if not the youngest in the competition, so it’s looking very promising for the years to come.
YMP v Ngatapa
Seth Lundon could not have asked for a better 50th game in the black and white jersey for himself and fellow half-centurion Nehe Papuni.
The flanker scored three five-pointers while prop Nehe Papuni was giving the honour of taking the final conversion of the match, which he popped over to ice the 50th cake.
The victory made it eight bonus-point wins from eight for YMP, reinforced their place at the top of the table and continued to build on the success of 2022.
“We’ve taken the culture of our team to another level this season, which shows on the field,” coach Kahu Tamatea said.
“I’m very pleased with the performance because our last month has been disrupted in terms of us being able to train and play together.
“Seth played very well and to get three tries in his 50th game was the cherry on top.”
Ngatapa skipper Dan Law said they knew how dangerous YMP were in capitalising on turnovers.
“YMP are a sharp side and only needed a few key errors of ours to gain points from,” Law said.
Despite the convincing scoreline, Law said “it was an effort to be proud of”.
We had a few key injuries including losing a hooker in the second half, still stayed in it until the end.”
Fullback Andrew Tauatevalu was named YMP’s Most Valuable Player and prop Campbell Chrisp took the honours for Ngatapa.
Waikohu v OBM
Waikohu inflicted only the second loss of the season on OBM in what turned out to be a battle of wills.
The men from Te Karaka led 15-10 at halftime but OBM struck back quickly when No.8 Rikki Terekia powered over the line to level the score and first five Austin Brown knocked over the conversion to put them in front..
Keanu Taumata’s brilliant chip-and-chase try for Poverty Bay against Ngati Porou East Coast in their King’s Birthday Weekend derby clearly rubbed off on OBM teammate Terekia.
He used the same tactic when he got the ball wide and scored under the sticks, and Brown’s conversion extended OBM’s lead to 24-15.
Waikohu found another gear in the last 15 minutes despite losing a player to an upgraded red card for back-chat.
The ball was spread wide to wing KC Wilson, who sped away to score in the corner. First five Reeves made the sideline conversion to put Waikohu within two points.
Reeves then turned tryscorer himself. Following some excellent team play, Reeves crossed in the 79th minute to snatch back the lead the potted the conversion to extend it to five.
Waikohu then held out over the closing minute to avenge their Round 1 loss to OBM and consolide their third-placed position.
OBM coach Dillon Dolman-Tuhou said they took away positives despite the defeat but there were areas that needed addressing.
“We failed to close out the game — that’s definitely a work-on for us,” Dolman-Tuhou said.“We failed to clear out of the red zone, basically the whole game, and lacked discipline.
He was happy with their set pieces, particularly lineouts.
Waikohu No.8 Adrian Wyrill, who scored a try in the first half, and OBM flanker Blake Beard were the respective MVPs.
YMP 57 (Seth Lundon 3, Stuart Leach 2, Shayde Skudder, Matt Rutene, Willis Tamatea, Andrew Tauatevalu tries; Tauatevalu 5, Nehe Papuni cons)
NGATAPA 12 (Haeora King, Ben Johnson tries; Ricardo Patricio con)
PIRATES 29 (Patriah Kaliopasi 2, Viliami Mosaati, Kyan Kiwara, Ale Paulo tries; Mosese Bulicakau 2 cons)
