The Men were thumped 9-3 by Canterbury and the Storm 6-0 by Midlands.
Neither side has much time to analyse what went wrong, with matches today and tomorrow.
Southern Men coach Dave Ross said his side played better than the scoreline reflected and credited Canterbury with some clinical finishing.
"Hats off to them. The game is about scoring goals, but it just fell for them and sometimes that happens," Ross said.
"It was actually closer than that, especially in the first half."
The Southern Men trailed 3-4 at half-time but Canterbury got more possession in the second half and stretched the lead.
The tournament does not get any easier with the Southern Men scheduled to play a powerful Midlands line-up today and defending champion North Harbour tomorrow.
"Midlands could well win this competition because they are a class, class side. They've got some serious weaponry out there but if we drop our bundle with two big drubbings in a row, I'd just worry what effect that would have on the team.
"So it is a really, really big game. We don't have to win it; we just have to play well and get back on the horse."
Storm coach Mark Smithells said his side was ambushed by a classy Midlands side in the first half, conceding four goals.
"The second half was quite even and the team showed a lot of character,"Smithells said.
"But we were up against a very good side. I have to say they [the Storm] weren't as alert as they should have been early."
Smithells said his side rallied in the second half and could have scored two or three goals but came up empty.
He called in Black Sticks coach Kevin Towns at the end of the game to help them shake the baggage ahead of their match against North Harbour today.
"You have to leave it behind and take it game by game really."
On a positive note Stacia Joseph played well and the team eagerly awaits the arrival of Australian striker Claire Messent on Monday.
