University Pirates keep unbeaten run going with tight win over South Darwin in Darwin A-grade rugby competition

UNIVERSITY Pirates came from behind to win 19-17 in a tight encounter against South Darwin to take out the President’s Cup and secure their spot nine-points clear of their closest rivals atop the table

University Pirates powered through to beat their closest rivals South Darwin in the President’s Cup. Picture: Glenn Campbell

UNIVERSITY Pirates came from behind to win 19-17 in a tight encounter against South Darwin to take out the President’s Cup and secure their spot nine-points clear of their closest rivals atop the table.

As such the Pirates remain unbeaten with two rounds left to play of the Darwin A-grade rugby regular season but player-coach Robbie Butcher knows that his side cannot let complacency set in.

With the President’s Cup for grabs a tight encounter was expected between the two top sides so far in this year’s competition.

Both sides matched up fairly closely in the opening half with only a Vincent Mehn penalty for Souths splitting the sides.

The Bunnies kicked into gear early in the second half with two quick tries including off the back of a scrum for ex-Fijian sevens superstar Setefano Cakaunivalu seeing the scorline jump to 17-0.

OTHER NT SPORT STORIES

Bunnies all fired up for Pirate raid

University capitalise on opening try spree for nail-biting finish

Dragons, Bunnies play out thrilling draw in NRL NT A-grade

But the game would soon turn in Pirates’ favour with repeat infringments seeing their opposition drop to 13 men.

The undermanned side defending valiantly before Butcher pulled his side onto the scoreboard with 15 minutes left to play.

University fronted up through the forwards while Liam Murray-Walker and Butcher caused problems through the middle of the field.

Soon after Pirate’s captain would score from a five-metre lineout bringing the game to within a score with Butcher crossing over once again after finding a gap in the limited Rabbitohs’ defence.

But Butcher maintains that his side still needs to focus on their process of building a composed and patient brand of rugby.

“We always knew that would a tight, eighty-minute battle with whoever could grind it out the longest,” Butcher told the NT News.

“The first half was definitely tit for tat though our discipline and decision making let us down which is what we managed to improve on in the second half.

“We’re focusing on building our composure, patience, discipline and smart decision making and with those we won’t need to play an exciting brand of footy all the time.

“It’s good to get the wins but its all for that premiership and to do that we need to be that consistent at our game.”

LIMITED TIME: New NT News subscription offer: $1 a week for the first 12 weeks

Meanwhile reigning premiers Darwin Dragons pulled off a 36-20 win over Palmerston Crocs at Moulden Oval with Brayden Cunningham scoring two tries.