Pirate coach Andy Lord was another who didn't anticipate the one-sided result.
"We were gunning for a win. We'll be wiser going into the Maddison round now," he said.
Among his best were flanker Hamish Willis, locks Matt Brown and Mike Albert, halfback Jonathan Ruru and winger Ted Symes.
-Tech 25 Havelock 22
Thirty-five minutes before kick off in this Anderson Park encounter Progressive Meats Havelock North first five-eighth J'ndre Liebenberg got the call.
His wife Samantha was going into labour. Liebenberg dashed away and their daughter was born on Saturday night.
Ten minutes after Liebenberg left the villagers' halfback Issac Paewai withdrew with a leg injury collected in the warm up. Havelock manager Conrad Waitoa said these withdrawals were a key factor in the unsettled first half by the hosts.
After trailing 19-3 at halftime, the villagers did well in the second spell but the damage had been done. Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical manager Cyril Whitburn said his troops were rapt to get an away win against the Maddison Trophy holders.
Flanker Trent Boswell-Wakefield, No8 Nathan Pulega and prop Mark Braidwood were prominent in the Tech pack. Flanker Zane Rangi and No8 Luke Ottley again had huge workrates in the Havelock pack while Junior Armstrong was enterprising in the halfback and wing positions.
-Clive 20 MAC 8
It's a big call but K9 Petfoods Clive coach Andy Green was happy to make it after this Flaxmere Park win, his team's second of the season.
"Our loose forward trio is the best in the comp," Green said referring to flankers James Tango and Jesse Tuhua and No8 Rocky Pohatu.
Captain and hooker Jorian Tangaere and centre Jonah Lowe were others to impress.
MAC coach Anthony Morley said his forwards were "out passioned" and some tweaked combinations failed to fire. He ranked prop Mason Kean, captain and first five-eighth Tom Iosefo and fullback Jason Kereti as the best for the hosts.
Green acknowledged the absence of regular MAC captain Everard Reid made things easier for his team.
-NOBM 23 Hastings 20
A last-minute try to Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist fullback Matt Goodwin proved the difference in this Park Island match.
Centre Mark Collier, in his first outing since the 2013 Maddison Trophy final, Goodwin and second five-eighth Migao Lauano were all dangerous in the winning backline. Lock Fergus McCool was inspirational in the NOBM pack as the hosts secured second place on the points table.
Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports co-coach Karl Jones said this was yet another occasion when his troops were unable to finish off one of the top teams. Prop Jason Long, hooker Tivaini Fomai and flanker-lock George Crichton all battled effectively in the visitors' engine room. Fullback Star Timu was the pick of the Hastings backs.
-Central 17 Tamatea 0
Northfuels Central coach Exham Wichman heaped kudos on winless Tamatea after this Bill Mathewson Park victory.
"It was only during the final 20 minutes we were able to play some rugby and get on top ... Tamatea played well," Wichman said.
Fullback Cole Eru, second five-eighth Lee Stewart and winger Kody Lancaster were enterprising in the visiting backline and No8 Jason Cutbush was a workaholic in the winning pack. Tamatea coach Tane Cooper agreed it was one of his team's better displays and he was confident things will improve during the Maddison Trophy comp.
His midfield combo of Henare Harris and Jason Robinson functioned well and No8 Fred Jackson was the pick of the Tamatea forwards.
