Difficult underfoot conditions at Napier's Park Island made things tough for the Hawke's Bay Saracens rugby team during today's 40-7 win against Wairarapa Bush.
While they did well to run in six tries they were unable to change out of second gear. This played into the hands of the visitors particularly when they were on defence for long periods like during the second quarter when they kept the Saracens, a selection of players from the Magpies wider training group, scorless during the second quarter.
"It was frustrating. The boys would go to step and slip over. You've got to adjust to that and they will be able to take some learnings from that," Saracens co-coach and Magpies assistant coach Mark Ozich said.
The Saracens led 21-0 at halftime. Taradale hooker Nick Hyde scored from a lineout drive in the fifth minute and Tamatea first five-eighth Ash Robinson-Bartlett kicked the conversion.
Three minutes later Napier Technical fullback and All Black Sevens rep Tamati Samuels scored after busy Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports centre Hayden Hann sliced through the defence and made a clever unload.