"I think I was down seven players from last weekend with the flu, so a lot of our reserve grade guys had to play and they went out there and played with a lot of heart," he said.
"It was 16-all at one stage in the second half and we just tried to step it up another level."
He said their fullback Scotty Evans had a big game to help them win the match.
"Scott Evans - our prop, fullback, second rower, winger - he had a dynamic game and ran hard and tackled hard all game."
He said another standout was winger Zac Gardner who was playing his first league game in six years, after returning from Perth.
Davis said they would just focus on building for the playoffs now and had a tough match next weekend against league-leaders Pacific in Tokoroa.
In perhaps the biggest game of the weekend, the top two sides on the premier ladder met in Taupo.
Taupo Phoenix recorded their first win this season over league leaders Pacific 32-28, showing they are real contenders this year to win the competition.
Pacific have lost two of their last three games, which will give coach Paniora Daniels a few concerns. In the other premier game, the Otumoetai Eels were too strong for an under-manned Ngongotaha Chiefs side winning 38-22 in Tauranga.
- Premier ladder: Pacific 20, Taupo 18, Otumoetai 14, Pikiao 11, Mangakino 6, Ngongotaha 3.
