For new Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby halfback Isaac Paewai, yesterday's win against Taranaki was like old times.
Five years ago in fact. That was when Paewai and new Magpies first five-eighth Daniel Kirkpatrick played together in the Napier Boys' High School 1st XV.
Despite the pair both playing for the same club, Petone in Wellington, for the last three years they never got the chance to play alongside each other.
"Daniel was always doing his thing for the Lions," Paewai told SportToday after the Magpies 38-34 pre-season win at Napier's McLean Park.
The duo certainly made up for lost time. As second half substitutes they sparked the hosts' comeback after Taranaki led 17-7 at halftime.
Paewai impressed with his service, option taking and one crucial try-saving tackle. However, he knows where he stands in the pecking order for the Magpies No 9 jersey come ITM Cup time - behind Crusaders star Kahn Fotuali'i and incumbent Chris Eaton.
"I just want to put as much pressure on them as I can," said Paewai, who has been relishing his club season with Maddison Trophy competition leaders Havelock North.
"We've been playing some attractive rugby and it was good to do that with the Bay side," said Paewai, who has been fully focused on rugby for the past month after being laid off from his job at Progressive Meats.
As the halftime score suggests, there wasn't much attractive about the Magpies first half display. Numerous soft turnovers allowed the visitors to dominate this period and the hosts either opted against taking kickable penalties or bombed try-scoring opportunities.
The Bay's starting first five-eighth Andrew Horrell was unlucky to lose the ball forward close to the line in the 17th minute. There were several other instances of the hosts giving possession to Taranaki too easily in the confrontation area.
Richard Buckman may have started the game at centre for the Magpies but he scored all three of his tries when playing in the right wing berth vacated by Jason Kupa who collected a hamstring injury in the second quarter.
His first try followed a powerful surge from his Tech clubmate and starting openside flanker Hugh Reed. His second put the Magpies in front for the first time at 19-17 with 18 minutes remaining after clever build-up work from his flatmate and starting fullback Mark Jackman.
With six minutes remaining Taranaki led 34-19. The Bay's never-say die approach had to be commended.
Replacement centre, New Zealand under-20 world champion Star Timu, scored in the 75th minute after a clever kick and chase move from excitement machine Gillies Kaka who certainly made the most of his attacking opportunities.
Kirkpatrick landed the conversion and just minutes later sparked an attack and produced a clever miss pass move which Buckman completed to have the hosts trailing 34-31.
Some more good work from Kaka resulted in another substitute, Jason Shoemark, scoring the matchwinning try - much to the delight of the 1300 Magpies fans.
Apart from the gifting of three of Taranaki's four tries, Magpies co-coach Peter Russell was happy with his troops' display.
"That never say die approach was particularly pleasing," said Russell. "While we took a while to get going in the first half we got a few more experienced players out there in the second half, got more direct with the ball and it paid off."
Like his Taranaki counterpart and former Hurricanes mentor Colin Cooper, Russell stressed the importance of giving fringe players and youngsters in particular game time in this pre-season outings.
"We should never have lost it, though, after leading 34-19 with six minutes to go," said Cooper.
His team included two sons of former Hurricanes and Taranaki loosie Kevin "Smiley Barrett" - first half first five-eighth Beauden and second half replacement Kane.
Hawke's Bay Magpies 38 (Richard Buckman 3, Mark Jackman, Star Timu, Jason Shoemark tries; Daniel Kirkpatrick 3, Andrew Horrell cons), Taranaki 34 (Samuela Vunisa, David Smith, Waisake Ratunideuba, Kylem O'Donnell tries; Beauden Barrett 2, Cody Rei 2 cons; Barrett, Rei pens). HT: Taranaki 17-7.