It wasn't a totally convincing performance but Wairarapa-Bush can still take heart from their 29-18 win over Horowhenua-Kapiti in the representative rugby match played at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday.
As the first serious hit-out for both sides leading into the 2012 Heartland championship the need to try out new combinations was always likely to mean structures would not be as precise and efficient as they should be a couple of months further down the track.
However, nobody could quibble at the physicality of the exchanges or the intent of the two teams to play a brand of rugby which kept a continually growing crowd entertained, the match being the entree to the Super 15 fixture between the Hurricanes and the Rebels.
It was very much the classic game of two halves, Wairarapa-Bush dominating the first and going to the break with a commanding 26-3 advantage and Horowhenua-Kapiti being equally dominant in the second, adding 15 points to their tally over that period while conceding just three.
It is worth noting though, the bulk of those Horowhenua-Kapiti points came when Wairarapa-Bush were down to 14 men, having lost replacement hooker Richard Puddy to the sin bin.
Wairarapa-Bush scored three tries inside the opening 40 minutes, and all of them were well-worked affairs.
Three Byron Karaitiana penalties had given them a 9-0 lead before flanker Johan Van Vliet joined his backs on attack and dummied his way past a couple of would-be defenders for the try. Then Van Vliet's fellow loosie James Goodger made it try two in similar circumstances and Karaitiana's sideline conversion gave his side a 21-0 advantage. Right on halftime Wairarapa-Bush increased the lead to 26-3 when the ball was moved wide after a series of drives by the forwards and winger Nathan Hunt dived over in the corner.
A Karaitiana dropped goal early in the second half put Wairarapa-Bush 29-3 in front but any thoughts of a massive winning margin soon dissipated as a rejuvenated Horowhenua-Kapiti struck back strongly.
Nothing impressed more about the Wairarapa-Bush forward effort, especially in the first half, than their counter rucking with several turnovers being made through the power and unity displayed in that area. Front rowers Wilba Davies, Jamie Hunt and Kurt Simmonds led the way there.
The set piece play of scrum and lineout was generally solid and both Van Vliet and Goodger enhanced their reputations with busy displays in the loose.
Perhaps the most disconcerting feature of the forward play was the number of penalties awarded against them at the breakdowns.
Wairarapa-Bush backs had a mixed day. They never managed the fluency one would like to see but, individually, there were glimpses of class from the likes of Matt O'Connor at halfback, Karaitiana at first-five, Tapaga Isaac at second-five and speedy newcomer Hunt on the wing.