Indiscipline was a major factor in Ngongotaha Chiefs' 50-6 loss to Otumoetai Eels at Puketawhero Park yesterday.
"It is what it is, it happens," said Chiefs coach Jason Walker. "It just showed how bad our discipline actually is and we need to sort it out. We played with 12 or11 players for most of the second half."
Walker had some sympathy for his players who were frustrated by calls seemingly not going their way.
"You can get frustrated, but at the end of the day, you've got to have a good think about that and sort it out - if calls go the wrong way, you've just got to go with it."
Walker sees the loss to the combined Bay of Plenty-Coastline competition's top and unbeaten side, as a step backwards rather than an indication that he needs to go back to the drawing board.
"It's not a huge thing. You have your days that aren't that great - I thought we were improving and they showed sparks of it here and there, but I don't think it's a huge step backwards - if anything it will give the guys a good look at where they're at and that helps."
He has also been hampered by not having consistency in the players he has available, largely due to work commitments, and said all those factors added up.
"We've got to look forward and keep going and look at where we can improve and sort that out - it's all we can do."
