But at least it was not too much of a nightmare.
The Old Golds had their moments, tried their hardest, and showed some glimpses of their ability — in short, they produced a typically game effort from a Heartland Championship team against a professional union.
But, as expected, Hawke’s Bay was far too strong, romping to an 85-0 win in its first shield defence of the season in Napier last night.
The Magpies exposed the gap between the levels of New Zealand domestic rugby with a polished all-round display, scoring 13 tries to none.
They thoroughly dominated the set piece, swooped with brutal efficiency on sloppy passes, made hay at the breakdown, and made the most of their significant advantages in size and pace, especially on defence.
Hawke’s Bay might have been missing many of its best players but the performance of the fill-ins suggests it will be a team to watch in the NPC.
North Otago was outgunned, struggling to stay with the speed of the game and to counter the Magpies’ physicality.
Still, many of the Old Golds enhanced their reputations ahead of their Covid-delayed defence of the Meads Cup.
Chief among them was halfback Jake Matthews, the former Waitaki Boys’ High School star who delivered a whale of a performance in front of his father, North Otago technical adviser and former Highlanders assistant Barry.
Matthews, rangy and busy, maintained a frantic work rate, delivered the ball well to his support players, and threatened to score one of the great Shield tries when he made a long sniping run before being swamped.
Burly prop Melikisua Kolinisau was another to shine. The barrel on legs barged forward time and again, and would have deserved the try he was denied when he was ruled to have been held up over the line.
No 8 Mosese Aho and centre Hayden Todd also stood out, and much will be expected of them when the Old Golds return to their level at the Heartland Championship.
"That was pretty gutting, pretty tough,’’ North Otago captain Sam Sturgess told Sky Sport.
"I thought we actually created a lot early in the game but they were just too good. Every time we made an error, it cost us."
North Otago, like all small unions who find themselves challenging for the Log o’ Wood, aimed to remain competitive for as long as possible in the game.
Unfortunately, they made a rough start, coughing up a try from a turnover after four minutes, and conceding a penalty try and losing lock Manulua Taiti to a rather harsh yellow card after 10.
After Hawke’s Bay added two more tries to lead 28-0 after the first quarter, North Otago produced the highlight reel of the game when fullback Mataroa Maui absolutely levelled flanker Will Tremain, grandson of the great Kel, with a brutal tackle.
Two tries in the last eight minutes gave the Magpies a 42-0 lead at the break, and three more in the first 12 minutes of the second half made it 61-0 and time to run the benches.
While North Otago put on Blake Welsh, Cameron Rowland and Logan Dunlop, three wholehearted forwards from the Valley club, Hawke’s Bay gave a debut to another All Black great’s family member — Sir Brian’s grandson, Frank Lochore.
There was a predictable late flurry of tries as Hawke’s Bay, well-led by Tom Parsons and a forward pack that made few mistakes, drove home its advantage.
Fellow Heartland Championship province East Coast is next up to get a crack at the shield.
- By Hayden Meikle
