Some may question Hawke's Bay Tuis women's rugby coach Tom Blake's optimism in the wake of Saturday's 55-7 loss to Auckland at Park Island, Napier.
But when one considers a more experienced Tuis outfit was walloped 93-0 by Auckland last year Blake had every right tobe buoyant after the NPC first round clash.
"We will be going into next week's game against Otago in good heart. I was very pleased with the outing," Blake said.
The Auckland side boasted 10 internationals, including a Black Ferns frontrow of captain and hooker Fiao'o Fa'amausili and props Aleisha Nelson and Aldora Itunu. Former Tuis openside flanker Lydia Crossman and halfback Kiritapu Demant were other classy operators for the national champions.
"Their pack was huge. But our girls stuck to it ... we had defensive lapses and while they beat us on the outside with superior pace they never beat us up the middle," Blake said.
The fact Hawke's Bay had 14 players for 10 minutes made their effort more commendable. Lock Turuhira McIlroy was unlucky to be sinbinned for attempting to kick the ball out of an Auckland player's hands.
Former Black Fern Amy Williams scored a try and kicked a conversion for the hosts. Williams joined winger Felicity Powdrell as the pick of the Bay backs.
Hooker Forne Burkin was the Tuis player-of-the-match. She had a massive workrate, forced three turnovers and took a tighthead.
The Tuis loose forward trio of No8 Te Aroha Hunt, who may be in doubt for the Dunedin trip with an ankle injury, captain Laurae Blake and fellow flanker Naomi Hunt again enjoyed dominant patches.
