It will be a hard slog for the Mid Central Vipers in the remainder of the NZRL National Premiership after a 84-20 hammering from the Counties Manukau Stingrays at Papakura's Massey Park on Saturday.
After beating the Northland Swords 38-4 on the same ground two weeks ago, the Vipers were trying to regather following a 66-14 defeat to the Wellington Orcas in Wanganui last Sunday.
Instead, the South Auckland team, who had a 70-point win over the Swords, kept rolling with 15 tries, 12 of which were converted by halfback Mikaere Beattie.
Wing Raymond Talimalie secured a hat-trick, while teammates Rory Marshall-Barton, Zaccheus Chong Nee and Sione Feao each got a double.
The Vipers would have been encouraged when their prop Tamu Mausii (Manawatu) opened the scoring after the home team made some lapses, but by halftime they were trailing 40-12.
