Pirate manager Charles Reid had every right to be proud of the competitive effort the hosts produced particularly in the first half when they trailed 15-10.
"NOBM were much fitter and got us out wide in the second half."
Centre Hayden Hann was again the pick of the Pirate backs. Captain and No 8 Aaron McPhee and lock Tama Cahill were prominent in the host pack.
Havelock North 19 Tech 8
Progressive Meats Havelock North celebrated their club day by securing second place with this Anderson Park victory.
"Considering we were seventh earlier in the comp this was a top effort. Our defence was awesome and our scrum was excellent," the elated villagers statistician Conrad Waitoa said.
"We knew it was going to be one of those tough forward struggles in these difficult weather conditions and the boys responded. In saying that we almost scored a 100 metre try," he added.
Blindside flanker Jonty Strong had a massive workrate for the hosts and was accurate at lineout time. Hooker Chad Harris was busy in his 50th game and 19-year-old lock Tyler Symons- Burke had his best outing of the season.
"We had our chances but we dropped a lot of ball," Altherm Window Systems Napier Technical manager Cyril Whitburn said.
Powerful No 8 Kaleb Sweet and captain and loosehead prop Mark Braidwood provided plenty of grunt for the Texans pack. Second five-eighth Tane McGuire was the best of the visitors' backs.
Hastings 39 MAC 12
Poor discipline from MAC allowed Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports to capture third place in convincing fashion with this Flaxmere Park romp.
After trailing 8-7 at halftime MAC were on the receiving end of a barrage of red and yellow cards from referee Carl Jowsey in the second. At one stage the hosts were down to 11 players after receiving three yellows and a red and for the last 10 minutes they played with 13 after a further two reds.
Hastings co-manager James Rosenberg was impressed with the visitors' dominant scrum and tactical kicking which enabled them to build pressure. Openside flanker Fale Matamata and captain and loosehead prop Jason Long led the visiting pack by example and second five-eighth Luke Rosvall was always a threat on the carry and a rock on defence.
Hooker Amiga Mikaele and No 8 Harlan Solomon shone with their never-say-die approach in the MAC engine room. Centre Samu Iosua had his best display of the season in the hosts' backline.
Taradale 32 Clive 17
Japanese winger Seiyu Kohara grabbed a hattrick during his Carters Frame and Truss Taradale side's win at Tareha Reserve.
He joined Magpies midfield back Billy Ropiha as the best of the hosts' backs. Lock Angus McKnight and No 8 Ramiha Smiler were key architects in the Taradale pack.
K9 Petfoods Clive head coach and former Taradale mentor Blair Cross said the game was closer than the score reflected. Taradale led 25-17 going into the final 15 minutes.
Japanese No 8 Yuki Nakamura busted the advantage line well on the carry for the visitors. Captain Jorian Tangaere, who had stints at prop and hooker, and Rana Huata, who had shifts at lock and prop, were full of authority at confrontation time.
Central 37 Tamatea 21
Both teams produced entertaining rugby considering the difficult weather conditions in this Waipukurau encounter.
Blindside flanker Tomo Fogarty was classy in all aspects of play for Northfuels Central. Lock Wilbur Redward was a workaholic and first five-eighth Cole Eru again controlled the tempo well.
Tamatea's tighthead prop Mason Kean again enhanced his chances of Magpies selection. Flanker Jamie Muir was another to shine in the visiting pack and centre Joel Mihaka was the best of the Tamatea backs for the second consecutive week.
