Form continues for OBM

Finding gaps: OBM forward and captain Rikki Terekia, fending off the Paroa defence as he makes his way through the line. OBM played the Pirates on Saturday and won 37-0. Picture by Paul Rickard

The Lee Bros Shield is the Civil Project Solutions Premier Grade's ultimate prize.

It is one of a number of such trophies in Poverty Bay. They are significant because of the quality of the people they are named for, those persons' connection and contribution to the game, and because they tie clubs to each other — and rugby.

To have the game between OBM and Pirates back on the calendar is as much cause for celebration as the return to OBM's club rooms of the Keith Webber Memorial Shield.

On Saturday, Enterprise Cars OBM beat Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates 37-0 on Oval 1 in fine conditions. The red, white and blue team scored seven tries, left-footed first five-eighth Austin Brown landing one conversion.

OBM head coach Clint Pirihi was pleased with the attention his crew paid to the nuts and bolts.

“We stayed within our structure and didn't give any 50-50 passes, so all the boys are stoked that we're taking the Shield back with us.”

OBM captain and blindside flanker Rikki Terekia is, with others in the club's line-up, playing magnificent rugby. Yet like Pirihi, he wants and is prepared to work smart to produce the perfect performance.

“We started slowly,” he said.

“Pirates definitely brought heat in the first half. Still, we kept grinding, and that paid off later on.”

Terekia was impressed by Pirates' defensive line-speed and gave them the nod, as regards having kept OBM honest in the rucks; Buccaneers lock Michael Te Whata-McClutchie's tough tackling will not soon be forgotten.

Pirates skipper and hooker Bernard Nepe was elated with No.8 Paora Mullany's all-round commitment and great showing at the front of the lineout. Mullany won his team's Taste One MVP (most valuable player) Award.

Nepe said: “I was proud of our defensive effort in the first half. You couldn't really single an individual out, as regards defence. It was a team effort.

“And the support we got, that we heard, from our families and friends of the Pirates club throughout the match — that meant a lot. It was awesome.”

OBM halfback Braedyn Grant opened the scoring with a try 29 minutes into the first half and Josh Talaese also dotted down, in the 36th minute, for a halftime score of 10-0.

Talaese, brought in to start for Rangi Hinaki on the left wing, proved to be exceptionally versatile; he was just as capable at fullback, centre and second five-eighth.

In the second half, second-five Leroy Taiapa (49th minute), reserve openside flanker Keanu Taumata (52m), No.8 Gabe Te Kani (59m — converted by Brown), Terekia (69m) and Grant (74m) all scored, for 37-0.

Grant's double was well deserved yet, despite the score, the discipline from both teams under referee Paul Brown was to be commended.

Pirates fought with every fibre of their being — their second-five Solomoni Rasari tackled his heart out — and they showed real rugby character against an OBM team who are improving week by week.

Buccaneers coach Willie Waitoa deserves a pat on the back for his tremendous effort to improve and marshal a team and a club.