He had a huge workrate and became the fifth weekly winner as the battle to become the 2017 holder of the McDonalds-Hawke's Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year award continued.
"We had a hard game and put in a poor team performance ... we were lucky to win. Pirates did well for a team with a number of new players and it was good to get four points off them," Baker said.
A former Napier Technical premier player, Baker, is in his second season with the Taradale premiers.
He played most of his age group rugby with the Eskview club.
The former hooker, No 8 and blindside flanker has decided to make the openside flanker role his focus in the wake of last season's regular Taradale No 7 Kaleb Whakataka's decision to switch to the midfield this season.
"I want to make it my own position."
A former member of the Magpies wider training group and former Hawke's Bay under-19 and under-18 rep, Baker, said he hasn't set himself any representative goals for the immediate future.
"I want to help Taradale do well in the Maddison Trophy round particularly after missing out in the final last year. Club rugby and my apprenticeship ... those are my priorities."
He agreed with the talk around the province which suggests Taradale will be a force once all the first stringers on their injury list return to action.
"We'll have a pretty good squad then but I don't want to talk us up too much."
He is rapt with the manner in which Japanese imports, winger Seiyu Kohara and first five-eighth Yoshihito Sato, who kicked the winning penalty at the weekend, has fitted into the squad.
"They just need a bit of English speaking training," Baker said with a laugh.
He ranked Napier Old Boys Marist's Chris Johnston as the toughest openside he has marked in Hawke's Bay premier rugby to date.
"Chris is a massive player."
When Baker isn't at work, training or playing rugby he will more than likely be found hunting.
"It keeps me fit and is my favourite hobby."
Expect Baker's team to record another win, and this time by 20, when they host bottom-of-the-table MAC at Tareha Reserve on Saturday.
Altherm Window Systems Napier Technical should return to the winning path when they host Pirate at Whitmore Park, Progressive Meats Havelock North should beat Northfuels Central by 19 at Anderson Park, K9 Petfoods Clive should beat Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports by seven at Elwood Park and Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist are capable of a 29-point victory against Tamatea at Bill Mathewson Park.
Best & fairest:
Taradale v Pirate: 3, Jacob Baker (Taradale); 2, Billy Ropiha (Taradale); 1, Jesse Kapene (Pirate).
NOBM v Tech: 3, Hannon Brighouse (NOBM); 2, Trent Boswell-Wakefield (Tech); 1, Ellery Wilson (NOBM).
Hastings v Tamatea: 3, Luke Rosvall (Hastings); 2, Ash Robinson-Bartlett (Tamatea); 1, Ausage Fomai (Hastings).
Havelock North v MAC: 3, Jesse Paewai (Havelock North); 2, Phil McRoberts (Havelock North); 1, Dan Snee (Havelock North).
Clive v Central: 3, Lucas Goodin (Clive); 2, Jason Cutbush (Central); 1, Josh Eden-Whaitiri (Clive).
Leaderboard: 7 points: Jesse Paewai (Havelock North). 6: Isaiah Martin, Kaleb Sweet (both Tech). 5: Hayden Hann (Pirate). 4: Hannon Brighouse (NOBM), Jonah Lowe (Clive), Fale Matamata (Hastings).
