"It's better to be one and one with the likes of Havelock North and Tech to come. Had we been 0 and 2 there would have been too much pressure in our quest to reach the top four," he added.
Locks Roger McPherson and Michael Allardice were inspirational in the Pirate pack as the visitors recovered from a 15-3 halftime deficit. Captain and first five-eighth Aayden Clarke directed his troops well.
Second five-eighth Nathan Ramsay and lock Reon Watts were the pick of the Taradale players. It wasn't the result Taradale wanted on their club day. It was also openside flanker Paul "Tank" Robinson's 50th game and fullback Manihera Eden's 20th birthday.
Clive 16 Tamatea 5
Clive registered their first victory in eight outings with this upset at Farndon Park.
Flankers Daniel Chamberlain and James Tango led the host pack by example and halfback Daniel Montaperto was the best in the winning backline.
Tamatea were below strength with the likes of Chiefs hooker Hika Elliot, Samoa World Cup Sevens player Tom Iosefo, lock Peleti Oli and experienced loosie Henare Harris all unavailable after playing in the previous week's upset.
Workaholic No8 Hamiora Rowlands and prop Richard Eagle toiled tirelessly in the losing pack and winger Mika Mika was thirsty for work in the Tamatea backline.
NOBM 16 Tech 12
Eighteen-year-old openside flanker Sean Watts produced a player-of-the-match performance as Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist enhanced their reputation as serious semifinal contenders with this Park Island victory.
Former Magpies second five-eighth Sam Giddens and rookie hooker Laulu Ta'a were others to shine in the win. Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical's best were No8 Levi Guildford, prop Mark Braidwood and winger Brian Tareha.
MAC 20 Hastings Rugby and Sports 18
MAC fullback J'ndre Liebenberg kicked all four of his attempts at goal in a tricky wind during this victory at Flaxmere's Ron Giorgi Park.
Liebenberg joined openside flanker Louie Tovo and hooker Jesse MacDonald as the best of the hosts as MAC joined Havelock North as the only unbeaten sides in the competition. IMS Payroll Hastings Rugby and Sports co-coach Aaron Bartlett pointed out it was a good tight tussle as the score indicated.
"It took us half an hour to get our hands on the ball," Bartlett said. He believed they could have won had the ball not fallen over in the wind "as Luke was following through when attempting a late penalty", he said, referring to his first five-eighth Luke Makris.
Lock Danya Tulou, loosie George Crichton and second five-eighth Ausage Fomai all featured on Bartlett's MVP list after a match well controlled by referee Marty Hantz. The victory capped a memorable day for MAC as earlier their other two senior teams, the premier reserves and division three side, had also recorded close wins.
Havelock 54 Central 19
"Perhaps I should stop putting sleeping pills in the boys water at halftime," Central manager Tony Lepelaars quipped after this loss at Waipukurau's Central Park.
Once again he struggled to come up with an excuse for another woeful second half from his troops, who held Progressive Meats Havelock North to 19-all at halftime. In his 102nd outing for Central, winger Mark Donald scored three tries in the first half. He almost had a fourth and joined halfback Braydon Hardwidge and lock Lance Baker as the hosts' best.
Captain for the day and No8 Zane Rangi, with loosehead prop Brendon Edmonds, had high work rates in the villagers' pack while winger Johnny Robin was enterprising out wide.
