Waikohu committee member and sub-union chairman Bob Morse cast a critical eye over both his own crew and their opponents.
“We expect a lot of our fellows — best backline we've ever had — but I was impressed by the effort from Pirates,” he said.
“They made us think, made us work hard for that.”
Kevin Hollis has been involved with Pirates for 53 years and appreciated the toughness of the contest.
“Both sides played good rugby; Waikohu are slick, though,” he said.
“Kelvin Smith runs their backline from first-five beautifully, just as he did when he played for us at Pirates.
“I enjoyed the game. It was hard and quick but played in good spirit.”
The game was hard-fought up front. Veterans Eru Wharerau, at lock, and Keith Henderson, at halfback, spearheaded Pirates' defensive effort at close quarters before Waikohu player-coach and halfback Ra Broughton scored nine minutes into the contest.
In the 15th minute, from an attacking lineout 15 metres from the right corner, human cannonball-cum-hooker Tapu Dixon burst through to score for 12-0.
In the 19th minute, on the right side of the ground, the Buccaneers were unable to tidy up or clear the ball on their goal-line, and Waikohu fetcher Adrian Wyrill pounced.
All three of Waikohu's first-half tries were converted by fullback Ethine Reeves, for 21-0.
Despite what the scoreline may imply, much hard rugby was played by both teams at and around halfway, although Pirates made it into Waikohu's 22 on just three occasions in the first half.
Waikohu put Pirates under pressure at scrum-time throughout the match but the Willie Waitoa-coached Buccaneers never buckled or lost a tighthead. The penalty count was 10-7 to Pirates, the scrum-count was 13-9 their way, and of completed lineouts, they won 9-6.
In the 26th minute, Pirates' lineout — in which Williamson Maraki switched from 4 to 2, changing places with second-row partner Wharerau — worked a treat. Athletic big man Maraki seized upon the flat throw and then stormed down the right touch over halfway.
Pirates had a new weapon.
Waikohu led 21-0 at the break but Pirates' accuracy and ability to execute at the lineout bore fruit seven minutes after the resumption when, 10m out from the right corner, they ran the Wharerau-Maraki move again. This time, Maraki scored from it.
First five-eighth Jacob Leaf converted to make it 21-7.
Waikohu scored three second-half tries.
Having done duty by his core roles, tighthead prop Toru Noanoa was rewarded for his mobility and effort — in support of Dixon — with a try in the 56th minute. That try, the team's fourth, earned Waikohu a bonus point.
Smith's cross-field bomb 75 minutes in was scooped up by powerful reserve right wing Te Mana Barbarich, whose try was converted by Smith for 33-7.
Waikohu fullback Reeves, who — like teammate Wyrill and Pirates' Will Bolingford — has remarkable strength and tackle-breaking ability, scored in the 78th minute to make it 38-7. His try marked the only time Waikohu got outside Pirates to score.
Ra Broughton had an incident-filled game. Three minutes before halftime, he was fighting to break the tackle of Pirates blindside flanker Paora Mullany, in the 69th minute he was shown the yellow card by referee Mark Greene, and throughout he showed himself to be a tough competitor. He wants his team to keep their feet on the ground.
“We'll try not to think about leading the competition and just take it one game at a time,” he said.
“We're proud of what was a good effort, but we need to tidy up a few areas.”
Willie Waitoa gave his player-of-the-day award to the Pirates back row (Mullany, Koro Miringaorangi and Bolingford) and also gave a level-headed take on the game.
“Waikohu had the wind in the first half; they played a good territorial game and were clinical,” he said.
“We had parity at set-piece and mauled well in patches. We're just working on combinations with our backs — that takes time.”
Referee Greene, in his eighth season with the whistle, made his premier debut at the weekend having controlled Senior 1 fixtures last season.
“I played and coached the game, and I still like to keep fit,” he said.
“I expected physicality — both Waikohu and Pirates wanted to play positive rugby, and did. It was a pleasure to be out there.”
