It was Ngatapa's fourth win of the season and consolidated their fourth placing on the table.
“We made a strong start, then gave away penalties, which stifled our progress, but we brought our penalty count down significantly in the second half,” Larsawn Ngatapa head coach Heith Hawea said. “It was a good win.”
Captain sand blindside flanker Dan Law was rapt with the win.
“I'm very proud of where our team is at the moment. We've gained so much over the last few weeks and our confidence is building.
“This was a very tough game. The score didn't reflect how hard HSOB came at us, how they had us camped in our own 22 for the first 20 minutes and were still coming at us in the last 10. Hats off to Tama (HSOB captain Tamanui Hill) and his boys.”
No.8 Hill was pleased with the HSOB effort, particularly MVP (most valuable player), halfback Bryan Howard. “He read the play and did a top job of distributing the ball.”
From the outset, a 32-metre, eight-phase passage of play, the home team used and moved the ball quickly. Tighthead prop James Higgins opened the scoring when he hit the ball on the fly from a Samuels pass in the third minute. First-five Ricardo Patricio added the conversion.
A 65-metre, 21st-minute intercept try from fullback Matt Raleigh, converted by Patricio, put Ngatapa 14-0 up.
It hurt HSOB but they rallied and struck gold 28 minutes in when right-winger Marshall Jones scored in the corner after the decision was made to tap from a penalty 5m from the goal-line.
It was just reward for Jones who had gone close to scoring in the 13th minute.
The last act of the first half was Higgins crashing over from close range for his second try after a 5m scrum — Patrico's conversion putting them 21-5 ahead.
Three minutes after the resumption, Ngatapa punished HSOB after kicking out on the full from a goal-line restart. They opted for the 5m scrum and slick passing ran in right-wing Nashwen Mouton. Patricio kicked his fourth straight conversion for 28-5.
In the 59th minute, Patricio scored himself.. HSOB won their own lineout 2m short of halfway on the left touch, but lost ground all the way back to their own 22 as they sought to secure possession.
Three rucks and two crisp passes later, the running first-five went in out wide but missed the conversion.
Patricio was also involved in their sixth and final try. From an attacking scrum, he put a grubber kick towards the posts and reserve right-wing Peter Livingston chased through to score.
In the 76th minute, gutsy openside flanker Zane Boyle — following good work by reserve lock Konnor Gibson — scored the blue and whites' second try. Centre Von Huata converted.
Samuels played a great hand in his 51st outing and Law acknowledged his contribution to the team in general.“He's a good player —a very safe option at lineout time and he doesn't miss many tackles.
“Jacob also carries the ball strongly when he needs to and I reckon he'd have to be one of the fittest blokes, if not the fittest, on the team.”
