Wakatipu coach Damian Petre - who was forced to don his boots on Saturday - said it was a disappointing performance from the 2012 champion side, which went down 27-7.
''We don't intentionally go into a game to lose, that's for sure [but] with the players we had available on Saturday, they made the best of the situation.''
Several ''old campaigners'' came out of retirement for the game, as there were about a dozen Wakatipu players out with injury.
Petre said they included captain Regan Pearce (out for the season), Danny King, Toi Roberts, Tai Raumati, Stuart Vincent, Rhys Collins and Russell Longthorn.
''We've got a bit of an injury crisis. It's basically our whole back-line, plus three or four forwards.
''We've had a pretty horrific run of injuries over the last couple of weeks ... hopefully, they'll start rolling back in.
''We've got to get a few of the boys off the doctor's bed and back on to the field.''
It was hoped King and Collins would be back in action this week, but Raumati and Vincent were not likely to return for another four or five weeks, - in time for the semi-finals and finals, should Wakatipu go all the way.
At the weekend, the side also had an unscheduled bonding session in Ranfurly after heavy snow and disruptions on the Kawarau Gorge meant it could not return to Queenstown immediately after the game.
This weekend, Wakatipu will face its final White Horse Cup challenge of the year, against Upper Clutha at the Queenstown Rec Ground.
Petre said his side was expecting a tough challenge from a team that only lost by one point to Wakatipu in the first round of the competition.
Meanwhile, Arrowtown coach Hayden Finch was thrilled with his side's performance against Upper Clutha on Saturday. The team came back from a 13-7 deficit at half-time to take the game 29-13 at the Queenstown Events Centre.
Finch said the Bulls ''clicked as a team'' in the second 40 minutes after making ''way too many mistakes'' during the first half.
''It was awesome to watch. It was an important win - we're still in the hunt for the semifinals and we need to win one more game to make the top four.
''It's a great feat for us with so many new players.''
The side will spend this week preparing for what is viewed as an epic grudge match against Alexandra at Alexandra on Saturday.
''It's a biggy,'' Finch said.
Both games kick off at 2.30pm.
