One to forget from Magpies in Albany
Should the Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby side retain the Ranfurly Shield on Friday night today's debacle, a 46-10 loss to North Harbour, at Albany will be forgotten.
Magpies head coach Mark Ozich and his staff took the opportunity to give many of their first stringers a well deserved rest in the countdown to Friday night's shield defence against Northland at Napier's McLean Park. Ozich also used today's fifth round Mitre 10 Cup crossover match as an opportunity for his second stringers to stake a claim for berths in the top 23 going forward.
Outside back Neria Fomai was the only one of the starting second stringers to put his hand up but he is still likely to miss out ... such is the depth in the Magpies top 23. But considering the quality throughout the extended squad the visitors should have at least secured a bonus point or two today.
They will be disappointed they didn't. If they miss out on a home semifinal because of today's display they will only have themselves to blame.
Twenty five turnovers conceded is unacceptable at this level. So were the seven missed tackles by the 46th minute mark.
One pleasing aspect of the Magpies display were the seven lineouts won against the throw. Openside flanker Brendon O'Connor had a huge workrate in his 50th first class match for the Magpies.
Loosehead prop Jason Long won't forget his 50th in a hurry. He was sinbinned.
Magpies blindside flanker Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, who scored the visitors only try, had a powerful game against a side which included his twin brother Antonio at second five-eighth.
Former All Black lock Bryn Evans had a huge defensive workrate in his first outing of the season and like his brother, No 8 Gareth Evans, read the Harbour lineout throws well.
It was a cohesive effort from the Harbour side with winger Jared Page, first five-eighth Bryn Gatland and prop Nic Mayhew prominent.
Ozich agreed it was a disappointing performance from his troops. While also agreed Fomai made the most of his opportunities as a starter substitute loosie Solomone Funaki also performed well.
The unluckiest player in the squad injury-wise, centre Sam McNicol, collected a knee injury in his first outing of the season and first match since round one last year for the Magpies.
"It was a disappointing display. It will help ground everybody when we get back to work. The boys were a bit off mentally and that will help sharpen us up again," Ozich added.
Match highlights:
Heartstopper: When Magpies prop Jason Long was sinbinned in the 47th minute. At that stage the visitors trailed by 12 points and were playing into a strong wind. Fortunately the Magpies only conceded three points while he was on the sideline.
Turning point: When Harbour winger Jared Page completed his hattrick in the 38th minute to put the hosts ahead 22-10. The Magpies were never going to recover from this deficit.
Player of the match: Page. An exceptional display to have his hattrick before the interval. Harbour prop Nic Mayhew wasn't far behind him.
Scorers: North Harbour 46 (Jared Page 3, Dillon Hunt, Murphy Taramai, Bryn Gatland, Tomas Aoake tries; Gatland 4 cons, pen), Hawke's Bay Magpies 10 (Marino Mikaele-Tu'u try; Connor McLeod con, pen). HT: 22-10.
