"Probably just looking at the boys, not that we should use it as an excuse ... These boys have worked hard probably since January, so maybe the toll on that is coming now. It's probably back to the blackboard and probably restructure."
Ormond was certain his team could pick themselves up and keep motivated.
"That's the challenge of a good team; to come back after setbacks. As long as we are learning from our mistakes and learning from a loss. That's the thing with this competition pretty much, week in and week out games are 50/50.
"We've got Te Puke [next], so we've got a hard run from now and that's the test. Sure we've had a good start [to the season] but we haven't really been tested and that showed today."
Whaka used their forwards to great effect, shutting down Rotoiti at the breakdown. The visitors were constantly guilty of hitting the ruck and mauls in bad body positions, leaving themselves open to being either held up in the maul or the ball being turned over.
Two of the hardest workers for Whaka were hooker Trent Sweeney and openside flanker Liam Coleman. Both were rewarded with Sweeney grabbing a brace of tries and Coleman on hand to finish off a typical Whaka try - which started deep inside their own half and went through several pairs of hands before he scored.
Whaka first-five Tyson Ripia kicked four from six attempts.
Rotoiti's points came from a penalty kick from Taki Cunningham and a late in the second half try from Cory Marsters which was converted by Quade Langeveldt.
Whakarewarewa captain Doug Edwards said he was pleased with his team's effort.
"I'm really happy with the boys, especially from our forwards. I thought they got up real well, got us some good go-forward ball and the backs just did what we had to do. It was a real team performance everyone played for everyone and I'm real proud of them."
Edwards said the game wasn't action-packed like the last time the two sides met, but he was happy to win.
"We talked about trying to run better lines this time. I think [Rotoiti] knew we were going to go wide, that's our game and I thought we strategically ran good lines to suck them back in and then go wide and I think that worked for us. It threw them off a bit."
Te Puke stand alone at the top of the Baywide points table after another strong performance against Rangataua.
Te Puke smashed the visitors 90-16 at Murray Salt Stadium. After leading 47-9 at halftime, Te Puke continue their assault on the goalline in the second 40, running in 14 touchdowns. Nathan Harris led the way with three tries with Rameka Poihipi, Sipa Moi Moi, Gideon Uelese and Nick McCashin grabbing two tries apiece.
McCashin kicked ten conversions, which took his season tally to more than 120 points in just five games. The Rangataua points came from a try to Marshall McLeod and three penalties and the conversion slotted by Daiyu Isimori.
A real cliffhanger took place in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, where Opotiki held on for a 26-25 victory. Tauranga Sports were too good for Greerton Marist, winning 49-3. Mount Maunganui ran in eight tries in defeating Waikite 64-14 with Zane Butler grabbing a hat-trick. Mount kicker Matt Golding was in good form with a try, six conversions and four penalties.
