There were times when that familiarity showed. There were also occasions when No 4 McKelvie made uncharacteristic misses, both of penalties and also field goals when there was little defensive pressure.
"It was pretty good to come back with three of last year's team and go back-to-back. I wasn't worried when we were down by two ... we've got pretty big hearts where we come from," McKelvie explained.
McKelvie's wife Harriet at No2 and No3 Campbell Davis completed the winning team's lineup.
"We'll be back next year to attempt a three-peat and next week we will take the same team to the Poverty Bay tournament. We didn't play in that one last year so it would be good to get a win up there," McKelvie added.
His team led 2-1 after the first chukka. Davis scored an early field goal before outstanding Hawke's Bay A professional and No 3 Johnny Coddington, who is a four handicapper, scored from a penalty. McKelvie converted a penalty to put his team ahead.
Coddington had the first say in the second chukka with a successful penalty attempt. McKelvie was on target with another penalty before a Thompson field goal had the score tied at 3-all going into the third chukka.
A McKelvie field goal put the visitors ahead again before Hawke's Bay A's No 2 and former New Zealand rep Aaron Vowles finished off a clever set move to tie the score again. A Vowles field goal put the hosts ahead 5-4 just before the siren.
Vowles, who produced his best performance of the tournament, scored another field goal at the start of the chukka. As the Hawke's Bay heat disappeared Rangitikei A's play seemed to improve and a Davis field goal along with a McKelvie penalty had the score tied at 6-all going into the fifth chukka.
Coddington was again on target with a penalty before McKelvie replied with one of his own. McKelvie scored the winning field goal in the extra chukka. McKelvie played with several stitches on his forehead after he was hit with a mallet in the previous day's semifinals.
Thompson said he hoped all of his team, which also included No 1 Richard Dee, would be available again next year.