The Otago Spirit was well beaten 39-5 in its opening provincial championship game against Waikato in Hamilton on Saturday.
But coach Duncan McEwan was far from despondent, despite the lopsided scoreline. He felt his side made progress implementing its new game plan but had struck a quality team first up.
''It was kind of like we ran into another team who wants to play the game like we do and they just executed better than us,'' McEwan said.
''We stepped up in terms of the execution of our game plan ... and were creating opportunities to score but just couldn't quite finish them.''
With more time together, McEwan is optimistic his side will improve its conversion rate.
The other area the Spirit will need to lift is in protecting possession. The visitors were guilty of conceding too many turnovers.
Ironically, it was a turnover which led to Otago's only try. The Spirit had been attacking Waikato's line but lost possession. The home side tried to clear the ball but came up with an error and Michaela Baker pounced to score in the 50th min.
''Our biggest Achilles heel ... is we are turning over too much ball. We'll make a line break and then we will lose it in the contact.
''When we are running with support players, we are very good. It is when we shift it wide and go on attack that we can get isolated. We probably turned over 30 possessions [on Saturday]. You just can't win games doing that.''
Waikato dominated the first half and led 22-0 at the break. Otago arguably had its best patch early in the second spell before the home side finished strongly to win by 34 points.
The Spirit's next match is a home fixture against Hawkes Bay on Saturday.
Otago B beat Southland B 20-14 in Invercargill on Saturday.
Otago won the game in the first half through tries to flanker Dillon Hunt and inside back Matt Te Tana and Te Tana scored the other points.
Otago led 20-0 at halftime and held on as Southland came back with two tries in the second half.
Flanker Josh Clark and halfback Kurt Hammer played well for Otago B.
Spirit v Waikato
The scores
Waikato 39
Makaia Riki Te Kanawa 2, Stacey Waaka 2, Ginia Muavae, Racqual Anderson , Stephanie Downer tries; Anderson con, Tenika Willison con
Otago 5
Michaela Baker try
Halftime: 22-0.
