That is not to say Hastings didn't feel the rub of the green could have gone Rovers' way, at times, but that would be clutching at straws in the face of overwhelming evidence of an opposition who ooze talent that more often than not culminates into a sublime passing game.
Sean Morris slotted a penalty kick past goalkeeper Shaun Peta in the 21st minute to draw first blood.
Michael Fraser than delivered a double blow for Western Suburbs after halftime within the space of five minutes - 60th and 63rd - to put the visitors out of their misery.
"They are flipping quality. They have a string of New Zealand Under-20 men so they have quality all over the park," Hastings said, adding the Blues didn't really get much of a look and a spate of injuries to their defenders didn't help their cause.
"Everyone gave it their best and we started well for the first 10 to 15 minutes and got a few free-kicks in but that was it."
The penalty-kick goal to the hosts he preferred to put down "seen them given some days and not given on other days".
"At halftime we went in 1-0 down when we could have been in a better position.
"We battled really hard but we've come back without any points."
Hastings lauded Napier Boys' High School defender Bayley Chadderton in just his second game but felt to be up against national age-group class was a tough ask.
"No doubt, they were better than us in passing and movement but not necessarily in defence."
Surburbs coach Lloyd O'Keefe, who returned from a business trip to Singapore just an hour before the 2.30pm kick-off, said they also were missing four pivotal players.
"The Rovers competed really well but we were very strong and could easily have been 5-0 up at halftime.
"In fact, I can't remember the Rovers threatening our goal except from a couple of set pieces," O'Keefe said.
The hosts have New Zealand Under-20 representatives in Hawke's Bay-born Tom Biss, who made his Wellington Phoenix debut last summer in the A-League, Jessie Edge and Ryan Thomas.
Alex Rufer, the son of coach Shane Rufer, was unavailable, attending the national under-17 representative camp in Auckland, which Rovers striker Fane Morgan joined yesterday.
"We have the youngest side in the league. Our oldest player is 23 and the youngest is 16," O'Keefe said, adding their goalkeeper, Mitchell Stewart-Hill, should also be in the national under-20 matrix.
"He's from Gisborne, attending Massey University here but he's flying under the radar because he's a classy player."
Western Surburbs leapfrogged to third position on the league ladder above Wairarapa United, who were playing their match yesterday, although O'Keefe thought they would probably retain their position on a marginally better goal average.
The Rovers host Tawa, who they pipped 1-0 away on May 4, at the Bluewater Stadium , Park Island, in a 2pm kick-off this Sunday.
