Rugby: Super test chance to tweak ITM template

They won one and lost the other but it goes without saying the Hawke's Bay wider training squad came away much wiser for the experience from Palmerston North last night.

Hawke's Bay Magpies coach Craig Philpott, in helping out the Hurricanes during their brief dormancy in the Super Rugby campaign while the international calendar kicked in, also relished trying some of his prospects before the ITM Cup season starts in August.

"Obviously it was a bit more apples with apples in the first one," Philpott said after his men beat their Wellington Lions counterparts 21-12 in the first 40-minute match of the annual quadrangular scrimmage that the Manawatu Rugby Union organised.

Napier Old Boys' Marist winger Liam Edwards, Hastings Rugby and Sports prop Jason Long and Havelock North fullback Ryan Tongia claimed a try each with Edwards converting them all in the 6.50pm kick-off.

Philpott emphasised a lion's share of his players did not have ITM Cup contractual obligations so it was an opportune time for them to display their skills and versatility.

He lauded the dexterity of Tongia, adding the fullback had built a solid platform on the heels of sublime premier club footy in the past two weeks or so.

"Jason Long looked good too. He scrummaged well and carried the ball well before finishing a good try, feeding off [lock] Mike Allardice who offloaded the ball to him," Philpott said.

It was a different kettle of fish in the 7.40pm kick-off against the Hurricanes, who are on the cusp of making it to the Super Rugby playoffs.

"In our second 40-minute game against the Hurricanes, they had 36 minutes of it," said an amused Philpott but on a serious note emphasising the gulf between the professional and the two-tiered national provincial championship athletes.

"The boys played well and and we defended but it was 26-nil after just the first 17 minutes," Philpott said, pleased his players kept the Canes scoreless for the next 15 minutes before the floodgates opened again.

Needless to say, the Bay players relished an outdoor opportunity to experiment against quality opposition on the foundation of a training regime that began early this year, albeit mostly indoors.

"They played against guys like Ardie Savea, Brad Shiels and Jeremy Thrush who are All Blacks."

He was happy to be able to tweak the Magpies template.