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.