"We should have won by more. Our shooting wasn't what it should be - around 80 to 90 per cent," she lamented but reconciled that with the possibility that her troops were perhaps struggling to stay focused as the game ran away from the Kauri.
While her team did not opt for the 30-second injury rule Kupa-Petera found the eight-minute halftime break didn't sit too well for her side.
"I'm not keen on that. It's okay for the ANZ [Championship] teams who are full on but it's not for us, I don't think," she said although she felt it might be more appropriate for when the top teams clash.
The intensity wasn't high enough in the opening round and with winter looming Kupa-Petera felt her players would cool down even faster.
"We don't want to lose the momentum and just want to get back on the court, really."
She felt wing defence Rebecca Kupa and goal defence Claire McGettigan operated like a pulley and rope in carrying the defensive load.
Wing attack Chanay Peri and the coach's daughter, Parris Petera, 13, who slipped on the bib from halftime were pivotal in providing the much-needed impetus in the boiler room.
HHSOG Huias coach Rebecca Martin also felt her players took a while to get into the grind before surging to a 16-7 lead in the first spell, 30-15 in the second before the 45-23 statement in the third.
"We were trailing in the first half of the first quarter," said Martin who resort to a flurry of halftime changes to exacerbate the bedding in phase in trying to nut out her combinations.
"We were not going to lose the game because we were always in control."
Martin named defender Raewyn Parahi her player of the day.
"She was strong, read the game well and was solid in her intercepts."
Huias shot at 74 per cent while Outkast had the best for the night at 81 per cent.
She lauded goal shoot Emma Vennell as well as WA/centre Jade Poi and goal attack Hannah Winnie for working in tandem.
All In coach Charissa Barham said they started slowly (11-8), led 28-14 at the break but Central (53 per cent shooting) fought back in the third quarter although they led 37-23.
Her shooters were at 73 per cent and goal attack Etana Luki, 13, impressed when injected in the third spell.
"She got balls in for shots and was strong with it," said Barham, delighted to play for 60 minutes last night as opposed to the grading games that went for 40.
The opening got a big tick of approval as well.
"Playing from outside to inside is different. The game moves faster inside because there's confidence to move the ball and there's concrete outside."
Char Wilkins assumed the mantle of captaincy for All In last night because co-skipper Rhandall Tualafata was sick.
All In are bracing themselves for a different style of play from the Huias in the next round.
The jovial coach said she was tempted to look at Otane on the next court but feared she wouldn't sleep well although wasn't surprised with their dominance.
Central coach Jeanette Oliver was happy with her team, saying they would improve progressively considering 90 per cent of them hadn't played at that level.
"We're going to build from there so if we make the top four we'll be pretty happy," said Oliver.
She singled out midcourters Jasmine Primmer and Keryn Marshall for helping establish a modicum of cohesiveness in their game.
