The rejuvenated forward pack handed Pirates a get out of jail card, in its nail-biting 35-32 win over Kaikorai at Bishopscourt today.
Kaikorai were all over Pirates in the first half, running in three converted tries through some superb back play and running rugby.
But reinforcements from the bench gave punch to the Pirates pack with Motu Hutch, Hisa Sasagi and Paul Miller putting in some with some powerful drives, and rolling mauls.
A last gasp penalty goal by Ben Miller gave Pirates the narrow win and kept them in second place on the points table.
No 8 Andrew Stead played a dominant role to help Southern beat Green Island 27-5 to stay on top of the table.
Southern leads the Gallaway Trophy competition with 65 points and is followed by Pirates 49, Taieri 48, Dunedin 41, Alhambra-Union 32, Green Island 28, University A 27, Kaikorai 25, Harbour 26, Zingari-Richmond 0.
Dunedin is safely in fourth spot and can almost certainly claim a semi-finals spot when it scored six tries to beat Varsity A 47-19.
Taieri went on a scoring spree in the second spell to score six tries to beat Alhambra-Union 42-17.
Harbour retained the Scoles Memorial Trophy when they beat Zingari-Richmond 25-10.
The leading points scorers are: Peter Breen (Alhambra-Union) 145, Liam Edwards (Dunedin) 142, Glenn Dickson (Pirates) 137, Cam Rutherford (Kaikorai) 127, Andrew Reid (Taieri) 118, Tony Fenner (Southern) 106, Tom Halse (University A) 90.
TAIERI............................................42
ALHAMBRA-UNION......................17
Taieri 42 (Matt O'Sullivan, James Kenny, Charlie O'Connell, Steve Green, Mike Kerr 2, Andrew Reid tries; Shaun Young 2 con, pen), Alhambra-Union 17 (Matt Dalley 2 tries; Peter Breen 2 con, pen). Halftime: Taieri 8-7.
Referee: Adam Morrison.
DUNEDIN........................................47
UNIVERSITY A...............................19
Dunedin 47 (Ashton Tuck, Sione Pulu, Mark Atkins 2, Hugh Blake, Richard Thompson tries; Louis Tili 4 con, 3 pen), University A 19 (Anton Hones 2, Harry Pankhurst tries; Stephen Fenemore 2 con). Halftime: Dunedin 35-7.
Referee: Liam Scanlon.
HARBOUR......................................25
ZINGARI-RICHMOND.......................10
Harbour 25 (Craig Sneddon 2, Rema Smith, Angus Duckett tries; Lance Taylor con, pen), Zingari-Richmond 10 (Chris Bell 2 tries). Halftime: Harbour 12-0.
Referee: Dave Kennedy.
PIRATES.....................................35
KAIKORAI.................................32
Pirates 35 (Hemi Davis (2), Shaun McCarroll (2), Motu Hutch tries; Tim McCormack 1 pen; Ben Miller 2 con, 1 pen), Kaikorai 32 (Tony Ensor (2), Logan Moore, Jye Cormack tries; Cam Rutherford 3 con, 1 pen; Matt Te-Tana dropped goal). Halftime: Kaikorai 24-10.
Referee: Todd Pullar.
SOUTHERN...................................27
GREEN ISLAND............................5
Southern 27 (Harry Uffindell, Greg Zampach, Sam Crompton, Warren Moffat tries; Hamish Buick 2 con, pen), Green Island 5 (Frankie Elisara try). Halftime: Southern 8-5.
Referee: Hamish Davies.