But they got a mounting penalty count from referee Gordon Ririnui, which was compounded when reserve lock Sam Madams got sinbinned for a foolish obstruction with Pirates hot on attack.
In the experiment of trying fullback Fraser Middleton at first-five, it certainly reaped benefits for his defence in the first line against the big Pirates ballrunners, but late in the piece some crucial spilled passes hurt the country club.
Middleton and halfback Lindsay Horrocks both got close to the line late in the piece as Pirates reserve forward I'a Isopo was binned, finally scoring through reserve prop Jareth Hawea with two minutes left.
But in a microcosm of their day, Border's desperate attempt at another score in injury time for a bonus point saw the ball spilled right beside the posts, and Etuati took off with no-one in cooee to score a popular length-of-the field try.
"He's a class act," said coach Phillip Morris.
Border coach Ross Williams was frustrated that playing a city side strong enough to win without help, his team had played a part in their own demise.
"We couldn't get a roll-on because we made mistakes."
On defence and with ball in hand, Pirates flankers Faalafi Vave and Brad Matthews had strong starts, until the latter was slowed after a hard tackle on Border winger Sikeli Ulukuta, as Pirates trapped the visitors down deep with winger Motoi Alaifea being forced out at the corner flag twice.
No8 Manulua Lafi opened the scoring with a penalty, while Border looked to Latu to steal them back some ball at scrum time.
Slowly, Border started to get some traction and spent the final 10 minutes of the half in striking distance, with Middleton nearly jinking his way over before Ulukuta levelled the scores with a penalty.
But Pirates started to gain ascendancy as Denning Tyrell fed Mow and centre Kameli Kuruyabaki on the burst, Mow grabbing his first try beside the posts five minutes after resumption.
Ulukuta replied with another penalty after good leadup work from No8 Ray Stark, , but Pirates' backline was starting to find the gaps.
They got in position for Lafi to pop over two more penalties, the latter following Madams knocking the ball out of Pirates halfback Ricky Boniface's hands before a tap kick.
The match was seemingly sealed with 11 minutes left as speedy winger Clive Stowers dashed away, followed by Tyrell and Kuruyabaki, before reserve Timoci Ului got free on the far side to feed Mow who dashed back under the posts.
Border wouldn't go away as Pirates missed touch on some clearing kicks, with Horrocks still probing and second-five Andy Hamilton finding a late burst of energy.
Hawea followed up a drive by Latu to the line to force his way over with two minutes left, but Border's kick conversion and desperate final attack only cost seven points at the other end through Etuati.
Integrity Motors Pirates 28 (Johnny Mow 2, Samu Etuati tries, Manulua Lafi 3 pen, 2 con) bt Waverley Harvesting Border 13 (Jareth Hawea try, Sikeli Ulukuta 2 pen, con). HT: 3-all.
