Matamata Swifts strolled head long into a blue tidal wave in their latest pre-season fixture, which was played under lights at Macville Park in Mt Maunganui.

On the surface of it, the humbling score line doesn't look good, but it's important to put things into the correct context. Tauranga were much fitter, as would be expected of a team looking to survive in a league two levels above the Swifts, and that ended up being the main reason for the difference between the two teams.

Matamata started well and, before the lungs started to pop and the legs began to explode, were indistinguishable from their opponents. Around the half hour mark, as the Swifts started to seriously flag, Tauranga notched three quick goals. The Swifts replied through Colin Taylor just before half time.

The second half seemed to go on forever for some very tired Swifts players. As far as games go, it wasn't pretty, but it was an excellent fitness exercise for the squad. They'll be better off for having to have done a truck load of ball chasing. And they will also have learnt a little more about the twin virtues of match fitness and keeping possession.

The second half was marred by the curious sending off of Duncan Lowry. He was booked for backchat twice by referee Neil Walker, despite Walker very audibly letting every one present know that he has never been able to understand a word that came out of Lowry's mouth.

The pain brought about by the margin of the defeat will be tempered by the fact that valuable lessons were learnt as the Swifts try build a winning machine with a number of new parts. Daniel Frischkencht looked good in his first game of the season while Gary Darkes had a great work-out in goal.

Swifts squad: Gary Darkes; Andrew Taylor, Ged Parkinson, Duncan Lowry, Colin Taylor; Carlos Rodriguez, Andy Birchenough, Daniel Frischknecht, Scott Parsonage; Gareth Clark, Mike Spencer. Subs: Leo Regulado, Dima Slack, Andrew Clothier.