“Our captain and first five-eighth Phoenix Pardoe-Crosby was focused, Levi was vocal and the kids played out of their skin. Once they knew they had a chance, they banded together and took Pirates on.”
Hune scored the first two tries of the match, neither being converted, to give OBM a 10-0 lead before second-five Zane Huriwai scored for Pirates.
Hune then scored again and Pardoe-Crosby converted for 17-5.
First-five Hirini Aupouri grabbed a second try for Pirates, converted by centre Philburgh Viljoen, and fullback Mahonri Aupouri’s try drew Pirates level at 17-all just before the break.
In the second half, OBM halfback Ian McClutchie took the game by the scruff of the neck with two tries for 27-17.
Pirates responded with three super tries in a row. Openside flanker Connor Paenga converted the first and Viljoen, the second. The tryscorers in that sequence were left wing Malachi Tea, captain and No.8 David Gray and Mahonri Aupouri, and Pirates led 36-27.
OBM closed it to 36-34 when Hune scored following a kick-and-chase from his own 22 down the left sideline, and then converted his own try.
OBM lock Te Rauna-Lamont scored next, with a conversion by Pardoe-Crosby for 41-36 but Pirates had the last word. Right wing Whaimuri Gear, a second-generation match-winner, scored with two minutes remaining for 41-all.
Rob Kora and Evan Mita are happy coaches.
Their Horouta team backed up a 29-14 win in Week 2 against Eastland Vets Ngatapa with a 60-17 victory in the rematch.
The Waka scored 10 tries and led 36-7 at halftime.
Openside flanker Dominic Wilson was Horouta’s MVP. The Ngatapa equivalent was two-try lock Sam Gaddum, who impressed with his bustling play.
Ngatapa coach Matt Evans said his side’s effort was 100 percent, and they scored their tries “up the middle of the park”.
“Horouta broke out for one or two of theirs; they are a very skilful side,” he said.
Horouta centre Sonny Tairakena opened the scoring three minutes into the game. Halfback Che Gibson-Park’s conversion gave the Waka a 7-0 lead.
Ngatapa blindside flanker William Matthews then scored and converted his own try for 7-7.
Horouta went ahead when Wilson (10th minute) and fullback Te Ratu Walker (14th minute) scored, Gibson-Park converting Walker’s try for 19-7. More tries followed, to second-five Torrence Kennedy (18th minute), left wing Taina Para (21st minute) and No.8 Elijah Kaui (26th minute). Gibson-Park converted Kaui’s try for 36-7. In the 35th minute, Gibson-Park scored a try of his own.
In the 39th minute, Gaddum scored his first try, and it was 41-12 to Horouta.
Kennedy then scored his second try and converted it for 48-12 on 44 minutes, and five minutes later Tairakena scored his second try.
Gaddum crossed again for Ngatapa in the 53rd.
In the 58th, right wing Isaiah Reiri scored, then converted his own try for 60-17.
The draw for today’s games in the u13 weight-restricted grade had Pirates playing High School Old Boys and Eastland Vets Ngatapa playing OBM.
