An emphatic second-half performance has seen Hawke's Bay streak to a 41-14 win over Waikato to defend the Ranfurly Shield at McLean Park on Saturday.
Trailing by two points at halftime, the Magpies clocked up a 27-0 advantage in the second stanza to runaway with a contest that had earlier suggested a closely contested finish.
The victory ensures the Shield will be locked away safely in Napier over the summer and extends Hawke's Bay's imposing lead atop the Premiership standings - now eight points clear of Wellington courtesy of a six-game win streak.
Despite being stung by the last-second scratching of captain Fletcher Smith, Waikato came out with plenty of purpose, playing with structure and putting a premium on field position in an attempt to stifle Hawke's Bay's arsenal of weapons.
But - led by stand-out pivot Lincoln McClutchie - the Magpies emerged from the sheds with a more patient approach which eventually paid dividends, as they ran in four tries through the final quarter to finish with a hefty - albeit, somewhat flattering - scoreboard margin.
After signing on with Moana Pasifika last week, McClutchie's display may have had some Super Rugby Pacific clubs looking enviously at the new franchise, as the first-five pulled strings expertly, ever-threatening with ball in hand and using his full bag of kicking tricks.
Neria Fomai and Lolagi Visinia were a menace from the back, while flanker Marino Mikaele-Tu'u continued his expectional season with another outstanding effort across the park.
The hosts got off to the ideal start, with hooker Jacob Devery - who's been outstanding since replacing Japan-bound stalwart Ash Dixon, burrowing over in the corner from a five-metre lineout drive in just the second minute.
Waikato's hooker Steven Misa was quick to respond with his own rolling maul from a close-range lineout, crossing for his side's first try to edge ahead.
Six minutes later, Danny Toala was on hand to cash in on a jinking break from Neria Fiomai, sneaking over from a ruck right on the Waikato chalk.
But again, Waikato had a reply, with sparkplug wing Liam Coombes-Fabling running a superb line from an attacking scrum to power over the line and return to the top of the NPC try-scoring standings.
Facing a 14-12 halftime deficit, the Magpies came out with a more stcurctured approach in the second half, looking to establish field position before looking to attack.
After McClutchie had edged his side back in front with a straightforward penalty, he then stepped to the fore with a touch of individual brilliance, dropping a pinpoint crossfield kick right into Fomai's bread basket to score, putting the icing on the cake with a sideline conversion to go eight points clear.
That try sparked a ruthless final quarter from the hosts, with Waikato's woes compounded by a yellow card to lock James Tucker for a dangerous tackle.
Tom Parsons benefited from a stroke of luck to cross next for the Magpies, as a pass rebounded back into his arms with a clear path to crash over the chalk.
Minutes later, Marino Mikaele-Tu'u's deft flick pass sent replacement Ollie Sapsford over out wide, before a scintillating counterattack ended with Fomai streaking 40 metres clear to claim his second try of the night to put the icing on the cake for Hawke's Bay.
In a non-competition game earlier on Saturday, Wellington scored a last-minute try to steal a 24-22 win over Southland.
Hawke's Bay 41 (Neria Fomai 2, Jacob Devery, Danny Toala, Tom Parsons, Ollie Sapsford tries; Lincoln McClutchie 4 con, pen) Waikato 14 (Steven Misa, Liam Coombes-Fabling tries; D'Angelo Leuila 2 con). HT: 12-14
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