Pirates upset Highlanders with bonus point win
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Saturday, 16 August 2008
NSWRU Media Unit
West Harbour has returned to form with come-from-behind victory over Gordon which gets their 2008 title aspirations back on track.
The Pirates celebrate victory.
The Pirates celebrate victory. [2008 Tooheys New Shute Shield Round 20 - West Harbour v Gordon]
Ofa Fainga'anuku makes a break down the right flank.
Ofa Fainga'anuku makes a break down the right flank. [2008 Tooheys New Shute Shield Round 20 - West Harbour v Gordon]
Clyde Rathbone scored a double for Easts against Parramatta.
Clyde Rathbone scored a double for Easts against Parramatta. [2008 Tooheys New Shute Shield Round 20 - Parramatta v Eastern Suburbs]
Parramatta prop Matt Toli.
Parramatta prop Matt Toli. [2008 Tooheys New Shute Shield Round 20 - Parramatta v Eastern Suburbs]
The Pirates' important bonus point victory gives them an eight-point buffer over seventh-placed Eastwood.
Randwick, Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood and Manly all recorded bonus point victories, while Sydney University will play the final match of Round 20 under lights tonight against Warringah..
WEST HARBOUR V GORDON at Concord Oval
West Harbour has recovered from an eight-point half-time deficit to record a 26-20 victory over Gordon at Concord Oval.
The Pirates scored 14 points with 14 men at the start of the second half to record the upset of Round 20, scoring a bonus point along the way.
Lester Salanoa opened the scoring with an intercept try in the third minute which Ben Martin converted for a 7-0 advantage early on.
Gordon had the best of the opening quarter of the match but couldn't trouble the scorers, typified by a forward pass in the 20th minute when a try was begging.
Shortly after however the Pirates were penalised at close range and Dave Harvey reduced the margin to four.
The Highlanders maintained the pressure and after spreading the ball back and forth across the field, Paulie Tuala set sail on a 20m run to the line.
Harvey's pulled the conversion attempt leaving Gordon with a one-point advantage.
Two penalties in as many minutes left Nick Reily lucky to stay on the paddock, however the piggy-back downfield allowed the Highlanders' forwards to lay the platform for their second try, scored by Billy Rainima from close range.
Harvey's conversion extended the lead to 15-7, and Craig Thomas seemed to have touched down of a fumbled ball in the 38th minute, however the referee ruled the Pirates to have grounded the ball.
Off the ensuing play Wests were again penalised, and Isaiah Pine was shown a yellow card for repeated infringements. Gordon took the scrum as the siren sounded but the Highlanders were unable to extend their eight-point lead.
There was a feeling the floodgates may open for Gordon in the second half, however West Harbour began in the best fashion possible with Steve Massey crossing under the posts after just 80 seconds.
Martin's conversion from in front returned the margin to just one with the side still down to 14 men.
In the fourth minute the Pirates extended the defence again, and David Tautaiolefue cruised in for another try under the black dot.
Martin's conversion saw West Harbour turn their eight-point half-time deficit into a 21-15 advantage.
A long range penalty attempt from Martin in the 48th minute went wide, and Pine returned just after the kick, meaning the Pirates had scored 14 unanswered points with only 14 men.
Gordon regained their composure and after Mark Preston sent away Sisa Waqa and Dan Thomas, he then backed up from on the deck to score Gordon's third try.
Harvey's conversion drifted wide leaving the Pirates the narrowest of leads, 21-20.
The narrow lead didn't send West Harbour into their shells, rather they cranked up the excitement. A great in-field kick with no room from Dave Paurini bounced into the shin of Massey who kicked forward and touched down for his second try.
Martin's sideline conversion went wide giving the Pirates a 26-20 lead after 62 minutes and a bonus point in the bag.
As the final quarter of the match wound down both teams were very willing and aggressive at the breakdown. However the Highlanders could not breach the Pirates line and when Gordon conceded a penalty at close range in the dying stages the match seemed over.
