The Wanganui TCOB had genuine excuses for going down 7-0 to Marist in the first game of the Manawatu Hockey league men's division one season on Saturday.
With coach Russell Burgess away it was left to player Callum Wilbur to stand-in for a side seriously depleted in numbers.
"We hadfour players away at the Under-18 central trials in Palmerston North and one up in Auckland at the World Masters Games," Wilbur said.
"In fact, we have struggled to get numbers for a while so we've not had any pre-season games where Marist had. No practice and five main players away made it really difficult for us. Although is saying that we had 13 available on Saturday, so out numbers must be picking up."
According to Hockey Wanganui chief executive Kylie Penn, the match at Gonville Domain Whanganui was the only Manawatu league match to be played at the weekend.
"Apparently, water pipes burst at Twin Turfs in Palmerston North and flooded the pitches. The TCOB/Marist game was the only one played of any divisions," Penn said.
The flooding did not affect the Under-18 trials which were held in Napier.
The Wanganui women playing in the Manawatu league sat out the bye.
