"Gutted with the loss but happy with the improvement."
These were the words of Hawke's Bay's under-19 rugby team's manager Mike Smith after yesterday's 35-33 loss to Tasman at their national tournament in Taupo. Smith said his troops displayed vast improvement on Sunday's 90-0 loss to Bay of Plenty.
"We were more urgent on defence and showed more character as a team. We led 21-15 at halftime. With seven minutes remaining Tasman kicked a penalty to take the lead and then shut up shop after that."
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Magpies loosie Devan Flanders was a late withdrawal from yesterday's game as he was taken to Hamilton for tonight's Ranfurly Shield challenge as a backup in case Gareth Evans is forced out of the Magpies with his eye injury. In his absence Havelock North clubmate Jacob Stephenson was outstanding at No 8.