Hawke's Bay have held off Tasman 34-22 to retain the Ranfurly Shield in an entertaining contest in Napier on Saturday.
The Magpies set the tone with a three-try blitz in the first quarter of the match to leave the Mako chasing the contest throughout.
Mitch Hunt's educated boot brought the visitors back within striking range courtesy of some poor Hawke's Bay discipline to reduce their deficit to nine points in the final 20 minutes.
But a string of stoic tryline stands kept Tasman at arm's length, before a long-range penalty goal in the dying stages ended their hopes of lifting the Log o'Wood for the first time in their 17-year history.
First-five Lincoln McClutchie was outstanding in his role as conductor for the Magpies - who ran ran in five tries to one - while Devan Flanders and Marino Mikele-Tu'u were a menace up front.
Hunt and wing Timoci Tavatavanawai were the picks of the shiver for the Mako, whose primary attacking weapons - such as wing Leicester Fainga'anuku - were prevented from stamping their mark on the match by a well organised Hawke's Bay defensive effort.
The hosts started with a bang, as Devan Flanders' turnover sparked an 80-metre movement finished by halfback Ereatara Enari in the corner for the game's first try.
Five minutes later they were in again, Brendon O'Connor rummaging over from a close-range ruck, before Lincoln McClutchie's showtime pass opened up space for Lolagi Visinia to cross in the corner.
Centre Stacey Ili was soon on hand to cash in on the back of a rampaging run from wing Jonah Lowe for Hawke's Bay's fourth try.
Facing a 24-9 deficit, the Mako were able to work their way back into the match courtesy of incessant Hawke's Bay indiscipline, Mitch Hunt making them pay off the kicking tee.
With seven minutes remaining in the half, All Blacks forward Shannon Frizell ran a great angle from a ruck after some patient Tasman build-up play, and Hunt's penalty in added time saw the Magpies' lead suddenly reduced to just five points at the interval.
Tasman began the second half with renewed purpose, cutting the lead to two points via another Hunt penalty.
But the Magpies replied quickly, as a blindside snipe resulted in a deft offload from Flanders for wing Neria Fomai to power over in the corner, taking the Bay out to a 31-22 lead.
The Mako refused to lie down, launching a series of late raids, only to be denied time after time by a determined Hawke's Bay defence.
With just two minutes to play replacement first-five Tiaan Falcon stepped up to nail a long-range penalty to put the finsihing touch another successful shield defence.
Hawke's Bay 34 (Ereatara Enari, Brendon O'Connor, Lolagi Visinia, Stacey Ili, Neria Fomai tries, Lincoln McClutchie 3 cons, Tiaan Falcon pen) Tasman 22 (Shannon Frizell tries, Mitch Hunt 5 pens). HT: 24-19
