Magpies captain Ash Dixon celebrates a try in his 101st game for the province. Photo / Paul Taylor
The Log o' Wood merry-go-round stops here.
The Hawke's Bay Magpies retained the Ranfurly Shield with a 33-17 win over Northland at McLean Park in Napier on Friday night.
The win also put the Magpies at the top of the Championship table through six weeks of the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup.
Northland made all the play early, setting up shop inside the Magpies redzone early with a scrum five metres out.
They couldn't maintain the attacking pressure though, with Hawke's Bay able to win timely turnovers and counter quickly.
The home side took the lead in the 18th minute through a Lincoln McClutchie penalty kick from about 40m out on the angle.
The Taniwha tied things up a couple minutes later through their own penalty to first five Dan Hawkins after Magpies halfback Folau Fakatava was pinged for a ruck side entry in front of the posts.
Northland thought they had taken the lead immediately from the restart with a try to halfback Sam Nock, but the referee called back play for a knock-on.
Bay first five McClutchie put his side in front with a penalty in the 29th minute after an offside call.
And after the Magpies' best attacking spell of the half, he slotted another one on the halftime siren to extend his side's lead to six points.
Hawke's Bay picked up where they left off too, with winger Neria Fomai busting the game open with a nice line break.
Fomai went in for the opening try a couple of phases later, stepping Taniwha fullback Scott Gregory after a nice offload from Stacey Ili set him free again.
It was all Magpies from then on, with captain Ash Dixon scoring in the corner to make it 21-3 in the 55th minute.
Northland worked hard for a try to prop Luatangi Li on the hour mark having built some good phases close to the line.
However Hawke's Bay went straight up the other end and crossed their tryline after a lineout maul.
The referee called held up, but the Magpies got the try a couple of phases later when substitute midfielder Danny Toala crashed over.
Hawke's Bay secured a bonus point with their fourth try in the 74th minute as number eight Devan Flanders picked up the five-pointer his tremendous play merited.
Northland got a consolation try just before the hooter with Lua Li crossing for his second, but it was the Magpies' night.
Magpies coach Mark Ozich said his team were inaccurate and unstructured before the break.
"We lost the kicking battle, and it suited [Northland] playing unstructured," he said.
"The message at half time was to take a bit more control, kick long or kick out, go to set piece and just build our game."
He said his team weren't patient enough to begin with because of a bit of youthful exuberance – a theme throughout the season so far.
"We don't have to pull the trigger all the time, we can wait for them to do something."
Winger Jonah Lowe was named to start the game, but a bump at Thursday's captain's run stiffened his neck, opening the door for Neria Fomai to take the number 11 jersey.
Ozich said the tryscorer performed well again, as did substitute Danny Toala who also dotted down after his late promotion.
Number eight Devan Flanders was rightly named man of the match for what his coach described as a dominant performance.
"It's hard to believe he's still only 21, there's a lot of growth in his game still, but he's playing pretty well at the moment," Ozich said.
That mirrors the Magpies as a side – Ozich said his young playing group are growing and are still a long way off their best.
They will look to defend the Shield again next week against the Manawatu Turbos, who they will play at McLean Park on Saturday at 4.35 pm.
Hawke's Bay 33 (Neria Fomai, Ash Dixon, Danny Toala, Devan Flanders tries; Lincoln McClutchie 3/3 pens, 2/4 con)
Northland 17 (Luatangi Li 2 tries; Dan Hawkins 1/1 pen, 2/2 con)
HT: 9-3