"I wasn't actually there last night. I play in a Palmerston North league and was at training, but I'm told it was a pretty ugly game on our behalf with the girls feeling they didn't produce their best," Cross said yesterday.
"We are new to the level and we have a young team with the majority under 25. We are still working on our combinations and I'm trying to give everyone game time. It's early days yet though."
Meanwhile, Kaiwhaiki coach Tiriana Smith conceded her girls were also still trying to find their feet early in the season.
"We just failed to fire the way we wanted to. Taihape brought it and played well, but the combinations we were trialling just didn't come off," Smith said.
"We want a top four, top two finish in the competition and continue to improve."
Wanganui Athletic Sports have yet to hit their straps, with the team still hampered by illness and that may have been a telling factor in their 47-45 loss to Phillips Electrical Wanganui High School.
WA Sports coach Trish Anstis said having a few new players, some combinations were taking time to click.
"That's probably why we have had poor starts to our game thus far. I'm happy with the progress of the girls, unfortunately we have had two close losses,' Anstis said.
"We managed to win the 2nd and 4th quarters but unfortunately, whenever we levelled with WHS, they managed to pull away again, just keeping their heads in front.
"Credit to WHS, they are a very fit team, and they weather the storm. Hayley Addenbrooke, and Victoria Anstis put in a power of work, and Julie Rowan had a strong game at GK."
A tummy bug has hit some players who have soldiered on and although Anstis refused to use that as an excuse, it could explain under par performances in the first two matches.
WHS coach Lisa Murphy was pleased with the result, albeit a narrow victory.
"The girls did well even though I was missing my goal keep," Murphy said.
"Young Year 10 student Kristen Thompson stepped in and played an absolutely awesome game, combining well with Kahurangi Sturmey (GD).
"They put pressure on the attack. They are a young team and I'm very happy with the way they are going."
Training For You Mere Te Aroha struggled early against Mint Cafe Marist but, once they found their rhythm, scooted away for a 39-33 win.
MTA are new to the competition, but are made up of vastly experienced players mixed with a smattering of younger girls, so much is expected of them this season.
The blowout game was the 89-18 trashing Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau meted out to a mostly stand-in Cullinane side.
Most of the senior Cullinane players were away on a geography field trip, forcing coach Te Ora Nyman to send in the junior ranks.
"It wasn't about the scoreline to me as coach, it was all about how I could utilise what I had to work with. It was a great opportunity to put some of the juniors a bit of experience at this level." Nyman said.
"We got a hiding, but that's what you would expect from a team like Kaierau (defending champions). I am more than happy with the job the young girls did. Year 9 girl Maze Thompson-Koro went in as goal attack and ended as goal shoot and she was really nervous, but she did a a great job."