However with 30 seconds remaining Martin's attempt drifted wide allowing Gordon one final attack. The Pirates showed good composure to remain safe and wind down the clock wrapping up an important victory.
Gordon secured a bonus point, however are now just three points clear of Randwick in the race to second and a week off at the start of the semifinals.
West Harbour 26 (Steve Massey 2, Lester Salanoa, David Tautaiolefue tries; Ben Martin 3 cons) d Gordon 20 (Paulie Tuala, Billy Rainima tries; Dave Harvey con, pen) at Concord Oval. Half-time: Gordon 15-7. Referee: Julian Pritchard
PARRAMATTA V EASTERN SUBURBS at Two Blues Park
Eastern Suburbs have continued their strong form with a 39-22 victory over Parramatta at Two Blues Park.
The Beasts ran in six tries to three to earn a bonus point, with Clyde Rathbone bagging an impressive double.
Parramatta are now mathematically out of the race for the top six, while Easts could still finish as high as second if results fall their way.
Eastern Suburbs 39 (Clyde Rathbone 2, Richard Stanford, Matt Toomua, Anthony Faingaa, Gavin Debartolo tries; Anthony Faingaa con, Gavin Debartolo con) d Parramatta 22 (Winney Paulo, Junior Kolikata, Brian Sefanaia tries; Tom Woods 2 cons, pen) at Two Blues Park. Half-time: Eastern Suburbs 17-3. Referee: Daniel Cheever.
MANLY V PENRITH at Manly Oval
Manly have kept their slim playoff chances alive with a 33-10 victory over Penrith at Manly Oval.
The Marlins scored five tries to one and remain ten points out of sixth, meaning any points to West Harbour over the final two weeks will kill their finals aspirations.
Penrith were totally outclassed by Manly, however Eastwood's victory means the Emus are now safe from the wooden spoon in 2008.
Manly 33 (Elvis Taione, Mark Fisher, Luke Johnson, Lupini Siale, Issaac Tremmel tries; Adam D'Arcy 4 cons) v Penrith 10 (Nick Richardson try; Jeremy Su'a con, pen) at Manly Oval. Half-time: Manly 14-3. Referee: Roberta Barnett.
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS V EASTWOOD at Forshaw Rugby Park
Eastwood remain an outside chance of featuring in the 2008 Shute Shield finals series following an impressive 62-24 victory over Southern Districts at Forshaw Rugby Park.
Josh Holmes scored three tries while Rowan Kellam bagged a double in the ten-tries-to-four victory.
Holmes' hat-trick takes him to 14 for the season and fifth on the tryscorers list, however the Woods will be relying on Penrith defeating West Harbour next week to keep their finals chances alive.
Eastwood 62 (Josh Holmes 3, Rowan Kellam 2, Hugh Perrett, Filipo Toala, Tim Cocoran, Ben Batger, Chris Donnelly tries; Ben Batger 6 cons) d Southern Districts 24 (James McCormack, Terry Autagavia, Ben Long, Nic Henderson tries; Michael Black 2 cons) at Forshaw Rugby Park. Half-time: Eastwood 29-14. Referee: George Ayoub.
RANDWICK V NORTHERN SUBURBS at Coogee Oval
Randwick have returned to the winners' circle with a 54-32 victory over Northern Suburbs at Coogee Oval.
Bernie Orbell and Morgan Turinui each scored two tries for the Wicks who now sit three points behind Gordon in third place on the ladder.
Dan Watson-Wood touched down twice for the Shoremen who earned a bonus point from their four tries.
Randwick 54 (Bernie Orbell 2, Morgan Turinui 2, Ratu Nasigaviyavi, Stephen Hoiles, Rodney Voullaire tries; Tim Walsh 4 pens, 2 cons, drop) d Northern Suburbs 32 (Dan Watson-Wood 2, Al Manning, Corey Brown tries; Chris Burnett 3 cons, 2 pens) at Coogee Oval. Half-time: Randwick 19-10. Referee: James Scholtens.
Sydney University play Warringah at 7:30pm tonight.