Hastings Rugby and Sports coach Aaron Bartlett said: "We didn't see that coming. It's better to happen now than in the semifinals ... I'm confident we can bounce back."
Bartlett agreed his player were too loose and guilty of kicking too much ball back to the lethal Havelock North outside backs including fullback Gillies Kaka and winger Shannan Chase.
It was a case of sweet revenge for the visitors, who had lost the Challenge Trophy to Hastings Rugby and Sports when beaten 30-25 in their only loss of the season back in May. Halfback Isaac Paewai scored two of Havelock's seven tries as he relished the dominance of his pack.
Hastings captain and openside flanker Tivaini Fomai, fellow loosie George Crichton and halfback Adam Ross had some memorable moments for the hosts but there will have to be more of these moments from the entire squad if they are to win their home semifinal against Taradale this weekend.
MAC 20 Napier Pirates 8
Retiring MAC head coach Anthony Morley got the perfect send-off with this win at Flaxmere's Ron Giorgi Park.
"I couldn't have asked more. This is the first time we've beaten Pirates in the three years I've been coaching," Morley said.
Morley will have a spell from coaching next year and intends coaching an MAC colts side in 2014.
Hooker Jesse MacDonald and blindside flanker Everard Reid were inspirational in the host pack. Fullback Mose Fa'afua was again classy and regular openside flanker Willie Benson operated well at centre for MAC. Substitute lock Joe Clarke and No8 Sam Green were tireless workers in the Pirates pack. First five-eighth Aayden Clarke was another to make manager Murray Kennedy's MVP list.
NOBM 20 Central 15
With their semifinal hopes dashed, Napier Old Boys Marist coach Mike Warren found it tough to motivate his players for this Waipukurau encounter.
"Basically we were playing for self pride and we managed to get there after a good battle up front," said Warren.
Retiring Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist halfback Sam Bradnock produced a player-of-the-match performance. Lock Josh Wyatt and prop Mitch Alcock were tireless workers in the visiting pack. "We were unlucky not to get the win. It was a good team effort from us," Central assistant coach Mike Kupa said.
Busy prop Andrew Martin and blindside flanker Sam Bishop were prominent in the Central pack while second five-eighth Lee Stewart was the pick of the backs.
Taradale 41 Clive 12
Winger Manihera Eden grabbed a hat-trick as Taradale secured their semifinal berth with this win at Farndon Park.
Carters Frame and Truss Taradale led 26-0 at halftime and outscored their hosts seven tries to two. However manager Paul Atkins pointed out the visitors didn't perform to their potential.
"It could have been a bit better," Atkins said before singling out lock Johan Schoonbee, No8 Kieran Coll and prop James Humphries as the best of the visitors.
Long-serving Clive blindside flanker Sam Christie deserved a better result in his 200th appearance for the side. He kicked the host's only conversion and joined Hurricanes flanker Karl Lowe and former Crusaders prop Pete Borlase as the pick of the Clive players.
Napier Tech 53 Tamatea 12
Regular Napier Technical fullback Tamati Samuels switched to first five-eighth and won player-of-the-match honours in this victory at Bill Mathewson Park.
"It's the first time he's played there this season and he did a good job. We've got so many injuries at the moment ... I even had to play the last 10 minutes," Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical coach and former Chiefs and Magpies prop David Briggs said.
Former Blues hooker Ash Dixon operated well in both the hooking and propping roles. Lock Levi Guildford, a former New Zealand Secondary Schools No8 and Jamie Muir, who had stints at flanker and hooker, also impressed in the Tech pack.
Openside flanker BJ Bland again battled above his weight for Tamatea. Lock Peleti Oli also shone in the host pack and centre Pene Paselio was the best of the Tamatea backs.
