Let's just get something out of the way: what has happened to Northland is a f**king disgrace. MacDaddy has been on the blower to me from his getaway at Houhora and he's penning a spiteful missive as we speak. He'll be sending us his thoughts later in the week. Now, onto the game…

Bay of Plenty are a well-oiled machine this season, and we are not. Thusly, we were beaten. Best not to dwell on the negatives, but here's a few: James Afoa is carrying the ball into the tackle on his tip-toes. His back is as straight as a rod. He was our best forward last year. This year, he's not. Where's the 'Cote mongrel? Bring back the stubble and the aggro. Our midfield paring was particularly generous with the enormous gaps they allowed the portly but sharp BOP centre to waltz through, and our loose forwards were decent enough not to turn up to breakdowns until after the Bay loosies had taken the chunky bits from our carcassed ball-carriers. They had a chap at blindside called Solomon King who was shit-hot. We didn't.

On a brighter note, the Gopperth appears to have finally picked up his talent bag from the airport, because he played quite well. He also had the smarts to realise in the final minute that we could escape from this game with two points - the equivalent of a low-scoring draw - and duly slotted a challenging kick that ensured we go ahead of Auckland on the table. Viliame also seems to be coming into some form, although he might need to re-visit going for the intercept when he is the last man to beat. His decision to go for glory instead of making the tackle possibly lost us a game that we might have burgled. Smylie is also starting to look not awful.

It would've been a travesty of natural justice if we'd escaped from this game with a draw or a sneaky win, but that doesn't make Zar Lawrence's 'try' hurt any less. The decision by the TMO to award it was right up there with some of the most piss-poor calls inflicted on the Warriors in their introductory years. We can but hope that somewhere in the pits of hell there is a spot reserved for officials who are overtly biased, and that each day they are forced to listen to Peter Montgomery's Olympic rowing commentaries.* On a brighter note, how lovely to see Harbour rejects plying their trade so successfully elsewhere. Lawrence had a few games for Harbour and managed like so many before him to distinguish himself by his ordinariness. Happily, though, he has now found a rich vein of try-scoring form for someone else. That is very nice for him.

Three games, three losses, four points, but we're still only five points off third. Maybe I'm a bit pissed, but I think we might be on the brink of a win. Waikato are so appalling at the moment that I can't stop chuckling to myself at inappropriate moments. Now, if only we could get the NZRFU to do something about those inbred bovine-pumpers…