Nothing but praise for Magpies in 45-0 loss

SHANE HURNDELL
Nobody seriously expected the Magpies would beat Canterbury, but when skipper Mutu Ngarimu led his troops on to the field at McLean Park, Napier, last night, the roar of support from the home crowd of 10,500 could almost have been heard in Hastings.
Canterbury's former All Black rugby prop Campbell Johnstone had nothing but praise for the Magpies after last night's Air New Zealand Cup opener.
"They shouldn't be disheartened. They came out and really took it to us," former Magpie Johnstone said after playing a rampant role in Canterbury's 45-0 win. "They're a new team at this level and I believe they're a couple of weeks away from being a strong side at this level," said the Lindisfarne College product who played two games for the Bay six years ago as a loan player.
"Their front row did well and Magpies coach Brendon Ratcliffe can be proud of what he has done with the whole forward pack," said Johnstone, who scored a try just as he did in the last match between the two provinces won 76-14 by Canterbury three years ago.
New Hawke's Bay prop and Canterbury age group product Christian Pera, who is training to be a secondary school teacher, admitted the host pack got a lesson from some of his former provincial and club teammates.
"That was a nice steep learning curve out there tonight. But it's just great to be given the opportunity to play at this level," said Pera, 23, who would have been lucky to have been rated in the top six props if he stayed in Canterbury this season.
"I was prepared to wait a season or two for my chance down there but then the opportunity to come to the Bay came up," said Pera ,who travels to Christchurch every week for studies.
"I was propping against one of my former clubmates in Wyatt Crockett who was alongside former All Blacks Campbell Johnstone and Corey Flynn in the front row ... their organisation was superb and something we have to aspire to," Pera said.
However it wasn't all about lessons for the Magpies. They produced some promising patches of play and were unlucky not to score on a couple of occasions. The Magpies sole a penalty attempt at goal from fullback Donovan Nepia, who impressed in general play, but just missed.
Former All Black halfback Danny Lee had a high workrate for the hosts. His option-taking was spot on and his service tidy considering the pressure his pack was often under.
Flanker Michael Johnson and lock Lua Lokotui again proved they can take on the country's best at this level.
First five eighth Stephen Brett was a classy operator in the Canterbury backline and he set up two clever tries for second five-eighth Cameron McIntyre who tortured the Magpies from the pivot role three years ago.
Fullback Ben Blair landed all seven of his attempt at goal for the visitors. Former All Black No.8 Mose Tuiali'i featured in several powerful bursts and deserved his two tries.
Magpies coach Brendon Ratcliffe said last night's result was an indication of the workload ahead for his troops.
"We were up against one of the best provincial sides in the world and that's the standard we must aspire to," he said. "We were rapt with the crowd and hopefully it won't be too long before we give them something they're proud of," he added.
"Look around and you'll find they have turned up to support the Magpies. We couldn't have asked for more," Hawke's bay Rugby Football Union chief executive officer Mike Bishop said from the sideline.
"A couple of tries would have been nice," Bishop said with a laugh.
The fans went away home satisfied the Magpies will perform better once the big boys of the Air New Zealand Cup are out of the way.
Scorers: Canterbury 45 (Cameron McIntyre 2, Mose Tuiali'i 2, Stephen Brett, Campbell Johnstone tries; Ben Blair 6 cons, pen), Hawke's Bay 0. HT: 24-0.