Shoremen Are Left Stranded By Pirates

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday July 9, 2001

David Sygall

Pirates co-coach Brian Melrose would like to apologise to West Harbour supporters: he is sorry for any medical ailments fans may have suffered this season, such as heart conditions caused by stress through following the fluctuating fortunes of the brash but erratic squad he commands.

``It must be hard for the spectators following us," he admitted yesterday after the Pirates 48-34 defeat of competition leaders Northern Suburbs at Waratah Rugby Stadium on Saturday.

West Harbour, who at season's start looked likely to end mid-ladder, have surpassed expectations and, with four rounds left to the finals, are carving out a notch in fourth spot.

Yet this has come in an often thrilling but sometimes chilling style. Saturday's win completed the Pirates' quinella over the Shoremen, being only the second time in 14 games Norths have lost.

Wests, too, had earlier managed a famous victory over ominous Sydney University and when Southern Districts headed the rest they had the Rebels walk the plank to the tune of 70-23.

But while the Pirates' main men, like powerhouse representative back-rowers Des Tuiavii and Fili Finau, wingers Tai Glassie, Pierre Hola and fullback Marshall Milroy, have exploded at times, some of Wests' less glorious moments have left coaches and fans reaching for a collective pace-maker. For example, in round 10 Wests led struggling Manly 24-0 only to fold and concede five tries to steal defeat from victory's jaws, 38-36.

``This team is mostly young and inexperienced," Melrose said. ``They are exciting and full of enthusiasm, which makes my job easier. But I think they suffer from naivete. We tend to have patches of scoring points and playing really well, but then the opposition often comes back."

Although Wests led throughout the match against Norths, 17-3 at one stage, Melrose said: ``But there were times our concentration lapsed and we let Norths back into the game. We could have played better."

Despite Wests' effervescent inconsistency, Melrose believes the closeness of the competition might open the door for the Pirates to sneak through. ``We're definitely in contention," he said.

Next weekend, Wests play Eastern Suburbs, who lost to lowly Gordon at Woollahra Oval, 31-22, Julian Huxley scoring all the Highlander points, while another pivot to lead his side in was Southern Districts' Daniel Parks with 29 points, including two tries, in the 39-19 win over Manly.

In seven days, Randwick hooker Adam Freier has been on three losing sides: Australia under-21s (to New Zealand u-21s), Brumbies (Lions) and the Galloping Greens, 39-16 at home to Warringah.

Penrith's winning run continued when they beat Parramatta 26-15 at Nepean Rugby Park, but the Students were unconvincing in their 26-23 win over Eastwood.

© 2001 Sydney Morning Herald

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