Hawke's Bay won their first final since the 2011 Championship climax, and with it promotion, after three years, back to the Premiership for 2016. They did it with pure grit and sent Lions lock Jeremy Thrush, in his 88th game for the Lions, to the UK with a heavy heart.
Wing Cory Jane appeared to have clinched the result with his second try, a dummy and reach out at 67 minutes before he left the park injured. Emerson, who had shelled two high balls earlier, redeemed himself on Jane's wing after he had left.
Hawke's Bay, missing firepower such as Israel Dagg, Zac Guildford and Richard Buckman, failed to fully extend the Lions for the first 60 minutes.
The Magpies tackled tenaciously - one spot tackle by Chris Eaton on Jonny Bentley was especially memorable - West slotted the goals with metronomic accuracy, and they stayed in the fight. But Wellington were putting pressure on with their field position and their energy. Referee Nick Briant blew a merry tune on his whistle.
Savea was a central figure in the first half. After copping a painful corked thigh, he soldiered on, snaffling turnovers, carrying strongly and putting in a sweet grubber which ultimately led to Jane's first try.
That followed an explosive start by the Lions, halfback Frae Wilson crossing within 90 seconds off a Matt Proctor burst. Wellington were bringing the requisite intensity. They would have been kicking themselves, then, when Magpies centre Robbie Fruean scored a bullocking try on the stroke of halftime to reduce the margin to four at 20-16.
The Magpies scrum looked the goods, but they were often sloppy with their handling, and the Lions controlled the loose, the lineouts, via Thrush, among others, and the, ahem, lion's share of possession. Until the clutch.
Hawke's Bay 26 (Robbie Fruean, Mason Emerson tries; Ihaia West 2 con, 4 pen) Wellington 25 (Cory Jane 2, Frae Wilson tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 2 con, 2 pen) Halftime: 20-16 Wellington
