DOUBLE ACT: For the second time this season, Pirates winger Clive Stowers scored two tries against Ratana. PHOTO/FILE A_280315WCBRCRUG04
INTEGRITY Motors Pirates could be relieved the Harvey Round Motors Ratana team they faced in the penultimate Tasman Tanning Premier round is only now starting to click into gear for 2015.
The wooden spooners fought the Pirates hard in their 42-25 loss on the Wanganui Racecourse ground by playing a physical spoiler role where they kicked tactically in the early exchanges, so the eager Pirates had to run back at them from long range.
Dropping their shoulders in during the second half, Ratana frustrated Pirates, who ended up giving away a lot of penalties from the whistle of Neville Hopkins.
This was the visitors' best chance because when Pirates could spread the ball accurately they were lethal, scoring back-to-back tries at the start of both halves.
Centre Josia Dawai grabbed a double, while after a stuttering beginning, winger Clive Stowers cut loose for two breakaway five-pointers.
Every Pirates try was under or adjacent to the posts, letting first-five Denning Tyrell maintain a perfect kicking record.
But Ratana did not go away after either lapse, but ground Pirates down in the final quarter as the frustrated home side kept earning the referee's ire, and with all the territory, reserve Isaac Fonotoe smashed his way over and winger Allan Penetito forced the ball in the corner for his own double right on fulltime.
Pirates coach Phillip Morris said that while his team had just set the obvious goal of collecting five competition points from their last two round-robin matches, they need a much more rounded effort if they are to prosper in finals.
"Too loose, didn't stick to our structures, energy levels waved in and out," Morris said. "You get a good set piece tussle with Ratana. There was a few honest words spoken afterwards, they have to make up their minds if they want it or not."
There was better news as Pirates welcomed back their former Steelform Wanganui lock Simon Hillis for his first game after a year out with a broken leg.
With coach Cornel Mason quickly dashing off to play for the Ratana seniors, manager Johno Kaa was happy with their effort, especially in light of the hammering Pirates gave Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau the previous week.
Ratana had fielded some of their senior team players due to some of their bigger forwards being unavailable, which may have actually helped in terms of overall team stamina.
"We finished off positively, that's got to be a plus," said Kaa.
"Fitness wise was a big factor.
"Same old Ratana, trucking along on with what we got."
As Ratana fullback Bernard Matthews started with a kicking duel with opposite Api Karoi, Pirates would spread the ball from their own half, and finally No8 Lasa Ulukuta found the opening down the blindside, drawing the cover and feeding Karoi, who put winger Etuati Emana away.
A few minutes later, Emana, Tyrell, Dawai and halfback Ricky Boniface dealt the ball between them like cards in a fine pop passing display for Dawai to score.
Ratana got field position when winger Marama Penetito defused a midfield chip kick and ran it back, with Pirates penalised and centre Te Tua Kemp landing the kick.
Pirates missed chances to score off cross kicks, but soon got back on the attack, with Tyrell stepping beside the posts and going over for 21-3.
But Ratana would not let the floodgates open as their pack drove through some scrag tackle attempts and the ball was spread to Allan Penetito, who got outside the Pirates cover and dashed away.
Kemp added another penalty right on halftime for 21-11.
Pirates clicked into high gear immediately after the break, as Ulukuta and Denning spread wide to Stowers, who took off and then cut in field untouched on 60m dash to the posts.
His team went right back at it and after prop Tololi Moala went close to the line, the ball went out to Dawai to step across for his double.
But from 35-11, Pirates could no longer get territory as Ratana hit hard in the tackle, leading to several cases of jersey-waltzing, while Hopkins caught them out for hands in the ruck or going off their feet.
Taking several penalty lineouts, Ratana finally got through when Fonotoe drove to the line, but play went on for several phases before the touch judge confirmed the try was scored.
Pirates immediately hit back as reserve Urealasi Taumaletua made a probing run after Ratana dropped the ball, and found Stowers, who again ran under the bar.
But the match then slowed right down due to the physical hits, as Ratana's pack strove for an opening, and finally got through right on fulltime with Penetito leaping through a tackle to score right at the flag, before converting himself from the touchline.
- Pirates 42 (Josia Dawai 2, Clive Stowers 2, Etuati Emana, Denning Tyrell tries, Tyrell 6 con) Ratana 25 (Allan Penetito 2, Isaac Fonotoe tries, Te Tua Kemp 2 pen, con, Penetito con). HT: 21-11.