Pirates impress in Senior 1 hit-out

Anthony Kiwara has reason to be a happy man. The Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates Senior 1 coach saw his crew play great rugby in their 43-7 win against the Kohe Waihi-mentored Matawhero Harvest Transport Ngatapa side.

“All of our boys have been working hard at training and that showed on Saturday because everyone who took the field had a massive game,” said Kiwara, who played for Pirates in 2021.

“We’ve still got a fair way to go to get to where we want to be, but we’re heading in the right direction.”

Pirates hooker Moui Paongo opened the scoring in the ninth minute with the first of his two tries.

In the 14th minute, openside flanker Isa Tatafu dotted down. When centre Suliasi Holani converted, the Buccaneers led 12-0 at Paddy’s Park, Patutahi.

In the 24th minute, lock Charlie Kepa’s try was converted by Holani for 19-0, and in the 40th, blindside flanker Manase Tupe cut through to score a try, unconverted, for a 24-0 halftime scoreline.

Pirates captain and loosehead prop Mango Halaifonau scored in the 49th minute, and second five-eighth Drew Tau’s conversion made it 31-0.

Ngatapa struck in the 56th minute. Tighthead prop Taylor Howatson scored and first five-eighth Arthur Chapman-Cohen converted.

Pirates led 31-7 at three-quartertime.

Scrum anchor Howatson estimated that Pirates might have outweighed Ngatapa by 20 kilograms, man for man.

“Pirates had a strong bench, so they always had fresh legs on the field,” he said.

“I thought, all in all, we did well to keep them out for extended periods.”

In the 69th minute, Paongo completed his try-double, and reserve fetcher Liua Tonga converted.

A try by tighthead prop Tupousau Haupeakui, in the 76th minute, was the eighth and last of the game for 43-7.

First-five Nare Kepa won Pirates’ MVP (most valuable player) award for his outstanding defence and distribution.

Kiwara noted the impact Tupe made at the breakdown, and the work Tatafu and Halaifonau did in defence and with ball in hand.

“Ngatapa never shied away from the physical battle and came at us hard for 80 minutes,” Kiwara said.

“They drove at us three times and scored off a tap-kick.”

Pirates 43 (Moui Paongo 2, Isa Tatafu, Charlie Kepa, Manase Tupe, Mango Halaifonau, Tupousau Haupeakui, tries; Suliasi Holani 2, Liua Tonga, Drew Tau, conversions) beat Ngatapa 7 (Taylor Howatson try; Arthur Chapman-Cohen con).