Let's be honest ... an outstanding display for the Hawke's Bay Saracens rugby team against Wairarapa Bush yesterday won't guarantee a player a Mitre 10 Cup contract.
Hawke's Bay's top premier club team, Napier Old Boys Marist, would have beaten the Bush. However, the majority of players involved in yesterday's 40-7 victory at Napier's Park Island proved they could be a fringe player in the Magpies Mitre 10 Cup squad this season or sometime within the next three if required.
At least 25 players, including 11 Super players who will be on the Magpies books this year and four Baby Blacks, were unavailable for the Saracens team which was selected from the Magpies wider training group. In case you weren't at the game and are questioning the scoreline compared with the 50-point-plus winning margins produced in recent seasons against the Bush, take into account the difficult underfoot conditions.
For most of the game the Saracens struggled to get out of second gear and this played into the visitors' hands.
"It was frustrating. Our players would go to step and slip over. At the same time you have to adjust to that and they will take some learnings from that," Saracens co-coach and Magpies assistant coach Mark Ozich said.
"The effort was good in what were trying times. We didn't have many trainings together and there were some first-time combinations out there. We also left some points out there though loose carries and turnovers."
Ozich also had every right to be concerned about the 15 penalties his troops conceded,
two more than they were awarded by one of the Bay's best refs, Stu Catley.
As one would expect the Saracens forwards were dominant at set-piece time. In addition to ticking off their core roles, props Mark Braidwood and Paulo Nu'u made numerous carries like they have been in the Bay's club competition.
Substitute prop Mason Kean was also impressive in all aspects of play. Captain Ben Hamelink (original captain Josh Eden Whaitiri was a late withdrawal through injury) and fellow flanker Matt Gardner shone with their link play and huge defensive work rates.
Busy No 8 Joseph Penitito again enhanced his chances of a Magpies recall, after missing last season, with some blockbusting carries and devastating hits. Of yesterday's starting forwards he has to be the closest to a Mitre 10 Cup contract.
Halfback Zac Donaldson distributed well and shone with his option-taking. First five-eighth Ash Robinson-Bartlett proved he could be a handy backup to Blues pivot Ihaia West and Baby Black Tiaan Falcon.
Second five-eighth Cole Eru produced some outstanding defensive work and carried well despite appearing not to have the appropriate sprigs for the occasion. Centre Hayden Hann was classy in all aspects of play and again proved he will be a handy backup should injuries hit the likes of Jonah Lowe and Richard Buckman.
Winger Shannan Chase and fullback Tamati Samuels were both thirsty for work on attack and full of enterprise. The other starting winger, Naua Uaisele, had a couple of fumbles in general play as well as when he took the ball into the contact area.
He was also guilty of taking on contact on a couple of occasions when he should have passed to outside players who were in the clear.
All of the Wairarapa Bush players deserve praise for their tenacious defensive work particularly during the second quarter and for a 19-minute period in the second half when the Saracens were unable to score. Like the Saracens the Bush were having their first hit-out.
"I'm pretty happy with how competitive we were in our first hit-out. The Bay have put more than 50 points on us in recent games so that decision to take out players out of club rugby on Saturday paid off," Wairarapa Bush head coach Joe Harwood said afterwards.
Several of his players were playing their first games for the Bush. They included two 18-year-olds substitutes in hooker Ryan Hargood and halfback Bryan Arnold,
"We've still got plenty of work-ons particularly at the breakdown and around strengthening our set-piece play. There's a bit more improvement to come but I was happy with the impact of the bench."
The Saracens next game will be in four weeks against the Manawatu Evergreens. The Wairarapa Bush players will also have a month of club rugby focus before assembling again to start their buildup to the Heartland Championship.
Scorers:
Hawke's Bay Saracens 40 (Ash Robinson-Bartlett, Nick Hyde, Paulo Nu'u, Tamati Samuels, Tom Iosefo, Dan McIntyre tries; Robinson-Bartlett 4, Tianua Poto cons), Wairarapa Bush 7 (Epeli Rayaqayaqa try; Tipene Haira con). HT: 21-0.