One down, two to go.
The Hawke's Bay Magpies kept the hopes of avoiding relegation from the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership alive and regained the Kel Tremain Memorial Trophy with a gutsy 30-21 win against the Manawatu Turbos in Palmerston North tonight. The Magpies have to win their remaining games against Waikato and Bay of Plenty to retain Premiership status.
The Magpies conceded four penalties during the first 12 minutes. Turbos pivot Otere Black slotted two of them, the first in the eighth minute from 26 metres, and the second in the 12th minute to give the hosts a 6-0 lead.
Penalties continued to haunt the Magpies. They were 8-2 down on the count when Hawke's Bay age group product and Turbos hooker Travis Taylor scored the first try in the 27th minute from a lineout drive. The Magpies defence, with halfback Chris Eaton, was admirable until then.
Magpies prop Tolu Fahamokioa was unlucky to have a try disallowed in the 30th minute when television match official Chris Jansen could not sight the ball over the tryline. The Magpies turned down an easy three points in the 31st minute and fumbled the ball behind a scrum which was shoved backwards.