Rugby: Rain, injury, hail sting Wasps

Incredibly heavy rain and hail fell - along with a key flanker - during the BoP Wasps' preseason hit-out with the Chiefs and Counties Manukau Cavaliers at Waikato Stadium this week.

The Bay side's second 40-minute match against a strong-looking Cavaliers outfit was an even contest, interrupted by heavy hail that drove the players from the already sodden surface following a five-tries-to-nil loss to the hometown Super Rugby franchise.

The Cavaliers scored two tries to the Wasps' one as both teams opted to use the ball in terrible conditions instead of looking to grind out a result.

Considering the conditions and the limited amount of time available to prepare the side, Steamers coach Kevin Schuler was content with how his charges went.

"In general, I think the boys played with a bit of confidence considering the limited time we've had with the group," said Schuler. "Our guys enjoyed the nature of the game. We had a couple of opportunities to have a crack and made some breaks against the Chiefs in this weather, which is pleasing.

"I'm pretty happy with the boys testing themselves, in the first half particularly, against the Chiefs in the physical area.

"They went far side on us early and caught us out, but we were able to adjust and negate that which was good.

"But the areas they had us were counter-attack, reaction speed to loose ball and height at the breakdown."

The plan had been to play tactically in the wet against the weakened Super 15 champions, but that was modified on the run by pivot Willie Ripia after the side was starved of early possession after enduring the worst possible start.

Flanker Jesse Acton was left lying prone on the ground with a broken leg in the first minute of the first match, putting a dampener on the rest of the action.

"It's pretty sad for Jesse for that to happen that quickly in a game," said Schuler. "We'll wait and see what happens, but it looks pretty ominous."

Young Te Puna halfback Te Aihe Toma, who along with Curtis van der Heyden impressed in the absence of Josh Hall and Chris Miller, said his time spent opposing the Chiefs had been a big eye-opener. "It was pretty intense. It's a big step up from club rugby - the speed of the game and the momentum is so fast."

The setpiece proved a mixed bag, with the combination of Kane Hames, Nathan Harris and Pingi Tala'apitaga getting the hit on the Chiefs scrum a number of times.

The lineout did not fare quite as well, but that is to be expected at this early stage given the conditions.