This was perhaps a step too far for the Otago Whalers.
They did well just to get on the field at Blockhouse Bay yesterday as they had a handful of players unavailable due to injuries, work commitments and the after-effects of the Dunedin floods.
Add in an Akarana Falcons team packed full of pace and physicality, and there was only going to be one outcome.
The Whalers battled hard and had some lovely moments but struggled for consistency and lamented a poor first half as they ended their NZRL Premiership campaign with a 58-24 loss to the Falcons.
Otago had no real answer to the rampaging Falcons in the middle of the park nor for the Aucklanders’ potency out wide.
The Falcons found metres relatively easy to gain, especially in the first half, as they shrugged off defenders on their way to 10 tries.
The Whalers’ best moments came when they played with freedom and accuracy, and they looked genuinely threatening when that came together.
A classic example of that came in the space of 10 glorious minutes in the second half.
The game was gone — Akarana led by 46 points — but the Whalers showed a willingness to attack and produced two sparkling sets to score two quick tries.
Daniel Muasika broke the line at pace and popped inside for Jordan McEntee to score, and fullback Max Brown showed his speed and balance to grab a deserved try soon after.
Those tries were followed by a wonderful individual effort from centre Tama Apineru, who ducked and weaved and glided his way to the line to grab his second of the day.
A miracle comeback always seemed unlikely but that little stretch must have put a smile on Whalers coach David Reedy’s face.
Props Tofatuimoana Solia and Benjamin Latu put in big shifts for the Whalers, while dummy half Eli Ellison popped up everywhere with his energy.
Brown and Apineru always looked threatening when they got the ball.
Unfortunately for the Whalers, the Falcons had put the game away early with a dominant display.
They were led by hard-running second-rower Jeremiah Schuster and electric winger Anthony Goulton.
"That was pretty tough", Whalers captain McEntee told Sky Sport.
"It was not the way we wanted to start but I’m proud of the boys for sticking in there."
The Whalers finished their campaign with one win from five games, that win ensuring they stay in the Premiership next season.
In a preview of the final, the Auckland Vulcans beat the Counties-Manukau Stingrays 26-22. Waikato downed Bay of Plenty 30-22.
NZRL Premiership
The scores
Akarana Falcons 58
Anthony Goulton 2, Hawaiiki Annandale 2, Lonnie Papani, Sione Latu Ngahe, Doux Kauhiva, Jeremiah Schuster, Navajo Doyle, Juelz Baker tries; Papani 2 con, Brody Tamarua 7 con.
Otago Whalers 24
Tama Apineru 2, Jordan McEntee, Max Brown tries; McEntee 4 con.
Halftime: Falcons 34-6.
