Pirates fullback Suilagi Lafi takes on his Ngamatapouri opposite Emose Vucago at Spriggens Park on Saturday.
Scrappy, scrapy, scrapy.
That Black Bull Liquor Pirates made it two wins on the trot and Settlers Honey Ngamatapouri proved they can be competitive in Tasman Tanning Premier despite a heavy injury toll were only memorable parts of Pirate's narrow 22-20 victory at Spriggens Park on Saturday.
Those early season issues of stamina, concentration and rule interpretation - the latter also pertaining to the officials - made for a very stop-start and dour match, unlike the attack-orientated affair spectators hoped to see.
Missing influential skipper Reid Belton in the forwards, not to mention the status of Fijians Malakai Volau and Michael Nabuliwaqa still being up in the air, Ngamatapouri brought only a three-player bench while using star back Samu Kubunavanua as a flanker, where admittedly he played well.
Their lineout was a shambles, with hooker Eon Wallace unable to connect with his jumpers, although at scrum time and when contesting the break down they did very well against a home side with more depth and youth.
Pirates started very confidently but soon lost their way, racking up infringements and turning over possession as both teams errors were cancelling the other out as they also began to run out of puff.
The only way either could maintain pressure on the tryline was by having a man advantage, as referee Kawana Tihema binned Pirates first-five Denning Tyrell at the end of the first quarter, and then crucially he produced the yellow card for both Ngamatapouri winger Vili Kuruyabaki and Kubunavanua for high tackles as they came rushing over with last ditch tackles either side of halftime.
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The new laws include the "reckless" dangerous tackle - where the tackler knew they had a risk of making contact with the head or neck but proceeded anyway - yet this raises the problem of how players can stop big, rampaging attacker close to the line if they should not even attempt a ball-and-all upper body hit.
Both squads took advantage of their overlaps with big Ngamatapouri centre Jim Seruwalu scoring a double, as did inspirational Pirates skipper Lasa Ulukuta, who was first man at the breakdown to snatch the ball and burrow over twice.
With Pirates slowing down like they did against Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist, Ngamatapouri were able to get enough field position for first-five Te Tua Kemp to pop over a couple of penalties and close the gap inside the final ten minutes.
But even with their hosts gifting them a lot of turnover ball, the visitors looked unlikely to crack the line, as Pirates desperately raced up on Kemp and the rest of the backline to force spills with time up.
Pirates coach Phillip Morris knew against a more experienced Premier side, this would not have been a winning effort.
"It didn't flow at all, referee didn't help.
"We lacked energy and didn't value the ball. It was a below performance from last week.
"[Even] our own lineout was shocking. That first 30 minutes we didn't look like it, except for the try."
Ngamatapouri manager Gerald Pearce was trying to look for the positives, especially after Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau put 60 points on them in the opening match.
"We have got numbers but too many injuries at the moment.
"We had good practice at lineout. But [Wallace] has come off with a sore head, which he may have had early on.
"The scrum was pushing them off it. People said we wouldn't even get a point in the competition."
Quality play did not improve on Pirates try in the first three minutes as from a scrum on their own 30m, Pirates fullback Suilagi Lafi went blindside and cut through, finding speedy halfback Fa'alele Iosua inside to step the last tackler and score.
Ngamatapouri cut through the malaise that followed when Kubunavanua fed second-five Isi Baleitavuki, who made an excellent offload to Seruwalu to run the angle and dash away.
With Tyrell off, Ngamatapouri got back on attack and worked off some penalties for Baleitavuki to take the tap and find Seruwalu to sweep through for 14-7.
Pirates hit back right on halftime as No8 Tafulu Isaako took on his opposite Bryn Hudson, and Ulukuta followed up outside for the ball to be spread and winger Uaealesi Taumalefau to dive over at the corner post despite Kuruyabaki slamming into his shoulder, which cost him a yellow card.
Ngamatapouri then lost Kubunavanua in similar fashion as he took down Lafi right in front of the posts, and a 13-man side could not hold 15 as Ulukuta took a quick tap and dived over for 17-14.
A Kemp penalty tied the match heading into the final quarter, although it would seem Pirates would have the extra manpower to over run the Taranaki side.
From another penalty tap, Pirates reserve Francis Lauititi drove close and Ulukuta was right on the spot to go again and score with 19 minutes left.
But from here, the home side could not keep control of the pill, while Kemp was able to add another three pointer to take the match down to the wire, although neither side maintained possession long enough to threaten the line again.
Pirates 22 (L Ulukuta 2, F Iosua, U Taumalefau tries; J Ainea con) bt Ngamatapouri 20 (J Seruwalu 2 tries; T Kemp 2 pen, 2 con). HT: 14-12 Ngamatapouri.