Starr blitz sees Pirates sail home

CONRAD Starr’s four try performance provided the spark for Pirates as they accounted for Walcha 53-31 in a high-scoring, and at times scrappy, affair at Ken Chillingworth Oval on Saturday.

Both sides had flashes of brilliance but were their own worst enemies at other times.

The first half was a real arm-wrestle with the two sides trading points.

The second half started off in the same vane with Starr and Rams half-back Soni Halanukonaka both scoring their seconds to make it a five point game with just over 20 minutes to go.

But Pirates were too good in the end, Starr fittingly brushing off four or five defenders to put the polish on the win with only a couple of minutes remaining.

It was just their second win but was still laden with errors. They probably made more than they had in their three previous games, coach Andrew Verrell said.

The Rams were equally guilty.

Pirates’ first try came from a Rams mistake, Garrett Doughty grubbering through a loose ball after a set play went array.

Fullback Pete Young managed to scramble back and clean up but Pirates had too many numbers and turned the ball over, and a couple of passes later Starr went over for his first.

The Rams responded through the boot of Simon Newton and had the chance not long after to hit the front but Newton was off target.

Pirates pushed their advantage back out to nine points minutes later with Jack Shelton going over after Pirates went the short option from a lineout and Andrew Wynne found himself in some open space.

Halanukonaka closed the gap again, dummying from a ruck about 20 out and going straight through.

Wynne and Rams outside centre Eddie Cordingly both also got their names on the scoresheet in the first half, a late Sam Collins penalty putting Pirates up 22-17 at the break.

The Rams’ defence was tested early in the second half with Pirates peppering their line for around 12 phases.

But they couldn’t find a way through and eventually knocked on.

It was testament to both the Rams defence and one of Pirates problems. They generally lacked a bit of punch in attack.

“We were fine when we’d get wider of the ruck and get a bit of space,” Verrell said.

“But in and around the rucks we were fairly ineffective.” 

The Rams were pretty “ordinary” in the first half, co-coach Barry Hoy said, but showed in the second half why teams fear them.

“They can play football. They’ve just got to play for 80,” Hoy said.

Part of their problem on Saturday was they only had two subs and didn’t have the legs to go with Pirates in that last 20.