With three minutes remaining, YMP sealed the victory and denied Enterprise Cars OBM a bonus point with a try to hooker and man of the match Shayde Skudder, with Whaitiri-White adding the two points.
Whaitiri-White gave YMP an early lead with a penalty in the third minute, then kicked a superb sideline conversion after Fairlie finished off a move involving Skudder, fullback Jacob Leaf and openside flanker Willis Tamatea in the 30th minute.
OBM hit back with penalties to their No.10 and skipper Jake Holmes in the 35rd and 38th minutes as the teams headed to the break with YMP ahead 10-6.
It could have been more but for some courageous defending from slightly-built fullback Dean Pohatu, son of former OBM and Poverty Bay forward Mana Pohatu.
Pohatu came up trumps on several occasions, fielding high kicks despite getting hammered by YMP’s big men. He also saved a certain try in the 36th minute.
“We thought that kid in the orange headgear (Pohatu) might have been their weakness but for such a small player he has a big heart,” YMP coach Steve Smith said.
“I was impressed with his bravery.”
Two minutes into the second half Holmes closed the gap with his third penalty.
OBM took the lead five minutes later, courtesy of a try to halfback Willy Grogan, who won his personal battle with his opposite, Quinnton Pari-Collins.
OBM gained possession, position but not pointsFollowing a five-metre lineout, OBM were awarded a penalty by referee Damien Macpherson, who had an excellent game. Grogan took a quick tap and barged his way over the line.
From then until 20 minutes from the end, OBM had possession and position. But they failed to score again.
YMP, who have been starting games well but not lasting the pace this season, surged back on attack and reclaimed the lead with a try to Fairlie. Whaitiri-White caught OBM out with a quick tap before passing to Skudder, who took the ball inside the OBM 22 before being tackled.
Captain and second five-eighth Reihana Wyllie then took up the charge. Again OBM stopped the attack but Wyllie somehow got a pass away to Fairlie, who caught the ball just above his bootlaces and raced around to plant the ball between the posts.
Skudder, second in the race for the end-of-season most valuable player (MVP) award, then made sure he picked up three more points when he showed strength and commitment to score a try in the 77th minute.
Tamatea picked up two points while Fairlie, getting back to his best form, collected one point. Lock Luke Bradley was unlucky not to have secured a point with another solid effort in the tight five.
Bradley is a no-frills player who goes about his work with quiet efficiency . . . and with discipline.
OBM coach Tom Solomon resisted the Gisborne Herald’s rugby reporter’s call to start the game after his impact off the bench ast week.
“It’s about rewarding players who train,” Solomon said. “We’re a young team who are still learning and it was a game we could have won. We had some dominance shortly after the restart and in that middle part but didn’t put points on the board.
“Our prop Lance Dickson was awesome. Te Otene Ria (No.8), Corban Barbara (openside) and Willy (Grogan) showed their class.
“John Jones (second-five) and Scotty McKinley (centre) also had good games.”
YMP 24 (T Peehi Fairlie 2, S Skudder tries; B Whaitiri-White 3 con, pen).
OBM 14 (W Grogan try; J Holmes 3 pen).
HT: 10-6 (YMP).
