Rugby: Flogging 'due to murky rules'

Hawke's Bay Magpies assistant coach Danny Lee.

Take a look at the score, 59-0, ... it isn't a misprint.

"Yes it was a horrific and embarrassing night for us," Hawke's Bay Magpies assistant coach Danny Lee said as he reflected on the Hawke's Bay Saracens 59-0 drubbing from the Manawatu Evergreens at Palmerston North's Central Energy Trust Stadium last night.

"While the weather conditions were atrocious the Evergreens handled them superbly. We couldn't control the ball and gave away too many penalties," Lee lamented.

With 14 of the Magpies wider training group unavailable with injuries Lee fielded a young and inexperienced squad and for the majority it was a massive step up and an eye opener. Another contributing factor was the fact the match was played under the new domestic laws which will be trialled during the Mitre 10 Cup.

"Manawatu has played under these rules during the club rugby season. We haven't been and we were behind the eight ball from the start particularly around the tackled ball area and at the break down," Lee said.

"We didn't use them during the club season because there is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding their future and we couldn't get an indication from the New Zealand union how they are going to be refereed. Fortunately we've got three more pre-season games to get used to them.

"We're not hitting the panic buttons ... we just have to adapt as quickly as possible."

"Realistically we put a lot of young players in a tough position. But it was good for them in a different way," Lee added.

The Evergreens led 31-0 at halftime after scoring five tries, three of which were converted. The hosts ran in four tries, all of which were converted, during the second spell.

One of the highlights for the Saracens was the fact they kept the Evergreens scoreless for the entire third quarter. Another was the impact Napier Technical prop Tolu Fahamokioa and loosie Joseph Penitito provided off the subs bench.

Fahamokioa's defensive work matched the quality of his carries. Penitito wasn't in the squad named for the match, travelled as the 27th player and made the most of his game time.

Penitito's Napier Old Boys Marist clubmate and fellow loosie Matt Gardner was taken to Palmerston North Hospital with a suspected broken arm. Hastings Rugby and Sports lock Sanaila Waqa left the field with a sprained ankle.

The Magpies next pre-season fixture will be on July 30, also against Manawatu in Palmerston North. Expect numerous changes for that match and a different score.