Robinson makes habit of hat-tricks in Pirates’ raid

UNIVERSITY captain Wayne Robinson scored his second hat-trick in as many weeks to help the Pirates to a 48-10 win over Palmerston last night.

Coming off a five-star performance against Swampdogs last start in the NTRU premiership, the flanker once again led the way for University who continued their impressive opening to season at Moulden Oval.

Robinson got the ball rolling for the visitors.

He beat his way through the Crocs defence from close range to give the visitors the early advantage after eight minutes.

The Pirates went in again only five minutes later.

Crocs’ fullback Bryah Booth made a clearing kick off his the own line, but the Palmerston chase was stagnated.

It allowed Shaun Wauchope to bust through, run away and score.

Robinson zoomed over for his first soon after, and when Hugh Harbeck strolled in again for University it was 22-3 with 10 minutes of the first stanza still remaining.

The Pirates’ concentration lapsed, allowing the home side back into the contest. A poor pass saw Brock Evans snatch an intercept to score.

However, Uni returned after the break and once again took control when they gained possession in favourable territory.

It didn’t take them long to find the line, this time it was the big frame of Matt Vitucci who crashed over.

They sealed the game with 20 minutes to go. A shift to the right caught the Crocs defence short and Isaac Tauleli tiptoed down the sideline to score.

Robinson claimed his third soon after, before Ryan Oakley put the icing on the cake with his own five-pointer.