With skipper Murray Hewson, back after missing last week’s game, Reeves and fullback Scott McKinley playing well, OBM had chances to stretch the gap but failed to capitalise. They paid the price when YMP first-five Willie Brown scored a try between the posts in the 35th minute.
Lock Eru Wharerau, one of YMP’s better players, went close to crossing the white line. Then when halfback Taine Aupouri cleared the ball from a five-metre scrum, Brown was unstoppable.
Despite playing with a breeze at their backs and their big forwards controlling possession, YMP were held scoreless in the second half.
Golden opportunities for YMP to score included three five-metre scrums, one of which came when OBM were down to 14 men when blindside flanker Paul Tapu was in the bin. A combination of good defence and poor option-taking kept the sides level.
OBM were rarely seen as an attacking force in this half but with George Halley on the left wing as a replacement for John Jones, they regained the lead when Halley scored a try in the corner in the 57th minute. OBM came close to scoring in the right-wing corner after a 60-metre break from Holmes, with support from Reeves, who was stopped short of the line.
When the ball was recycled left, Hewson charged at the line but was tackled, and Halley was on hand to score.
With openside flanker Isaiah Leach into everything, YMP continued to have the better possession and territory.
Nevertheless, Holmes sealed the win with a penalty 10 minutes from time. Despite winning, OBM dropped to third on the table behind Ngatapa on points differential.
OBM 16 (Jake Holmes, George Halley tries; Jake Holmes con, pen).
YMP 8 (Willie Brown try; Brian Whaitiri-White con). HT: 8-8.
¦ LOCK Semisi Akana bagged a hat-trick of tries as Larsawn Ngatapa made it six wins from six with a 70-20 win against Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates at Patutahi.
Ngatapa outscored the bottom-placed Pirates 10 tries to three but coach Will Faulks was far from happy.
“We’ve actually played better in some of our closer games in recent weeks,” Faulks said.
“Although you wouldn’t think it looking at the score, Pirates exposed some faults that we need to work on if we are to get anything out of this season.
“They scored first and our defence was ordinary in the first half.”
Seddon Smith, who started on the wing but later replaced Chris Richardson at first five-eighth, and midfielder Anthony Karauria each dotted down twice while prop Campbell Chrisp, halfback Cameron Rowden and winger/fullback Kieran Short each scored six-pointers.
Midfielder Pete Richardson landed three conversions, Richardson got one and Smith, one.
Faulks said Akana, Ngatapa’s man of the match, had a strong game around the pitch.
“He did a lot of good work round the rucks, getting his hand on the ball to secure possession for us,” said Faulks, who is already looking ahead to Saturday’s clash with Waikohu at Te Karaka.
“I’ve heard it’s their 100th-anniversary celebrations and they’ll be fired up, but we’ve told the boys it’s games like this we have to win.”
TK Moeke, Everard Reid and Devonte Martin played well for Pirates.
