Another Southland Stags loss and another similar assessment from its leadership group.
This time it was hard-working flanker Tony Lamborn who lamented the fact Southland showed some positive signs in a 26-10 loss against Northland, but ultimately a 10-minute period sank its hopes of ending its losing streak at 16 in a row.
"It's the same old story for us for the last few weeks. We have some really good patches and we have some really average patches.
"With a bit of consistency, we could do the job. It just seems at the crucial times we lose a bit of concentration and a bit of execution," Lamborn said.
It all started well for Southland.
During the first 15 minutes. Northland struggled to get into the game as the Stags dominated territory and possession.
The Southland lineout, in particular, operated well and it was the Stags who opened the scoring in the ninth minute when James Wilson landed a penalty.
However, when Northland finally grabbed a decent chunk of possession and racked up some phases the Stags started to fall off tackles.
Northland scored three tries from the 16th minute through to 26th minute in a 10-minute period which this week provided the slippery slide for the Stags to which we have become accustomed.
The Dave Hewett-coached team trailed 19-3 at halftime and, to add to the headache, Southland lost co-captains James Wilson and Flynn Thomas midway through the first half through injury.
It meant Lamborn took up the captaincy duties.
While there was little penetration in Southland's attack during the second half there certainly was some spirit in the Stags' game.
It led to the visiting side having a mortgage on the ball and, midway through the second half, Southland finally got some reward for that effort.
Lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit stuck his long arm out from a lineout drive to score and with the Broc Hooper conversion it reduced the score to 19-10.
Southland continued to work hard but when Northland was finally able to get some possession and territory late in the game it put any sort of hope of a possible Stags victory to bed.
It was lock Murray Douglas who crossed for Northland's bonus-point try to wrap up the 26-10 victory.
Selby-Rickit impressed in the loss, while replacement hooker Jesse MacDonald also proved his worth after being drafted into the Southland squad.
For Southland, again there will be some work to do in regard to assessing player fitness in the coming days with concerns around the likes of Thomas and Wilson.
If the Stags are in search of some motivation they should find it in bucketloads this week with the lure of the Ranfurly Shield sitting in front of them as they prepare to take on Waikato in Hamilton next Saturday.
The scores
Northland 26
Matt Mattich, Sam Nock, Murray Douglas 2 tries; Jack Debreczeni 3 cons
Southland 10
Manaaki Selby-Rickit try; James Wilson pen, Broc Hooper con
Halftime: 19-3.